Yes, infrared sauna is perfectly safe for the majority of people. They use a natural form of energy called infrared light – the same light that warms us from the sun. If you have any doubts or have an underlying condition you should consult a doctor before using an infrared sauna.
IS INFRARED SAUNA SAFE?
Infrared saunas are safe to use for most people. They use a type of heat called infrared light energy. This is a natural type of heat source – the same source of heat that warms our bodies from sunlight or an open fire.
It should not be confused with harmful UV rays that can damage the skin and the eyes. In fact, infrared light is the preferred option in hospitals to keep newborn babies warm.
MEDICAL ADVICE
However, as with any therapy, you should consult a doctor if you have any underlying health conditions or concerns before beginning infrared sauna.
Saunas have been used for thousands of years around the world for their wide range of health benefits.
Check out the Best Infrared Home Sauna – over here. And, see below for a number of conditions that may affect your suitability for infrared sauna.
SAUNA SAFETY – RISKS & BENEFITS
Safety and protecting your health should always be your number one priority. Therefore, we recommend that anyone who has any underlying health condition or concern about using an infrared sauna to consult a doctor before beginning infrared sauna heat therapy.
If you have any concerns at all you must seek the advice of a medical professional to make sure infrared sauna is safe for you. See below for a range of conditions that may affect your ability to use an infrared sauna.
Once you have consulted your doctor and gotten the all-clear to go ahead – you’re in for a real treat. Infrared sauna comes with an incredible range of health benefits for the mind and body. No wonder they have been used around the world for thousands to promote health and relaxation.
THE HEALING POWER OF SAUNA
A sauna session is a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. As the body heats up and you begin to work up a sweat you will find your mind begins to calm and unwind. Stress levels are eased and your mood will be lifted by the ‘feel-good factor’.
The benefits of sauna are not limited to the relaxation of the mind and stress-relief. Infrared heat therapy has a wide range of physiological health benefits. It is an excellent way to promote the natural healing of the body.
Instead of reaching for a bottle of pills, infrared heat can ease and treat many physical conditions and boost health in the following areas:
- ARTHRITIS – more info
- LYME DISEASE – more info
- ECZEMA & PSORIASIS – more info
- ALZHEIMER’S & PARKINSON’S
- SYSTEM DETOX – more info
- HEALTH BENEFITS OF INFRARED SAUNA – more info
- PAIN RELIEF
- BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM & HEART HEALTH
- BOOST MOOD & RELAXATION
HOW TO USE INFRARED SAUNA SAFELY
There are a few practical considerations to take into account to make sure your sauna session runs smoothly: sauna temperature, duration of session, hydration, removing jewelry, and cool down. Below we cover everything you need to know about staying safe in an infrared sauna.
SAUNA TEMPERATURE
Infrared saunas run at lower temperatures than traditional Finnish saunas. This is because an infrared sauna heats the body directly and not the air inside the sauna cabin. This leads to a much more comfortable and enjoyable experience.
The best temperature for an infrared sauna is between 110-130° Fahrenheit. However, experienced users may be comfortable with pushing up the temperature dial to as high as 150°.
Beginners should start low and allow the body time to get used to the sauna experience.
In the interest of safety and to avoid overheating you should start low and gradually work your way up to a point you feel comfortable with.
DURATION
Staying safe in the sauna means avoiding overheating. This is where the length of your sweat session comes in. Make sure you’re not overstretching it.
If you stay in too long you run the risk of putting unnecessary strain on the body.
The general rule here is to not stay in longer than your body feels uncomfortable. Beginners should aim for 10-15 minutes. Shorter periods are good if this feels too long.
Then you can work your way up as you become used to the environment.
Experienced sauna users can do sessions of 30-45 minutes. Again, listen to what your body is telling you. If you feel like you are overheating – get out and allow your body to cool down.
HYDRATION
Stay hydrated. As your body temperature rises your heart rate will increase and you will begin to sweat. This is your bodies natural way of cooling down. Sweating is central to the health benefits of a sauna session.
However, when you sweat you lose water. And as you will be sweating for a considerable length of time – you need to replace these lost fluids.
Make sure you drink water or other suitable re-hydration drink and keep your water levels up. Dehydration can have serious effects on the body and you don’t want this to happen.
REMOVE JEWELRY
Is infrared sauna safe if you’re wearing jewellery? No, you need to remove all jewellery before beginning your session. Jewellery can become very hot and could damage the skin.
If you have any rings, bracelets, necklaces or ear-rings take them off before you get in.
COOL DOWN
Once you have finished allow your body time to cool down. The sauna will have risen your core body temperature and it will take time for your body to naturally cool back down.
A cool shower can be a refreshing way of cooling down and removing sweat. But allow at least 10-15 minutes for body temperature to fall back down to normal levels.
SAUNA BLANKETS
If you are using a sauna blanket you need to cover your body with clothes so that your skin does not directly touch the inside of the blanket.
