08/18/2025
Infrared vs. Finnish Sauna — What is best according to science? I get asked this question all the time
Here’s what you should remember; They’re not the same thing and they’re not interchangeable.
While both make you sweat, the mechanisms, temperatures, and health outcomes vary dramatically. It’s not about which is better—it’s about what your goals are (I know I always say this, but it’s because it’s often not so black/white) how your body responds, and what the science tells us.
Let’s break down what research shows about these two popular forms of heat therapy:
🔥 Traditional Finnish Sauna
Air heated to 80–100°C (176–212°F)
Uses dry heat + water over hot stones
Typical session: 10–20 minutes
Promotes intense whole-body thermal stress
Evidence-Based Benefits:
A 20-year study of Finnish men (Laukkanen et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015) found that frequent sauna use (4–7x/week) was associated with:
✅ 63% ↓ risk of sudden cardiac death
✅ 50% ↓ risk of fatal heart disease
✅ 66% ↓ risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
âś… Improvements in blood pressure, vascular function, and inflammatory markers
Infrared Sauna
Lower temperature: 40–60°C (104–140°F)
Uses infrared light to heat your body directly (not the air)
Sessions can last up to 45 minutes
More tolerable for heat-sensitive individuals
Emerging Benefits:
While long-term data is limited, current studies suggest:
âś… Pain relief (e.g., fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, muscle soreness)
âś… Reduced inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-alpha)
âś… Improved HRV and parasympathetic tone
âś… Enhanced recovery, detoxification, and mitochondrial health
So… which one should you use?
➡️ Finnish sauna has more robust longitudinal data, especially for cardiovascular and neuroprotective benefits
➡️ Infrared sauna offers a gentler, more accessible option, particularly useful for chronic pain, inflammation, or heat-sensitive users
My advice:
Both are valuable tools—but they offer different types of stress, and therefore different physiological responses. Your ideal choice depends on your body, goals, and recovery needs.
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Susanna Søberg, PhD.