What is an infrared sauna?

There’s no good evidence that sweating in a sauna removes meaningful amounts of toxins. Your liver and kidneys do that job. In one small study, sweat from sitting in a sauna held lower levels of metals than sweat from exercise (Kuan et al., 2022). Enjoy the sweat for how it feels, not as a cleanse.

You’ll weigh a little less after a session, but almost all of that is water, and it comes back when you drink. Our post on sauna and weight loss looks at what the claims actually amount to.

Full spectrum describes the panels, which give off near, mid and far infrared. It makes the warmth feel even and quick to arrive. There’s no strong evidence that it adds health benefits over far infrared alone.

Not as deep as some brands suggest. A 2025 study found infrared did warm muscle, but the effect fell by around two thirds at 2.4cm deep (Reed et al., 2025). It mainly warms your skin and the tissue just beneath it.

The long term Finnish research linking regular sauna use with lower risks of heart disease and dementia was carried out in traditional saunas. It’s encouraging, but it doesn’t tell us whether infrared has the same effect.

There’s no evidence that they do. Infrared is non-ionising, so it doesn’t carry the energy of UV or X-rays (Health and Safety Executive). A Finnish study that followed 2,173 men for around 24 years found regular sauna use made no difference to cancer risk either way (Laukkanen et al., 2019). That study looked at traditional saunas, but it’s the best long term evidence there is.

EMF stands for electromagnetic fields, which come from anything electrical, from kettles to phone chargers. Our infrared panels are designed to keep the magnetic field low. We tested each cabin at full power after 85 minutes of running, taking readings 2cm from the panels. The highest reading in any model was 5.5 milligauss (mG), under our own limit of 6 mG, and most readings were 2 mG or less.

Speak to your GP before using any sauna if you have a heart condition or high or low blood pressure. The same goes for an implanted medical device, or medicines that affect how you cope with heat. If you’re pregnant, check with your midwife or GP first. NHS pregnancy advice is to keep cool and stop if you feel too hot or unwell. Our guide to when it’s best to skip the sauna has more.

No. In Finland, where saunas are part of everyday life, half of all sauna deaths involved alcohol (Kenttämies and Karkola, 2008). Alcohol makes it harder for your body to handle heat, so keep the two apart.

Not in normal use. Long, repeated exposure to any close source of heat, such as a hot water bottle or a heater, can cause a mottled rash called erythema ab igne (DermNet). Sit back on the bench rather than pressed against a panel for long periods.

For most healthy adults, a regular infrared sauna is a safe and relaxing habit, and some early research points to benefits for recovery. The evidence is newer and smaller than for traditional saunas, so treat bold health claims with care.

Yes. Because the air is cooler, the sweat usually takes a little longer to start than in a traditional sauna, but it builds steadily through a session.

Both are dry, as there’s no steam. The difference is how they heat you. A traditional dry sauna heats the air with a stove, while an infrared sauna warms you directly with panels.

It doesn’t produce steam, so it doesn’t need an extractor fan. A room with normal airflow is enough, as long as you keep 1m clear around any vents.

No. Red light therapy uses LED light at specific wavelengths aimed at the skin. An infrared sauna uses heating panels to warm you. Our cabins have LED lighting, but it’s there to set the mood, not for therapy.

Most people notice the relaxation straight away. For anything longer term, regular use matters more than long sessions. Two or three sessions a week is a sensible place to start.

No. They use far less power than a traditional sauna heater. Our running costs guide works through the numbers.

• Mero A. et al. (2015). Effects of far-infrared sauna bathing on recovery from strength and endurance training sessions in men. SpringerPlus. Read the study
• Tei C. et al. (2016). Waon therapy for managing chronic heart failure: results from a multicenter prospective randomized WAON-CHF study. Circulation Journal. Read the study
• Hussain J. and Cohen M. (2018). Clinical effects of regular dry sauna bathing: a systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Read the study
• Kuan W.H. et al. (2022). Excretion of Ni, Pb, Cu, As, and Hg in sweat under two sweating conditions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Read the study
• Reed E.L. et al. (2025). Muscle temperature increases during a single far infrared sauna session without changes in intestinal temperature. Journal of Applied Physiology. Read the study
• Jenkins E.J. et al. (2026). Far-infrared sauna exposure at 65°C elevates core temperature. Experimental Physiology. Read the study
• Laukkanen J.A. et al. (2019). Finnish sauna bathing does not increase or decrease the risk of cancer in men. European Journal of Cancer. Read the study
• Kenttämies A. and Karkola K. (2008). Death in sauna. Journal of Forensic Sciences. Read the study
• Health and Safety Executive. Introduction to radiation in the workplace
• DermNet. Erythema ab igne
• NHS. Exercise in pregnancy