If you’re wondering about the difference between regular and infrared saunas, here’s the skinny. Traditional saunas heat their inside surfaces and dry the air with hot stones or ovens, which then heat the body. 

In contrast, infrared saunas heat the body without warming room surfaces, getting great results with no risk of heat stress. This means they could well be safer than traditional saunas, for people who are sensitive to heat. 

Many studies have confirmed the safety of infrared saunas for conditions that range from arthritis and Alzheimer’s to diabetes and dementia, as well as high blood pressure and heart failure, for people unable to withstand the heat of a traditional sauna. 

Here’s how infrared saunas work: 

• They radiate heat directly onto your skin, which is easily absorbed;
• These heatwaves penetrate deeply but gently into joints, muscles, and tissues;
• The core body temperature rises as a result, but with no need for scorching-hot air;
• As a result, your body sweats at much lower temperatures than in traditional saunas, eliminating toxins without overheating. 

First-timers are always curious about the health benefits of an infrared sauna. Their questions often include topics like this – and the answer to all of them is simple: Yes!

·       Does an infrared sauna ease pain?

·       Can it heal wounds?

·       What about weight loss? 

·       Will it tighten and brighten up my skin?

·       Is it good for a general detox?

·       Might it ward off colds and flu? 

 Explore these Benefits in Greater Detail 

·       Pain Relief: as infrared waves can penetrate deep into muscles, joints and other tissues, regular sauna sessions can ease chronically painful conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis;

·       Wound Healing: as infrared light promotes fibroblasts that make elastin and collagen, infrared sauna sessions can speed up the healing process for burns and other open wounds through faster cell regeneration;

·       Weight Loss: according to an article published by Harvard Medical School, the physiological responses to a sauna are similar to those produced by a brisk walk, with a double benefit: not only are calories burned during an infrared sauna session, but the entire metabolism is boosted, helping shed even more pounds;

·       Smoother Skin: by stimulating collagen and elastin production, an infrared sauna can offset some of the effects of aging, by plumping up the epidermis and reducing wrinkles, while sweat cleans out clogged pores and leaves skin glowing; 

·       Detoxification: constantly subjected to stress, fatigue, and pollution, while often battling inflammation and infection, the body releases a steady stream of toxins and other waste materials through the skin; this process is speeded up during an infrared sauna, which gets the blood pumping and opens pores, resulting in a deep-cleansed system with enhanced energy and well-being;

·       Immunity: the light spectrum used in infrared saunas stimulates the mitochondria, boosting immune cell growth and activity, helping you fight off infections faster; 

·       Better Sleep: infrared saunas help lessen insomnia by inducing deep relaxation, with lower levels of cortisol, which is often called the stress hormone;

·       Lower Blood Pressure: as peripheral blood vessels dilate in heat and muscles relax, circulation improves, blood circulation and heart rate both increase, while arteries and veins expand and blood pressure drops naturally. 

Stay away from sugary, carbonated, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages for a couple of hours before your infrared sauna session, when you will lose up to 2% of your body fluids in 30 to 45 minutes; instead top up your electrolytes by drinking at least a pint (twenty ounces) of mineral or coconut water.