A common question that we receive here at Avanti Body is: “what is the difference between red light therapy and infrared saunas?” Saunas and red light therapy are both natural treatments that provide numerous health benefits, but they work very differently. In today’s post, we’ll explore how each therapy works and some of the key differences between the two.
How do Saunas Work?
Saunas work by emitting dry heat, which raises your body’s core temperature. All of the health benefits that saunas provide rely on inducing thermal stress in your body. It’s kind of like when you have a fever, as this is the body’s way of healing itself. The heat can be delivered either by convection or with infrared light.
- Traditional Saunas: Traditional saunas are heated by warming the air inside the sauna through convection—temperatures usually reach between 150 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. These often have rocks, and some people like to pour water on them to raise the humidity levels in the sauna.
- Infrared Saunas: Unlike traditional saunas, infrared saunas don’t heat the air but actually heat the objects inside the sauna room, including you! These saunas use far infrared wavelengths to deliver heat directly into your body. Infrared saunas provide heat at a lower temperature than traditional saunas (120-140 degrees Fahrenheit). Check out our post on the differences between red, near-infrared, and far infrared wavelengths to learn more.
What are the Health Benefits of Red Infrared Saunas?
More research still needs to be done on the health benefits of infrared saunas, but users report similar benefits to traditional saunas, which have been used for thousands of years. Most of these benefits come from increased cardiovascular function caused by the heat. They include:
- Relief from insomnia
- Relaxation
- Detox
- Weight loss
- Reduced muscle pain and soreness
- Decreased joint pain
- Improved circulation
- Relief from chronic fatigue syndrome
- Lower blood pressure
What is the Difference Between Red Light Therapy and Infrared Red Saunas?
For starters, infrared saunas use heat to work, whereas red light therapy emits almost no heat. As we talked about earlier, infrared saunas heat your body through the use of far infrared wavelengths. The Avanti Body System uses red and near-infrared wavelengths applied directly to the skin, which better penetrates your cells, stimulating your mitochondria and ultimately causing additional ATP production—without the use of heat. This is an important distinction. Red and near-infrared wavelengths give your cells energy without the stress on your cardiovascular system.
The Bottom Line
Infrared saunas can be used in conjunction with red light therapy, but they can’t provide all of the same benefits as red light therapy, so are not a replacement for it—as you can see, there is a significant difference between red light therapy and infrared saunas and the benefits they provide.
At Avanti Body in Vacaville, CA, and now in Scottsdale, AZ, and Lake Zurich, IL, with other locations coming soon, we are passionate about red light therapy. But don’t just take our word for it; see what our customers are saying about us! Whether you’re looking to speed up your weight loss, sculpt and tone your body, or just soak up the overall health benefits of red light therapy, we’ll show you the light!
Image by Ulrike Leone from Pixabay
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an infrared sauna have to have a red light?
Red light therapy and infrared saunas can be used together, but infrared saunas can’t offer all of the same benefits as red light therapy, so they are not a replacement for it. As you can see, red light therapy and infrared saunas offer very different benefits.
How many sessions of red light therapy does it take to see results?
This is not a one-time treatment for most skin problems, so you’ll probably need to keep getting it done. You’ll need to be seen once to three times a week for weeks or even months.
