Are infrared saunas safe? What you need to know.

What is an infrared sauna?
People have known for thousands of years how beneficial ‘sauna bathing’ is for the mind, body and soul.

While traditional steam saunas have been around for thousands of years, infrared saunas are a comparatively new innovation - with the first models sold commercially from around the 1960s.

Since then, infrared saunas have fast grown in popularity for their many health and wellbeing benefits.

Typically, an infrared sauna is a wooden cabin equipped with infrared heaters designed to detoxify and heal the body.

Infrared saunas offer similar benefits to traditional steam saunas, without the extreme heat. Learn more about infrared saunas, how they work and their benefits in this detailed article.

Is infrared heat safe?
Infrared heat is completely safe. In fact, it is so safe, hospitals use similar heaters to warm newborn babies.

Infrared is a part of nature and essential for life. All objects give off and receive infrared heat.

The human body gives off and receives infrared in the far-infrared band. When a mother rubs a babies stomach to relieve pain, it is the infrared heat from her hand that is causing the healing effect.

What is infrared?
The largest source of infrared heat is the Sun. Infrared is a safe wavelength of light (or energy) which we feel as heat. Infrared heat is all around us.

You can feel it from sources like fire, heated sand on the beach, and the sun (without the harmful ultraviolet waves that the sun gives off).

The infrared spectrum consists of near (NIR), mid (MIR), and far (FIR) infrared waves, each with distinct characteristics and frequency ranges.

What are the infrared waves?
Just as visible light has a range of wavelengths (running from red to violet), so does infrared light.

The infrared spectrum consists of near (NIR), mid (MIR), and far (FIR) infrared waves, each with distinct characteristics and frequency ranges.

Longer wavelengths (or far infrared waves) are thermal, while short or near-infrared waves are not hot at all, in fact, you cannot even feel them.

How do infrared saunas work?
Infrared saunas have carbon or ceramic panels that generate infrared heat. This infrared heat can easily penetrate human tissue, heating your body before the air.

The infrared heat waves penetrate more deeply than warmed air, allowing you to experience a more intense sweat at a lower temperature.

As previously mentioned, infrared saunas offer similar benefits to traditional saunas, with a few differences.

For a start, they aren't nearly has hot. Infrared saunas usually operate between 46 to 57 degrees while traditional saunas can get up to 85 degrees. Some people prefer infrared saunas because of their lower temperatures and dry environment, while others enjoy the high heat and steamy atmosphere of traditional saunas. It really depends on your preferences which would suit you best.

What is EMF and ELF in an infrared sauna?
Most infrared sauna users are looking to improve health, making safety an important consideration when deciding what sauna to buy.

When purchasing an infrared sauna, it is important to consider the Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) and Electric Fields (ELF).

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)
EMF are energy waves with frequencies below 300 hertz or cycles per second. Magnetic fields are present whenever an appliance is using an electrical current. The US Environmental Protection Authority has put a 3mG (milligauss) safety limit in place for EMF levels for human exposure.

Although the current scientific evidence provides no definitive answers regarding EMF, there is enough uncertainty that some people want to reduce their exposure to EMF.

To reduce your exposure and minimise potential harm, it is important to choose a low EMF infrared sauna.

Extremely low frequency (ELF)
ELF is the electric field with frequencies from 3 to 30 hertz. The most common ELF field is radiated by utility power lines.

You’re exposed to these fields whenever you’re near electrical appliances of any kind. The Threshold of Concern level for ELF is 1,000 mV.

Health benefits of infrared saunas
Saunas have long been used for therapeutic and relaxation purposes and have been a part of traditional medicine for many centuries. Infrared saunas and traditional steam saunas both deliver many health benefits.

Over the years there have been numerous scientifc and medical studies on infrared heat and its effects on health and wellbeing.

Proven health benefits of saunas are:

Relieving stress
Lowering blood pressure
Relieving muscle and joint pain
Weight loss
Improved circulation
Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
Detoxification
And more...