Traditional saunas have been a standard part of many wellness aficionados’ health routines for years, but as technology has progressed, so too have the ways people pursue healthy living.
Today’s sauna options include the full spectrum infrared sauna, a type of sauna that utilizes light instead of steam to provide many of the same benefits. As such, full spectrum infrared saunas, particularly those that offer medical-grade red light therapy, are becoming an increasingly popular part of home wellness routines due to their potential benefits in immunity, recovery, and mental clarity.
What Are Full Spectrum Infrared Saunas?
Fundamentally, traditional saunas use a heating element to create an atmosphere that warms the user’s core body temperature, causing them to sweat and their heart to pump faster. Full spectrum infrared saunas achieve the same ends by instead using infrared light to directly warm up the occupant, allowing their core temperature to rise without drastically heating the ambient temperature.
Unlike alternatives like far infrared saunas, full spectrum saunas combine near, mid, and far infrared wavelengths to provide more comprehensive sessions of heat therapy. Since these saunas work by heating the body directly instead of the air around it, they penetrate the skin more deeply, purportedly providing the same benefits as traditional saunas, such as improved circulation, cellular stimulation, and sweat detoxification, without potentially stifling the occupant with steam.
Potential Benefits of Medical-Grade Red Light Therapy
Since infrared light is simply a wavelength of red light that is longer than the human eye can see, visible red light behaves similarly, drawing a connection between the applications of visible red light and infrared light. While infrared light’s potential benefits are still fairly under-researched, the benefits of medical-grade red light therapy are better understood and could provide insight into the benefits of full spectrum infrared saunas.
As an example, WebMD notes that “research shows red light therapy may smooth your skin and help with wrinkles. Researchers think it does this by stimulating collagen production, which helps improve skin elasticity. Research shows it also helps improve signs of sun damage.”
Red light therapy is also thought to support mitochondrial function and ATP production, helping with energy and healing. It may also reduce inflammation and accelerate muscle recovery, making it particularly useful when paired with infrared heat, which is believed to improve circulatory function by dilating blood vessels and increasing heart rate.
What to Look For in a Home Sauna Brand
Quality saunas are an investment that can last upward of 15 to 20 years with good upkeep, making one’s choice in sauna provider a lasting one. Although every home sauna retailer should be considered on a case-by-case basis, the best retailers, such as Peak Saunas, will usually offer saunas clearly designed for home use, featuring both top-tier materials and easy installation.
For sauna brands that offer full spectrum infrared sauna units, their products should include built-in medical grade red light therapy sauna features to get the most out of the device.
A Worthwhile Wellness Investment
Advanced and traditional saunas remain a mainstay in wellness, with users lauding them for their cleansing and stimulation abilities. Full spectrum infrared saunas represent the latest developments in sauna technology, providing these and other potential health benefits while avoiding the discomfort that some users experience with traditional saunas. Full spectrum infrared saunas represent exciting developments in wellness and at-home health.
FAQs
Q: What is a full spectrum infrared sauna?
A: It is a sauna that emits near, mid, and infrared waves, each of which targets different layers of tissue to possibly provide relaxation, detox, and recovery benefits.
Q: Does red light therapy really help?
A: Some research suggests medical-grade red light therapy may assist healing, reduce inflammation, and improve skin health and energy levels.
Q: Why are more people choosing home saunas?
A: Home saunas offer greater convenience, long-term savings, and customizability than those found at public spas or wellness clinics.
