What is the Difference Between Red Light Therapy and Infrared Saunas?

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. 
5/5 - (1 vote)

Key Takeaways: Difference Between Red Light Therapy and Infrared Saunas

  • Mechanism of Action:
    • Infrared saunas use far infrared wavelengths to directly heat the body, increasing core temperature to promote health benefits.
    • Red light therapy employs red and near-infrared wavelengths, stimulating cells and mitochondria for enhanced ATP production without significant heat.
  • Health Benefits:
    • Infrared saunas induce thermal stress, mimicking a fever’s self-healing process, which can aid in relaxation, detoxification, and pain relief.
    • Red light therapy provides cellular energy, aiding in repair and healing processes without adding cardiovascular stress.
  • Usage and Application:
    • Infrared saunas are primarily used for heat therapy, offering benefits like muscle relaxation and improved circulation through elevated body temperature.
    • Red light therapy focuses on cellular level improvements, including increased energy production and enhanced recovery, without the high temperatures of saunas.
  • Complementary Use:
    • While both treatments offer unique advantages, they are not interchangeable but can be used together to maximize overall health and well-being.

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: A Classic Approach to Relaxation

How They Work

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. 

Unique Features

Inside a traditional sauna, rocks play a crucial role. They not only aid in the heating process but also allow users to pour water over them. This action releases steam and increases humidity, making the sauna experience more pleasant by combining high temperature, moisture, and steam.

Benefits

The use of traditional saunas has been a long-standing practice, valued for its ability to provide relaxation through a blend of heat, humidity, and steam.

Infrared Saunas: Modern and Direct Heating

How They Work

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.

Temperature Range

Infrared saunas provide heat at a lower temperature than traditional saunas (120-140 degrees Fahrenheit), making them a comfortable option for many users.

Key Differences

These saunas stand out for their ability to deliver heat directly to the body without the need for ambient air warming. This method is believed to offer distinct health advantages, which are currently under study for their full effects and benefits.

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. 

Table: Features of Red Light Therapy vs. Infrared Saunas

See the table below for a full overview of the features of red light therapy vs. infrared saunas.

Feature Red Light Therapy Infrared Sauna
Principle Uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular repair and increase energy production at the mitochondrial level. Uses infrared heaters to warm the body directly, promoting sweating at lower temperatures than traditional saunas.
Primary Benefits
  • Enhances skin health (reduces wrinkles, scars, acne)
  • Promotes muscle recovery and reduces inflammation
  • Supports hair growth
  • Improves joint health
  • Detoxification through sweating
  • Relaxation and stress reduction
  • Pain relief
  • Improved circulation
  • Weight loss support
Session Duration Typically 10-20 minutes per session. Usually 20-40 minutes per session.
Frequency of Use Can be used daily for optimal results. Generally recommended 2-4 times a week.
Sensory Experience Direct exposure to light, minimal heat sensation. Whole-body heat exposure, promotes intense sweating.
Accessibility Portable devices available for home use; also offered at wellness and beauty clinics. Available at spas, wellness centers, or as at-home units (require more space and investment).
Target Audience Individuals looking to improve skin health, accelerate muscle recovery, enhance overall cellular function. Those seeking detoxification, relaxation, pain relief, and improved cardiovascular health.

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, Roseville, CA, Lake Zurich, IL, and soon coming to Idaho Falls, ID, 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 (FAQ)

Yes! The main commonality between red light therapy and infrared saunas is that they both use infrared light. Red light therapy uses near-infrared light, while infrared saunas use far-infrared light.

Red light therapy and infrared saunas can be used together, but even red infrared saunas can’t offer all of the same benefits as red light therapy, so they are not a replacement for it. Red light therapy and infrared saunas offer very different benefits.

RLT 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.

Share this post

INTERESTED IN OPENING AN AVANTI BODY?

Contact us to learn more!

FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU

RECENT POSTS

BLOGS BY MONTH

Premium Addons

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.