Infrared Sauna vs Traditional Sauna

Infrared Sauna vs Traditional Sauna: What’s the Difference?

Saunas have long been celebrated for their ability to relax the body, clear the mind, and promote detoxification. Today, many people are discovering that infrared saunas deliver a very different experience and deeper benefits than traditional high-heat saunas.

At ETERNA Santa Monica, we use a Clearlight Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna, kept at 175°F, making it the hottest and most therapeutic infrared experience in town. But what exactly sets infrared apart from conventional saunas?

How Heat Works: The Core Difference

Traditional saunas use a heat source such as wood, gas, or electricity to warm the air, which then heats your body from the outside in. The air temperature usually reaches 180–200°F, creating an intense experience that can be difficult to sustain for more than 30 to 40 minutes.

Infrared saunas use infrared light waves that warm the body directly. These light waves penetrate up to two inches beneath the skin, gently heating muscles and tissues without drastically raising the air temperature. The result is a more comfortable and relaxing experience that promotes deep cellular detoxification, circulation, and recovery at lower temperatures. Most people achieve a deep, effective sweat in 20 to 25 minutes in ETERNA’s 175°F full-spectrum infrared sauna.

Benefits of Infrared Sauna

Infrared saunas offer all the relaxation and detoxification of a traditional sauna with added advantages supported by modern research:

• Deeper detoxification: Infrared heat mobilizes toxins stored in fat cells and helps flush them through sweat.
• Improved circulation: Increased blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients throughout the body for faster recovery.
• Reduced inflammation: Infrared light penetrates joints and muscles to ease soreness and stiffness.
• Cellular rejuvenation: Stimulates collagen production and boosts mitochondrial activity for skin health and anti-aging.
• Better tolerance: The lower air temperature allows longer, more effective sessions for those who are sensitive to heat.

For more on the science, frequency, and benefits of ETERNA’s Clearlight Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna, visit our Infrared Sauna page →.

Traditional Sauna: The Classic Experience

Traditional saunas are beloved for their simplicity and powerful heat. They raise your heart rate, open pores, and stimulate sweat, which supports circulation and temporary detoxification.

However, because traditional saunas heat the air first, they primarily affect the surface of the skin rather than deeper muscle tissues. The high heat can also feel overwhelming for some people, particularly those who are sensitive to dehydration or elevated heart rates.

Which Sauna Is Better?

If your goal is deep detoxification, glowing skin, and full-body recovery, infrared sauna therapy provides more measurable benefits in less time and at a temperature that most people find easier to tolerate.

Traditional saunas remain wonderful for those who enjoy the intense heat and ritual of the classic experience, but infrared is the evolution of sauna therapy — merging ancient wellness traditions with modern science and technology.

At ETERNA, our Clearlight Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna combines near, mid, and far infrared light for a complete body reset, enhanced with red-light therapy and double chromotherapy to uplift mood, support muscle recovery, and help the body rejuvenate from within.

The Takeaway

Both sauna types encourage sweating and relaxation, but infrared saunas reach deeper into the body’s tissues to detoxify, restore, and revitalize on a cellular level.

If you are seeking a more effective, restorative, and comfortable experience, try a session in our Infrared Sauna →and feel the difference for yourself. (LINK TO OUR SAUNA PAGE)