Kan Dail
Saunas are perfect for taking your body on vacation – they help you relax.
Infrared saunas and red light therapy are both recognized as popular healthcare technologies. Although both are beneficial for physical, behavioral, and psychological welfare, they have their own differences!
But how exactly can you differentiate between them?
Well, infrared saunas, as their name suggests, use infrared light to produce high temperatures that make you sweat off your toxins. On the other hand, red light therapy uses low-wavelength red lights to generate beams that can cure your skin problems.
Sounds fun? We’ll provide you with the ultimate comparison to assist you with your perfect pick.
Infrared Sauna Vs Red Light Therapy: The Ultimate Comparison
Both infrared saunas and red light therapy are popping up in almost every salon or gym. Plus they can be accessible at home! Let’s start our comparison:
| Key Differences | Infrared Sauna | Red Light Therapy |
| Heat vs Light | Emits radiant heat | Absorbs low-wavelength red light |
| Prime Mechanism | Heat causes sweating | Red light improves blood circulation |
| Health Benefits | Relaxation, detoxification, weight loss | Anti-aging treatments, healing, mood enhancement |
| Accessibility | Wooden sauna rooms and portable tents | Portable handheld devices and bulky beds |
| Safety Precautions | Stay hydrated, avoid excessive heat | Wear eye protection |
Heat vs Light
Infrared Sauna
Unlike traditional saunas, infrared saunas manipulate light into producing heat. These saunas use far-infrared light that is mainly further away in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are not absorbed by the skin but rather make your body all hot. In fact, the temperature of the surroundings is not heated up. Tiny infrared lamps that use electromagnetic radiation are projected directly at you. This slowly starts making you sweaty.
Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is solely based on light. Red lights have low wavelengths which are perfect for the body to absorb at a minimal level. That is why red lights work best for treating skin conditions. The lights do not pass deep into your skin but only into the dermal cells. It helps to stimulate your blood flow near the surface of your skin. So all your inflammations will gradually be reduced.
Prime Mechanism
Infrared Sauna
An infrared sauna uses light to generate heat. The heat is absorbed by the body raising the surrounding temperature. Your heart rate increases as you absorb heat while making you sweat profusely. So it basically mimics how you feel after doing vigorous exercise. The difference is you only had to sit and relax without doing any physical chores. Plus all your unwanted body toxins are released. Regular use can help with relaxation.
Red Light Therapy
Now red light therapy exposes your body to low-wavelength red lights and sometimes infrared lights. The lights are absorbed by your dermal cells. It helps to stimulate collagen production as well as increase your skin elasticity. Furthermore, this red light boosts blood circulation under your skin. It means your skin retains hydration a lot better than before. This makes the overall quality of your skin improve with regular usage.
Health Benefits
Infrared Sauna
First of all, infrared saunas help you relax. It also detoxifies your body while you are sweating. Sweating also helps to get rid of your fats, assisting you to lose weight. The deep heat can also help with muscle recovery and joint flexibility. So arthritis patients can relieve their pain by soaking up in the sauna. Plus your skin will feel a lot tighter. Chronic fatigue syndrome is also cured using infrared saunas.
Red Light Therapy
You will see a miracle in your skin conditions after using red light therapy. For elderly people, this helps to reduce signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, your acne scars as well as any emerging acne will disappear. Not only this red light will soothe your joint inflammation and encourage mobility. Mood enhancement can also take place with an improved sleeping schedule. So your overall appearance improves.
Accessibility
Infrared Sauna
Infrared saunas make you all sweaty. So it is recommended to shower to remove sweat and toxins from your skin. They come in the form of wooden sauna rooms in salons which can be shared by multiple people. However, there are also some portable options like sleeping bags and tents. Just plug them in and enjoy a salon-like experience. But pre-heating is required. So wait for fifteen minutes before using it.
Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy comes in the form of handheld, panels, and bed-like devices. Most of them are extremely handy and portable. You can easily store red light wands and face masks in your vanity. Just press a button and apply the red light to your affected area. You can also lie down and soak up the light. No sweating involved so no need for clean up afterward. It makes them extremely convenient.
Safety Precautions
Infrared Sauna
Make sure to stay hydrated during infrared sauna sessions. Avoid exceeding recommended session durations or temperature settings. Consult with a healthcare professional before using infrared saunas when suffering from health conditions, such as cardiovascular problems or heat sensitivity.
Red Light Therapy
Eye protection should be worn to shield the eyes from direct light exposure. Anyone with photosensitizing medical conditions like lupus should avoid this. Open wounds can also cause irritation under red light. Overall, red light therapy is generally considered safe with minimal side effects.
Bottom Line
Looking into the safety precautions, red light therapy can be a better option. However, both are undoubtedly effective in minimizing our physical and mental issues.
In short, an infrared sauna uses heat while red light therapy uses light. Infrared sauna makes you sweat out your waste and red light therapy increases your blood flow for better skin. As a result, infrared saunas detoxifies your body but red light therapy is involved in anti-aging treatments. For the infrared sauna, stay hydrated before you get into your sauna room and for red light therapy, wear eye protection before getting under the light.
However, it is entirely up to you to pick your desired therapy. So make sure to choose wisely!