Infrared Saunas and steam rooms are used to promote healing, wellness and relaxation.
However, there are some key differences between the two that you should understand before spending your money.
The most obvious difference is that infrared saunas use a heating element to generate infrared heat, while steam saunas rely on steam.
But there’s also more to it than that!
Let’s take a closer look at how each type of sauna works, its benefits and drawbacks, and what sets them apart.
What’s the difference between infrared and steam saunas?
If you’re in the market for a sauna, you have a couple of options.
You can go with an infrared sauna or a steam sauna. While there are benefits to both, it can be difficult to make sense of all the information available on each type of system so we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you choose the best type of sauna and get started on your path toward better health and wellness!
Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas have been around for quite some time, but they’re becoming more popular now.
These come in the form of a traditional hot tub or steam room, with the addition of infrared lamps that emit light at the same wavelength as human skin and can penetrate into your body up to two inches deep (compared to steam which only reaches about an inch).
The heat generated is milder than a traditional sauna, but it penetrates deeper into your body and produces better results.
They also tend to reach higher temperatures quicker than conventional saunas—though this depends on each manufacturer’s specifications.
Benefits of Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas are especially good for detoxing, losing weight, and improving circulation.
Infrared saunas can also help with pain relief (particularly back pain and arthritis), boost metabolism to help with weight loss, and improve skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema by increasing circulation and reducing inflammation in the body.
They may also be useful in treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
While steam saunas are effective at increasing sweating which helps release toxins from your body through your pores and skin—something that infrared saunas do not do as well—it does not have the same benefits on blood flow or metabolism an infrared sauna does.
Many people use infrared saunas for a variety of benefits, including:
- Reducing muscle soreness. Saunas help muscles relax after intense exercise or an injury by increasing blood circulation and relieving pain.
- Improving skin health. Infrared heat can help with acne, psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions such as cellulite, stretch marks and varicose veins by boosting circulation and removing toxins from the body via sweat.
- Helping with weight loss. Sweating is one of the best ways to lose weight because it burns calories while flushing out fat-storing toxins from your body! Being in an infrared sauna helps you sweat more efficiently than other saunas because they can reach temperatures up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (98 degrees Celsius) — much hotter than traditional steam rooms that only reach around 100-120 degrees F (38-49 C). This high temperature causes more water on your skin’s surface, making it easier for you to sweat; when combined with good hygiene habits like showering before using an infrared sauna you can get rid of even more toxins!
- Helping with detoxification & arthritis relief. Achieving deep relaxation during a session allows muscles throughout your body to relax completely, including those that cause tension headaches; this makes it easier for lymph nodes located throughout these areas which contain waste products carried away via sweat glands after sweating heavily during exercise periods such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT). The high number of calories burned per hour means that there are lots of opportunities available which may lead us towards making some healthy changes in our diet so they don’t affect us negatively at all times–especially if we plan on doing something else besides spending hours working out every day until we get results.
STEAM SAUNAS
Steam saunas are a great way to detox your body.
They help flush out toxins and improve circulation, making you feel better.
Using steam saunas regularly can also help with skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema by opening up pores and cleansing the skin.
There are many benefits to using steam saunas regularly:
- They’re good for your respiratory system because they help soothe respiratory irritation from colds or allergies. Steam from hot water is also known to reduce sinus congestion by opening up congested nasal passages; however, people with asthma may not be able to use this type of sauna due to their sensitivity towards humidity levels in closed spaces like bathrooms or closets where there aren’t any windows for ventilation (which would cause further damage if there were).
- The heat from steam can help relieve muscular tension and pain caused by arthritis while also improving circulation throughout the body thanks to its beneficial effects on blood flow when combined with exercise sessions such as yoga where these areas would normally feel stiff after sitting down long periods each day at work during office hours without doing anything physical outside of those hours either!
- Cleanses pores improve skin quality, and helps with weight loss by increasing your metabolic rate. All of this is because sweat contains toxins that are released through perspiration during a steam session.
- Helps detoxify from heavy metals and other toxins accumulated in your body over time (especially if you’re a smoker). Steam sauna sessions help flush out these harmful substances so they don’t build up again. The more often you steam, the better – so if at all possible, do it daily! There’s nothing like starting each day with an invigorating session in your home sauna packed full of essential oils for some extra aromatherapy benefits too 😉
How does an infrared sauna work?
Infrared saunas use infrared light to heat the air.
The infrared light bulb produces heat, and the fan circulates the heated air.
The infrared waves in the bulbs emit radiant energy, which is absorbed by your body and converted into thermal energy.
