Saunas are a great way to unwind from a busy day by sweating all the stress and fatigue away. Also, for people that are keen on their skin, saunas help open the clogged pores giving you a smooth skin.
It is also been said the heat in saunas help burn calories leading to weight loss. There are different types of saunas depending on what you want. There are low humidity and high temperature saunas, wood saunas, electric heated saunas, and infrared saunas.
Today, we’ll focus on infrared saunas and their side effects. Read on to learn more about infrared saunas, and their side effects.
What Is an Infrared Sauna?
Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air in the sauna, infrared saunas use infrared lamps to heat your body directly.
They are sometimes called “far-infrared sauna”, whereby the term, “far” means where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. They utilize infrared heaters to release infrared light that is absorbed by the surface of the skin as radiant heat.
Infrared saunas operate at a lower temperature between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit compared to conventional ones that use between 150 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Infrared Saunas Work
It is said out of the 100% heat emitted by infrared light, 20% heats the room, while 80% heats your body directly. Therefore, infrared saunas will heat your body first before heating the room.
It’s easier to stay in an infrared sauna because the environment is more tolerable since it’s not as hot as it is in conventional saunas.
The heat penetrates deeper into the skin which makes you experience an strong sweat yet at a lower temperature. Note that infrared heat raises your core body temperature by about three degrees.
Benefits of Using Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas allow you to relax your body and mind, which will enable you to sleep better. If you want to test this, be keen on the way you sleep the night after your sauna visit. Chances are, you’ll sleep better.
Saunas are a great way to detoxify your body. As you sweat, your body is flushing out toxins. The heat in saunas help burn extra calories, which helps in weight loss. Also, as you sweat, you lose water weight.
However, this can lead to dehydration if you don’t replace the water lost. If you have sore muscles and pains, saunas will help relax your muscles.
Using Infrared Saunas for Smooth Skin
Do you have a rough and clogged skin? Then you need to unclog your pores through sweating in the sauna. You will leave with a tighter and smoother skin.
Saunas are also said to relive people of joint pains like arthritis. For people suffering from allergies and sinusitis, saunas relieve them of blocked sinuses. The steam melts the mucus helping them to breathe better.
People that are known to have chronic fatigue syndrome, saunas can help them feel better by relaxing their muscles and joints. Saunas also help improve circulation.
Side Effects of Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas are known to cause low blood pressure or hypotension since it increases circulation in the extremities. Depending on your heat tolerance, infrared saunas cause mild to moderate heat discomfort.
Saunas are known to cause airway irritation. Given the dry heat generated in infrared saunas, it can lead to dehydration. Extreme exposure can even lead to heat exhaustion and stroke.
The Bottom Line
Infrared saunas are a great way to relax and have a great sweat. They are more convenient because their environment is not as hot as conventional saunas. Since, they first heat your body before the room, your skin will experience a deeper and intense sweat.
