Infrared Red Light Sauna

All this attention begs the question: is one better than the other? And—do you even have to choose? 

Actually, you don’t. When comparing  red light therapy vs infrared saunas, it’s clear that both provide a  number of health benefits, although in very different ways. Saunas are one  of the oldest therapies around, and they rely on heat. Red light therapy is a cutting edge technology that relies on light.  How they both work—and how they can work together.

Heat-based therapies have been around for millennia.  From Turkish baths, to Mayan sweat houses, to Japanese onsen, the  ritual of getting hot and sweaty for therapeutic purposes has a sacred  place in many cultures. 

 With dry heat and temperatures oscillating between 150 and 185º F. The sauna-goer lingers  in this hot little space, sweats profusely, and emerges feeling  refreshed and all a-glow.

Infrared heat works something like this: Imagine a  sunny day in the middle of winter. The air around you is cold, but the  sun warms your face. That’s the sun’s infrared rays at work, warming  your face as they penetrate your skin. You feel the warmth despite the  cold ambient temperature of the air around you.
Infrared saunas use radiant heat coming from an IR heat lamp, which  directs warmth toward the body as well as other objects in the room.  

What this means is that the air inside an infrared sauna doesn’t need  to be really hot in order for you to sweat. In fact, infrared saunas  maintain an ambient heat of 110 degrees F to 130 degrees F, which some  people find more comfortable than the range of traditional saunas.  Infrared saunas still make you sweat—a lot—thereby generating all the  benefits of a traditional sauna, but with less overall stress on the  body.

Most infrared sauna models rely on light waves in the far infrared  part of the spectrum, known as far infrared light (FIR). FIR light is the only kind of infrared light capable  of raising your core temperature in a way that simulates the heat  stress of traditional saunas and exercise. 

The research on FIR sauna therapy which studies shows that time spent in FIR saunas improved  quality of life in patients with Type II diabetes; improved cardiac and  vascular function in patients with chronic heart failure; and eased  pain, stiffness, and fatigue in patients with conditions like rheumatoid  arthritis. 

All things considered, FIR sauna therapy is one way for patients with  inhibitory health problems to feel the benefits of exercise without  actually doing it—and without having to withstand the intense  temperatures of a super hot Finnish sauna.

Near infrared light does not produce heat, so it won’t  light your internal fire the way FIR does. The warmth of an NIR sauna  comes from the incandescent light bulbs that power its heat lamps—and  those bulbs get awfully hot to the touch. 

 NIR sauna uses incandescent light bulbs  in order to harness a broader spectrum that includes therapeutically  beneficial light bands—namely, red light wavelengths , and near-infrared wavelengths. These  bands of light have been scientifically proven to yield benefits for  humans—and they happen to be the same ones harnessed in red light  therapy. 

They heat the body in order to  activate physical benefits, in the same way traditional saunas do. These  physical benefits include: 

Activating heat shock proteins, shown to bolster the immune system and repair cells;

Increasing blood flow to enhance recovery and endurance, post-exercise;

Sweating  out toxins. Note that some manufacturers falsely claim that infrared  saunas make you generate sweat that contains up to 20% more toxins than  that which is generated by traditional saunas. There is zero evidence to  back this up. 

Infrared saunas are less hot than traditional saunas—and thus more comfortable for some people. 

Most infrared saunas employ far infrared light waves, which are more effective at generating heat. 

Some  infrared saunas use near infrared light waves, which don’t generate  heat;  rather, the warmth in the sauna space is due to heat emitted from  incandescent light bulbs.  

When comparing red light therapy vs. infrared saunas, it’s important to remember that red light therapy employs light, while infrared saunas employ heat. Both  technologies deliver therapeutic benefits, but they do so in ways that  are completely different to one another—yet also potentially  complementary. Red light therapy is the process of targeting the body with specific  near-infrared and red light wavelengths that are recognized for their  unique therapeutic and regenerative results.  

