Unlike a traditional sauna, infrared saunas don’t heat the air around you. Instead, they use infrared lamps (that use electromagnetic radiation) to warm your body directly; only about 20 percent of the heat goes to heat the air and the other 80 percent directly heats your body.
These saunas use infrared panels instead of conventional heat to easily penetrate human tissue, heating up your body before heating up the air. An infrared sauna can operate at a lower temperature (usually between 40˚C and 60˚C) than a traditional sauna, which is typically between 65˚C and 80˚C.
The heat generated from infrared penetrates more deeply than the warmed air of a traditional sauna. This allows you to experience a more intense sweat at a lower temperature. This environment is more tolerable, which allows you to stay in the sauna longer while increasing your core body temperature by two to three degrees.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING A SAUNA?
The supposed benefits of using an infrared sauna are similar to those experienced with a traditional sauna. These include:
• Better sleep • Relaxation • Detoxification • Weight loss • Relief from sore muscles • Relief from joint pain such as arthritis • Clear and tighter skin • Improved circulation • Help for people with chronic fatigue syndrome