This process is known as thermogenesis or “heat generation.”
That’s why you feel so warm when you step inside an infrared sauna, even though it has less than half of a regular steam room’s temperature (130–160°F).
Because of all this, many people believe that infrared saunas are more beneficial than traditional steam rooms because they produce more sweat while remaining dry on your skin and less painful on sore muscles after a workout at the gym.
How does a steam sauna work?
A steam sauna uses hot water and a heater to create steam.
The steam fills the room, which increases your body temperature and causes perspiration.
This can help you lose weight, improve circulation, relax muscles, and breathe easier.
Steam saunas are usually smaller than infrared saunas because they don’t use heaters that generate as much heat as in infrared saunas do.
However, this type of unit might be the right choice if you’re looking for something portable or small enough to fit in your home’s bathroom or bedroom (or even on your patio).
Additionally, steam portable units are cheaper than full-sized infrared models—though both types have their place depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for!
Finally: note that some people may find that traditional methods of perspiration aren’t effective enough when it comes down to getting rid of toxins from their bodies; this is where detoxification comes into play as well as other cleansing methods such as dry brushing (more information here).
Which is best for pain relief?
Infrared saunas are better for pain relief.
Infrared saunas can help relieve the chronic aches and pains of arthritis, fibromyalgia and other conditions that cause chronic pain by increasing blood circulation. In addition to improving blood flow, infrared sauna therapy may also reduce inflammation in muscles, ligaments and joints.
Steam saunas are more effective for detoxification.
The heat from steam saunas is thought to loosen toxins in the body so they can be flushed out through sweat or urination.
Steam baths have been used as an alternative treatment for ailments such as high blood pressure, asthma, menstrual cramps and joint pain since ancient Egyptian times because of their ability to help flush out toxins from your body through sweating without exercising first like you do during a regular hot tub session at home!
Which is more therapeutic?
Both infrared saunas and steam saunas are equally therapeutic.
However, the steam sauna is more relaxing while the infrared sauna is more detoxifying.
Infrared Saunas are better at pain relief than steam saunas.
Steam Saunas are better if you are trying to lose weight because they help burn calories faster than an infrared sauna with a lower heat that won’t spike your body temperature as quickly or intensely as compared with a traditional hot air or steam room experience.
Infrared heat is more likely to reach deeper into soft tissues.
Steam saunas are more relaxing and detoxifying.
The steam helps to open up pores in your skin so the toxins can be released, including sweat, dirt, and oil.
Infrared heat is better at penetrating deep into soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This helps relieve pain and stiffness by increasing circulation in those areas.
Infrared vs. steam sauna, which is best?
Steam saunas are better for detoxification. The moist heat from a traditional sauna is one of the best ways to sweat out toxins from your body and cleanse it of harmful substances.
A steam room will also help with detoxification because you’ll be sweating, but there’s no direct contact with an infrared lamp like there is in an infrared sauna—you won’t feel as warm or relaxed during your session if you opt for a steam room instead of an infrared one.
Infrared saunas are better for relaxation and muscle pain relief.
If you’re looking to relax after work or on weekends, get into an infrared room! It’ll do wonders for stress relief and help loosen up tight muscles (which can make all kinds of ailments worse).
Because they have higher temperatures than most steam rooms, they’re also better at relieving chronic pain caused by arthritis or fibromyalgia—plus, they promote faster healing when used on injuries such as sprains or broken bones!
The general benefits of saunas
What are some benefits that a sauna can provide? Saunas offer many health benefits, such as:
- Promoting detoxification and increasing circulation
- Reducing stress and improving sleep quality
- Relieving muscle tension and improving skin tone
- Helping with weight loss
Infrared vs. steam sauna health benefits
You may want to know that infrared saunas are more effective than steam saunas. Infrared, which heats your skin directly, is better at targeting specific ailments and conditions such as pain relief, weight loss, and detoxification.
Steam saunas help you relax, reduce stress and improve your sleep. They can also give you more energy during the day by increasing circulation in the body.
Generally, both types of sauna have health benefits such as reducing inflammation and improving circulation throughout the body (including organs).
Conclusion
We’ve covered the benefits and drawbacks of both infrared and steam saunas. Ultimately, it comes down to what you’re looking for.
If you have a lot of pain in your body that needs to be relieved, then an infrared sauna might be better because it can penetrate deeper into soft tissues.
On the other hand, if your goal is more therapeutic or relaxation-based (like being able to breathe deeply), then a steam sauna would be better suited for those purposes.
We hope that by reading through this article, you can make an informed decision about which type of sauna is best for you.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and what works best for each person!