The set-up alone makes for an all together different experience to  infrared saunas. There is no heat involved with red light therapy. The  LED lights themselves don’t get hot, and users don’t break into a sweat  or experience elevated heart rates, as happens in infrared or  traditional saunas. 

You might be wondering: What is it about red light therapy that’s so  magical? The answer has to do with the efficacy and quality of the  wavelengths that are being directed at the body.

• The 630nm wavelength is ideal for  addressing skin concerns. As they penetrate the skin cells and sebaceous  glands, these bands smooth out uneven pigmentation, and rejuvenate the  skin’s tone and texture. They’ve even been shown to help reduce the  appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and can also stimulate hair  regrowth. 

• The 660nm wavelength penetrates a little  deeper than the 630nm wavelength, and addresses issues pertaining to  the entire range of skin tissue. In multiple studies, the 630nm  wavelength has been shown to deliver anti-inflammatory effects, such as reducing swelling following an injury and reducing neuropathic pain. It's also shown to accelerate wound wound healing and reduce fatigue.

• The 810nm wavelength can penetrate  through the skull and into the brain, which means it offers a wealth of  neurological benefits, and could even play a role in future medical  treatments for brain disorders. Studies of the 810nm wavelength suggest  that it improves healing and recovery post exercise, improves stroke recovery among certain patients and even alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms. 

• The 830nm wavelength penetrates  deeper through skin and tissue into the bone to promote healing deep in  tissues. Studies of this wavelength have found that it accelerates healing of severe wounds and may help to ward off infection. It’s also been shown to promote bone repair and growth and help recover faster and recover faster after an injury.   

• The 850nm wavelength works  in concert with the other wavelengths mentioned to provide a wide range  of therapeutic and anti-inflammatory benefits, such as muscle recovery, collagen production for more radiant looking skin.

 Equally as important as the kind of  wavelengths used is the total energy output, known as irradiance. Red  light therapy LED devices must produce powerful levels of light in order  for the therapy itself to be effective.  

This brings us back to the subject of near  infrared saunas. While it’s true that these saunas emit some or all of  the five wavelengths mentioned above, they can’t do it with a fraction  of the irradiance seen in LED light therapy panels. 

LED red therapy, on the other hand,  is limited to only the most effective wavelengths, uncompromised by  other light waves, and delivered at incomparable irradiance. This  explains the superior function and effectiveness of LED red light  therapy over NIR infrared saunas, if we are looking strictly at the role  red and NIR light play in therapy.

Is it necessary  to choose between red light therapy and infrared sauna sessions? After  all, each takes a completely different approach to therapy. Let’s look  at a scenario where these different treatments could work in concert.  

Say  you’ve been experiencing mild but persistent back pain. One day, while  lifting weights at the gym, you feel a horrible pinch...and just like  that, you’ve thrown out your back. You’re in a lot of pain, and your  recovery plan includes physical therapy and just taking it easy—which is  going to be really hard because working out is your favorite way to  destress, and not being able to exercise is driving you crazy. 

In  this case, red light therapy and infrared saunas could provide a  one-two combo. Red light therapy has been shown to promote healing and  reduce inflammation and pain symptoms, potentially shortening your  recovery time. Infrared sauna sessions will simulate the heart-pumping,  blood circulating endorphin rush you crave while also potentially  helping you sweat out toxins. 

When comparing the two, think about exercise habits. Most people  indulge in more than one activity—be it yoga and running, lifting and  swimming, barre and rowing, or whatever you have time for. Red light  therapy and infrared saunas are different enough to be complementary,  and powerfully so. 

The benefits of Red Light Therapy include:

• Reduction of Chronic and Acute Pain
• Skin Rejuvenation (boost collagen & elastin production)
• Tissue Regeneration
• Wound Healing
• Muscle Recovery
• Muscle Conditioning
• Testosterone Boost
• Reduced Inflammation