When you enter a sauna, you expect to feel the hot, intense heat from traditional heating stones and steam. However, an infrared sauna has a feeling of warmth that is gentler and penetrates deeper inside your body than you might imagine. An infrared sauna is a modern technology that provides you with this experience by using significantly lower air temperatures-typically between 40°-60°C (104°-140°F)-than standard Finnish saunas (70°-100°C / 158°-212°F). The difference between the two types of saunas is that an infrared sauna does not heat the ambient environment; it heats your body directly instead. This is the essence of an infrared sauna's design and is why the question, "Why do infrared saunas operate at a lower temperature?" relates directly to the scientific aspects of infrared radiation, human physiology and holistic health. The principles of direct energy transfer demonstrate that infrared saunas allow for heating tissue deeply without exposing you to the extremes of environmental conditions that might be uncomfortable for many. Likewise, the reasons for their increased popularity as a method for detoxification, relaxation, pain relief, and cardiovascular health can be understood by grasping these principles.
Direct Energy Transfer Heating Your Body and Not The Air
The reason infrared saunas can operate efficiently and comfortably at much lower ambient air temperatures than traditional saunas is due to the physics of infrared radiation itself. Traditional saunas rely on convection (the movement of hot air), followed by conduction (the transfer of heat to your skin), to provide your body with intense heat. However, infrared saunas use radiant heat as their source of heat. Infrared heaters produce electromagnetic waves within the infrared range; this energy is outside of the visible spectrum for the human eye but can be sensed as a soft, comforting heat.While this radiant energy travels through the atmosphere with extreme efficiency, the vast majority of infrared radiation is absorbed by your skin and is also deeply penetrating the tissue of your body by several centimetres (i.e. about 1–3 inches). Unlike a microwave, which requires the air to be warmed to superheated levels, infrared energy directly heats the object (in this case, your body) that it comes in contact with. To put it simply, it is similar to how the sun warms your skin on a cool day-while the air is only moderately warm, your skin feels quite warm because it is absorbing infrared radiation directly from the sun. Infrared saunas mimic this process to create a deep core heating effect without an uncomfortable atmosphere that is overly hot (humidity) and hard to breathe in.
Thus, the lower air temperature of an infrared sauna does not mean that it is less effective. The lower air temperature of infrared saunas is simply a byproduct of the infrared sauna's superior heating approach. While the infrared energy passes through the air to its target (the body), it is the interaction with cells, water molecules, and tissues that directly raises the core body temperature, causing a much more pronounced sweat to occur.
When compared to traditional saunas, the lower operational temperature of an infrared sauna provides tremendous comfort and broadens usage to a larger segment of the population. Traditional saunas, which reach higher operational temperatures, can be uncomfortable, extremely warm-which can create the potential for health problems and injuries in those who may be hypersensitive to heat (i.e. individuals with cardiovascular conditions) or have been advised by a physician to avoid excess heat. The air in traditional saunas is generally warm/humid, which can impede air flow/breathability, and facilitate rapid dehydration and overheating.
The air in an infrared sauna is warm and dry but not excessively high in temperature; thus, users are able to breathe easily and sustain longer sessions (i.e. 30 to 45 minutes), which can enhance the therapeutic benefits.Most people tend to describe the overall experience from infrared therapy as a warm, relaxing, gentle feeling rather than feeling overwhelmed by hot temperatures. Because of this feeling of comfort, potential clients are likely to use the therapy on a consistent basis. Consistent use is essential for achieving the long-term health benefits that come from infrared therapy including improved circulation, long-term detoxification and decreased stress.
The gentler nature of infrared therapy also allows access to a much broader spectrum of users which includes older adults, those who may be experiencing infrared therapy for the first time and those who find traditional sauna sessions too challenging. Being able to gain the benefits from a deep internal detoxification through sweating without the uncomfortable experience of high temperature levels, and respiratory distress allows more users to practice wellness in a healthier manner.
The lower heat levels of infrared therapy allow for a different and in many cases, a more effective method of detoxification. While both types of sauna provide an opportunity to sweat as an expression of heat induced hyperthermia; in the case of infrared therapy, sweating occurs from the internal heating of the tissues, rather than only being the product of the emotional response of bringing the body temperature up to the point of feeling too hot.
By penetrating 1.5" to 3" below the dermis (skin level) infrared heat raises core body temperature more so than traditional saunas can do at significantly lower ambient heat levels. This occurs due to the interaction of direct infrared contact with the body tissues triggering a higher metabolic reaction and greater circulatory levels at the cellular level. Higher circulatory levels and metabolic activity create greater challenges in expelling toxins and heavy metals (i.e., Lead, Mercury and other environmental chemicals that are stored in fat cells and other types of tissue) from the body into the bloodstream for removal via the urine or sweat or both.Compared with sweat produced from aerobic exercise or sauna use, research has shown that sweat produced by infrared-induced sources contains higher levels of toxins present in the human body. Because the infrared sauna operates at a significantly lower temperature than traditional saunas, the comfort level of users allows them greater opportunity to use an infrared sauna for lengthy periods of time, allowing them to experience an enhanced purification effect on the body as there is less physical stress to the body due to prolonged exposure to lower temperatures. People who use infrared saunas frequently report feeling rejuvenated and refreshed after use as opposed to being fatigued after use. With an infrared sauna, the body is not stressed from the heat, but rather is supporting itself during its normal elimination process, similar to how people get hydration from drinking water following exercise.
Targeted therapeutic benefits and safety
The concept of using direct transfer of heat through radiant energy (infrared) is used specifically to achieve targeted measurable outcomes in health care. Deep penetrating waves promote vasodilation (expansion) and increased circulation of blood vessels to muscles, joints, and ligaments. This enables the transport of more oxygen and nutrients to the afflicted area(s) of the body and aids in the flushing of metabolic wastes, such as lactic acid, from the body.
Infrared saunas are effective for alleviating pain associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and muscle soreness; as well, they promote recovery from joint stiffness. This is due to the fact that infrared therapeutic applications warm muscle tissue and promote recovery without the risk of burns or overheating that accompany the use of hot packs or extremely high ambient temperatures. Since the air temperature is lower than in a steam sauna or traditional sauna, there is less thermal load on the cardiovascular system, allowing for safer cardiovascular training through additional circulation and sweating.
From a safety perspective, infrared saunas pose little risk of accidental burns to the user from coming into contact with hot surfaces or heat exhaustion as the temperature of the cabin and bench surfaces are much less than those of traditional or steam saunas, so the likelihood of experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness due to the excessive heat of the air is greatly diminished. The infrared sauna therefore provides a safer and more predictable environment for heat therapy to be administered, particularly for those who require it for home use.
In conclusion, the use of lower temperatures in the infrared sauna is not a limitation but rather a deliberate decision based upon the use of radiant heat that warms the body directly and deeply without the need to heat air excessively. This method is much more comfortable and user-friendly, making it more effective than conventional sauna use for detoxification, relaxation, and pain relief. Radiant heat is also a paradigm shift from using extreme temperature changes to treat the body to the use of targeted therapeutic energy to nurture the body with warmth, enabling users to achieve the same type of detoxification without the extreme cold and/or hot air.