Infrared saunas (sometimes referred to as FIR saunas, for “far infrared”) are one of the latest luxury home items. They work differently from conventional steam or dry saunas. We will explore some of those differences, and the advantages of the infrared vs conventional sauna.
Proponents of infrared saunas say that this type of sauna removes toxic material from the body through sweat and, to some extent, urine. The removal of toxins is believed to improve blood quality and the level of oxygen in the blood. Infrared saunas are said to deep clean the skin, removing dirt and dust from deep inside the skin rather than just from the surface. People who suffer from joint pain often find relief after the use of an infrared sauna, and many users say that it improves general blood circulation.
Far infrared light has a longer wavelength than the colors of light we can see. In the visible spectrum of light, violet light has the shortest wavelength, while red has the longest. Blue, green, yellow, and orange have wavelengths in between violet and red. Far infrared light is invisible, but penetrates the skin and warms the body. It is totally different from the ultraviolet (UV) rays that are generated by tanning beds, which have very short wavelengths – shorter than violet. So infrared light doesn’t cause sunburn, just warmth. In hospitals, infrared light is used to keep newborns warm in the nursery.
Far infrared heat can penetrate the body’s tissues to a depth of more than one inch. Traditional steam saunas rely on indirect heat from air currents and direct contact of hot air on the skin. With far infrared heat, up to 80% of the energy can directly heat the body, far more efficiently than a conventional sauna can. While some heaters in infrared saunas were made for other applications, like curing paint on automobiles, some saunas use FIR heaters made specifically for infrared saunas.
Some infrared sauna experts say that FIR saunas cause the human body to burn calories, any loss of weight should be at least partly attributed to the loss of water through sweat. Some people can sweat away approximately one pound of water during a sauna session. The number of calories expended by the body for cooling has not yet been definitively pinned down.
Using an infrared sauna is a different sensation than using a traditional dry or steam sauna. While both types of saunas produce intense sweating, the air in infrared saunas is not as warm as the air in a traditional sauna. Some people use traditional saunas to benefit their asthma with the hot air, and these people may not receive as much of a benefit from an infrared sauna, since the air is not as hot.
Upon entering an infrared sauna, you’ll notice that the room is approximately 60 degrees C (140 degrees F). The resulting rise in body temperature causes the body to adjust in ways designed to cool the body. The main way the body does this is by sweating, because the evaporation of sweat, which takes the heat of evaporation with it, results in cooling. Therefore, in a sauna, the body produces high volumes of sweat in an attempt to cool the body.
In addition to sweat, infrared saunas cause other bodily changes. The blood flow to the skin improves, and the heart rate goes up. Improved blood flow to the skin, accompanied by sweating, will take whatever substances are dissolved in the sweat with it when the sweat comes out of the skin. the improved circulation and disposal of toxins dissolved in the sweat are beneficial, if only in the short term.
Claimed health benefits
Claims for infrared saunas run the gamut. Some proponents claim numerous health benefits, for ailments like asthma, arthritis, and skin conditions. Others say that the only benefit to infrared saunas is that they feel good. The truth is most likely between the two extremes. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis feel a definite relief from pain from the radiant heat (similar to the relief felt from a warm bath or whirlpool) and are temporarily able to move more comfortably. But the infrared light is not known to have any effect on the immune system of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, which is where the disease develops. However, anyone who has to cope with this type of arthritis appreciates any relief from the pain, even if it is only temporary.
Other purported health benefits of infrared saunas include relief from the following:
* chronic fatigue syndrome
* fibromyalgia
* muscle spasms
* eczema
* dandruff
* blackheads
* acne
* clogged pores
* sunburn
* cellulite
While the benefits to each of these conditions appear to be temporary, the relief is nonetheless welcome to people who have these conditions. It may be that the best thing that infrared saunas do is promote relaxation and relief from stress. This alone can be beneficial enough to be worth the time and expense for some people. If nothing else, an infrared sauna, like a hot tub, a traditional sauna, or bubble bath, feels good, and for most people, taking some time to be still and be away from work, phones, and other stresses can be very beneficial.