From the neck down must be clothed – this means long-sleeved top, long bottoms and socks. See below for more info on using sauna blankets safely.
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CONDITIONS THAT CAN AFFECT SAFETY
Is infrared sauna safe if you have an underlying health condition? If you have any concern or underlying health condition consult with a doctor before beginning infrared sauna therapy. It is best to err on the side of caution when it comes to any potential health complication. Our advice is to seek professional medical advice.
See below for a list of conditions that may affect your ability to use an infrared sauna. It is not a complete list, and there may be conditions not on the list that will affect your ability to safely use infrared sauna. So, if you have any concerns at all – you should speak to a medical professional to determine if you can safely use an infrared sauna.
- RECENT SURGERY
- SKIN DISEASES/BURNS
- CANCER
- MALIGNANCY
- HEART DISEASE/ILLNESS
- PREGNANCY/BREAST FEEDING
- ABNORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE
- HEART DEFIBRILLATOR
- BREAST IMPLANTS
- BODY IMPLANTS
- ANY IMPLANTABLE DEVICE
- OSTEOPOROSIS
- ANHIDROSIS
- SPLANCHNIC DISEASES
- BROKEN BONES
- FEELING NAUSEOUS/HEADACHE
SAUNA BLANKET SAFETY
It is recommended that when using an infrared blanket sauna you completely cover your body in clothes. This protects your skin from any direct contact with the inside of the blanket and also helps soak up any sweat.
This means you will need to wear a pair of long leggings/bottoms, socks and a long sleeve t-shirt/sweatshirt. Your face will not be inside the blanket so it does not need to be covered. Sauna blankets are an excellent way of enjoying an infrared sauna in the comforts of your own home. They offer many advantages over a cabin-style sauna.
Firstly, they are very affordable and have a much lower price entry point. Their small compact size makes them easy to roll up and store out of the way when not in use. They are very easy to transport and can be taken on the road in the trunk of a car or a suitcase.
PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA OPTIONS
- SAUNA BLANKETS – click here
- PORTABLE SAUNAS – click here
- SAUNA TENTS – click here
- INFRARED MATS – click here
- HOW DOES AN INFRARED MAT WORK? – click here
WHAT IS INFRARED LIGHT ENERGY?
Is infrared sauna safe and what is infrared light? Well, there are only three ways heat can be transferred from one body to another – convection, conduction and radiation. Infrared, (IR), light energy is a form of radiation. It is a type of naturally occurring energy that is invisible to the human eyes.
Although we can not see it – we can feel it as heat. It is the same type of heat used in a toaster or heat lamp. The best example of an infrared energy source is the sun.
The sun heats the earth and all objects within its range with IR energy. It is the infrared energy in the suns light rays that warms us on a sunny day.
WHAT IS NEAR INFRARED & FAR INFRARED?
When you begin looking into the types of infrared light used in saunas you will notice people talk about ‘near’ and ‘far’. This is because thee infrared light spectrum can be divided into two categories, near-infrared light and far-infrared light.
The shorter waves within this spectrum are called near-infrared waves and are closer to visible light. The longer waves are called far-infrared waves and they sit closer to the microwave side of infrared.
Near-infrared waves don’t generate any detectable heat and are used in the likes of tv remote controls to change channels. Far-infrared waves emit heat and can be felt as heat generated by a fire or in rays from the sun.
Incredibly, the sun emits half of its total energy as infrared light. Aside from saunas, IR technology is commonly used in tv remote controls, night vision cameras, and fiber optic cables.
IS INFRARED LIGHT ON THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM?
Infrared light energy is 100% natural and is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Other types of radiant energy include radio waves, gamma-rays, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and microwaves.
IR is just a subcategory within the electromagnetic spectrum. It sits between microwaves and visible red light within the light spectrum. Their waves are longer than visible light with wavelengths in the range between 1,000 micrometers and 760 nanometers.
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About the Author
MAGNUS KARLSSON (BSc, MSc)
• Senior Editor at Home Sauna Heaven
As a native Swede, Magnus developed a deep fascination with the art of sauna bathing from an early age. Born and raised in the picturesque landscapes of Småland Sweden, he grew up in a family where sauna was deeply embedded in the community and daily routine. He graduated from Linnaeus University with a Master of Science in Health Science with a special focus on the “Comparative Analysis of Traditional Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas”.
Moving to the United States in his late twenties, Magnus worked as a health and fitness advisor in a well-known spa and wellness retreat in Malibu California. Over the next 12 years he became the spa’s leading sauna consultant and mentored colleagues on the benefits and applications of sauna therapy.
In 2019 he relocated to Florida to open his own wellness retreat in the Tampa Bay area. Here he continues to inspire others with the restorative power of sauna therapy. In 2020, he became senior editor of Home Sauna Heaven where he shares his deep understanding of infrared sauna and offers expert advice on its applications, benefits, and periodic product reviews.
