Infrared Vs Traditional Sauna

An infrared sauna radiates infrared non visable light at wavelength that will be directly absorbed by the body.

Infrared vs traditional sauna.

The infrared sauna is less time consuming than the traditional sauna because the infrared sauna does not rely exclusively on extreme high temperatures. Too much time in a traditional sauna can cause heat related exhaustion and dehydration. Some traditional saunas can get as hot as 185 to 195 degrees f which can overwhelm those who are sensitive to heat. This means that an infrared sauna can be heated to a lower temperature than a traditional sauna usually around 140 150 while subjectively producing the same effects.

A traditional sauna such as a steam sauna wood burning or electric sauna heats the air around the body. An infrared sauna heats the body directly while the traditional sauna heats the body through conduction and convection. Water is poured over the stones to raise humidity levels by producing steam. This means that power consumption is lower and as mentioned above these don t usually require specialized wiring.

Traditional saunas heat the room excessively to around 80 100 degrees celsius using an electric or wood burning stove. In comparison the infrared sauna warms the body in the same way that natural sunlight does using panels of light. Probably the most fundamental difference between an infrared sauna and a traditional sauna is the manner in which the sauna provides heat. Infrared saunas on the other hand use light to penetrate the skin and heat the body from the inside.

Traditional saunas are ineffective if there is no associated heat. In contrast to traditional saunas the infrared energy in infrared saunas directly heats the skin tissues and muscles without the need to dramatically warm the air around you. In a conventional sauna an electric heater heats the stones that radiate heat warming the walls and air around. Infrared saunas are also smaller easier to install and very user friendly.

It takes roughly an hour to reach optimal temperatures for a traditional sauna. In a far infrared sauna ceramic or metallic heating elements are used to create heat emitting mostly far infrared energy which does not penetrate as far into tissues but may have other benefits. A traditional sauna heats the air inside the sauna which in turn heats the body.