Infrared sauna vs Traditional sauna
If you are looking for a sauna that has lower temperatures but can still penetrate your body with heat, then an infrared sauna is the best option for you. Infrared saunas are designed to be used indoors only, so keep that in mind.
On the other hand, if you prefer steam, higher temperatures, and a more social setting, then a traditional sauna is probably the best option for you. Also, traditional saunas can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors. Here are some key factors that differentiate a traditionally heated sauna from an infrared heated sauna:
Heating method
Traditional saunas work by transferring the heat from the air around you into your body. This is also accompanied by heat transfer that happens due to steam condensation on the surface of your skin. As a result, your body starts its natural cooling process, which brings blood closer to the skin’s surface and opens the pores to release sweat. Traditional saunas are simple but effective. A single heater is used to heat the air, and that hot air heats the user.
On the other hand, an infrared sauna session can feel very different than a traditional sauna session. For one, you don’t necessarily need to be in a steamy room to reap the benefits of an infrared sauna.
Infrared saunas work by emitting a wavelength of light that your body absorbs. This absorption causes your body to heat up, which then activates more pronounced sweating. Because you’re not dealing with a steamy environment, some people find infrared saunas to be more comfortable and tolerable than traditional saunas.
Humidity
Another important difference between traditional and infrared saunas is the level of humidity. Traditional saunas have much higher levels of humidity, which some people believe provides additional benefits such as opening pores and promoting better sleep.
Saunas that use infrared technology do not produce steam, thus having lower levels of humidity. People who enjoy using these saunas say that the sweating they induce can help detoxify the body and lead to weight loss.
However, it is often omitted that steam is the main contributor to raising the body temperature. As the steam condenses on the surface of the skin the heat is transferred from the steam to the body. This heat transfer is more efficient than from the dry hot air. So, if you target to maximise the health benefits from the use of the sauna and its hot temperature then the high humidity sauna is for you. Dr. Michael Ruscio has summarised well the health benefits of the use of the two types of saunas in his article “Infrared Saunas vs. Traditional: Which Is Better?”. It also had been backed up by scientific research.
