Infrared sauna:
deep-reaching warmth

Infrared saunas are heated cabins that use infrared rays to warm the body. While traditional saunas, e.g Finnish saunas or Hamam saunas, warm up the air with the help of an oven, infrared saunas heat up the body directly rather than simply warming the air around you. In this way, no heat is lost and it can deeply penetrate the skin. The infrared rays are emitted by various infrared radiators that are usually installed in a wooden cabin. Instead of heating the air within the enclosure, infrared saunas heat the body directly and thus the temperature stays between a gentle 30 and 60 degrees celcius. There are no infusions in the infrared sauna, which is why humidity stays low.  An infrared sauna session usually lasts about 20 to 30 minutes. To keep the body temperature low, it is recommended to not exceed this limit.

Warmth produced by infrared rays – isn’t that harmful, you might ask. The answer: no, not at all! Infrared rays usually emante from the sun. They are the reason why our skin gets warm under sunlight, and are not to be confused with UV rays (that are especially harmful after a botox treatment). Depending on the heat source, we differentiate between three types of infrared rays which penetrate the skin to different depths due to different wavelengths. In healthy people, no harmful effects have been reported with infrared saunas. But if you suffer from certain pre-existing conditions – e.g. sensitivity disorders, epilepsy, high blood pressure, circulatory problems, thrombosis, paralysis, skin conditions and major scarring – please consult your physician before using this type of sauna.

At the right frequency and duration, infrared sauna sessions have several health benefits. The deep penetrating warmth relieves tension as well as muscle and joint complaints, stimulates blood circulation and tissue metabolism, and promotes detoxification. It strenghtens the immune system and alleviates chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract. Furthermore, sessions in the infrared sauna help with skin problems as well as heart and joint conditions and thus improve overall well-being.