There aren’t any studies that directly compare different types of sauna, so it’s not clear whether one is better than the other. Because they heat exclusively with infrared light, infrared (IR) saunas can produce similar increases in body temperature while creating lower ambient temperatures.[1] Theoretically, IR saunas may be able to penetrate the skin and act on deeper tissues, but it’s not clear whether this garners any extra benefits.[2][3]
Given that IR sauna can produce heating effects similar to traditional Finnish sauna but at lower ambient temperatures, it would be interesting to see how much the sensation of heat on the skin modulates the apparent benefits of sauna.
References
- ^Joy N Hussain, Marc M Cohen, Nitin Mantri, Cindy J O'Malley, Ronda F GreavesInfrared sauna as exercise-mimetic? Physiological responses to infrared sauna vs exercise in healthy women: A randomized controlled crossover trialComplement Ther Med.(2022 Mar)
- ^Vatansever F, Hamblin MRFar infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications.Photonics Lasers Med.(2012-Nov-01)
- ^Laukkanen JA, Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SKCardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence.Mayo Clin Proc.(2018-Aug)