Infrared Sauna Temperature: The Expert Guide
You probably know that the key to how a sauna works is heat. As you sit inside, you get progressively warmer and begin to sweat.
And while infrared saunas work similarly, there are some key differences to note when it comes to infrared sauna temperature.
While heat and sweating are still central to how an infrared sauna works, the temperature they get to is very different from a traditional sauna and you may be surprised if you haven’t used one before.
This guide will explain everything you need to know about infrared sauna temperatures so you can get the most out of your experience.
What Temperature Do Infrared Saunas Go To?
Most infrared saunas will reach a max temperature of around 60-65°C (Sun Stream Saunas have a max temperature of 65°C). This is certainly on the lower end compared to other ambient heat products like traditional saunas.
Here is the breakdown of other product temperatures:
- Dry saunas typically reach a maximum temperature of 80-90°C
- Finnish saunas typically reach a maximum temperature of 100-110 °C
- Steam rooms typically reach a maximum temperature of 40-45°C.
But just because an infrared sauna may not reach the same temperature as a traditional sauna, it isn’t because of a lack of effectiveness.
How Infrared Saunas Work?
The way infrared saunas work is by having infrared heaters which, when turned on, emit infrared light. This infrared light will directly penetrate the skin and gently warm up the body. As your body gets warmer, you begin to sweat which is where the many benefits of infrared saunas can be seen.
While the ambient air temperature of the infrared sauna will rise, that isn’t the important factor. It is the direct light penetration that causes you to get hot and sweat, rather than the air around you.
Infrared Sauna Temperature vs Traditional Saunas
We have said that infrared saunas use infrared light to directly warm you up rather than warming up the air around you. Traditional saunas work differently.
These saunas get much hotter (100°C +), and warm up the air around you. As you sit in the hot sauna, you quickly feel very hot and begin to sweat. While the end benefits are very similar, the process of heating you up and getting you to sweat is very different.
Which Is Better?
We have created a full guide comparing infrared saunas with traditional saunas. However, when it comes specifically to temperature, there are some things to consider.
Infrared saunas have a much lower max temperature and are considered more comfortable to sit in, which is particularly valuable to beginners.
Infrared saunas heat up much faster (15mins) than traditional saunas (1 hour or more), which is much better if you are time conscious.
Finally, with infrared saunas, you have much better control of the temperature than you would with a traditional sauna.
What Temperature Should You Set Your Infrared Saunas?
For optimal results, you want to set your infrared sauna temperature at between 45-65°C. Any lower than that and you just aren’t going to sweat enough in your sessions which means you’ll be losing out on the benefits of your sauna.
On the other end of the spectrum, any higher than 65°C would be really uncomfortable and could lead to problems like dehydration and fatigue which is why Sun Stream Saunas don’t go any higher than 65°C.
Tips For Managing Infrared Sauna Temperature
Finally, here are some tips to help you manage the heat of your infrared sauna so that you can have the best possible results and experience:
Listen to your body
Ultimately, you need to decide what you are comfortable with when it comes to the temperature. If you find yourself feeling too hot and are struggling with your sessions, then lower the temperature or shorten the duration of your infrared sauna sessions.
Drink water before and after
Dehydration should be avoided at all costs. Before and after your infrared sauna sessions, make sure to drink plenty of water as you will lose a lot of water through sweat.
Wear minimal clothing
You don’t want to wear much more than a bathing suit when in an infrared sauna. The infrared light can struggle to penetrate your clothes which means you’ll be losing out on the benefits.
Wear a sauna hat
When people feel too hot in any type of sauna, often the issue is that their head has become too hot. A sauna hat can help insulate your head from the heat making your sessions much more comfortable.
Final Considerations
Infrared saunas do rely on heat to make you sweat but not nearly as much heat as a traditional sauna. Most infrared saunas won’t have temperatures any higher than 65°C as they don’t rely on the ambient temperature to warm you up.
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what to expect when it comes to the temperature of infrared saunas. If you’re interested in your own infrared sauna, then get in touch with Sun Stream Saunas today.