Infrared sauna risks
Infrared saunas, like regular saunas, can only do so much, and do carry some risks. The main risk is dehydration from excessive sweating , which can cause the body to lose essential minerals and result in an electrolyte imbalance. People with acute illnesses should avoid saunas for at least 48 hours after their fever breaks. People with injuries such as sprains, should avoid saunas until they have had some time to heal. The dangers of infrared (and traditional) saunas are primarily to people who already have underlying health problems. They are also particularly dangerous to people who consume alcohol or drugs before using a sauna.
Some people should avoid saunas of any type altogether, including people taking steroids, people with brain tumors, lupus, angina, recent heart attack, aortic stenosis, or a recent stroke. People with diabetes, cochlear implants, pacemakers, silicone implants, or multiple sclerosis should only use saunas with the OK of their physicians. People who take medication by a transdermal patch should consult their physician before using a sauna because the heat could affect the amount of medication that penetrates the skin, and because the adhesive can be dissolved by sweat. Diabetics should test blood sugar both before and after using a sauna to determine how the heat affects glucose levels.
Healthy people can use infrared saunas to excess and suffer heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or other heat-related conditions. Anyone who feels overheated should leave the sauna at once. People with a fever should not use saunas, and anyone whose body temperature rises by more than three degrees should leave the sauna as well.
Anyone using an infrared sauna should drink water before, during, and after sauna use. One half-cup of water should be consumed for every 15 minutes in the sauna, and should be continued afterwards until the body cools down.
One rare but significant event that can occur along with sauna use is the purging of drugs that are stored in fatty tissue. For example former LSD users have been known to have hallucinations in saunas as drug residue is drawn into the bloodstream from the fatty tissue where it had been stored.
Infrared saunas can feel great and can be beneficial physically and psychologically as long as they are used sensibly and in moderation. Avoiding alcohol and other drugs before taking a sauna, and steadily sipping plenty of water before, during, and after will make the experience more enjoyable and stress-relieving.
Benefits in the home
For infrared saunas in particular, there are some clear benefits over traditional steam or dry saunas. For one thing, they take up less room than conventional saunas, and they are easier and less expensive to install. Additionally, they heat up instantly, and users do not have to wait for heat and steam to develop before using them. Infrared saunas are less expensive to operate as well.
Because infrared saunas heat the body directly rather than heating the air in an enclosed space, they produce the benefits of traditional saunas without the extreme heat of traditional steam saunas. The infrared rays penetrate tissue deeply, yet infrared saunas are cooler, and do not use as much electricity as traditional saunas.
One disadvantage of traditional saunas is that they are more likely to cultivate bacteria and other harmful microorganisms in the humid air, because warm, moist air is preferred by these microorganisms. Infrared saunas do not heat the air to the point where microorganisms multiply rapidly, and they are ready to use pretty much as soon as they are switched on.
Infrared saunas are not all alike, however. The exact wavelength of the infrared light and the amount of heat given off will vary from one manufacturer to another. There are heaters that produce infrared heat in a very comfortable and beneficial wavelength but don’t produce enough IR energy to give a good infrared sauna experience. And there are infrared saunas that give off high levels of infrared energy, but in a wavelength that the human body doesn’t respond to as well.
When it comes to choosing an infrared sauna, it is a good idea to find one that has an ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories) seal. This seal is assurance that the sauna is electrically safe and complies with electrical codes and requirements. Non-compliance could mean electrical hazards are present, so it is wise to search for an infrared sauna that has earned the ETL seal. The seal is given to companies after rigorous product testing and inspection of the company. The product is disassembled, inspected, and compared to US and Canadian standards and regulations. After a product is tested and approved, the manufacturer is inspected to ensure that adequate quality controls are used to ensure uniform high quality of products.
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