Infrared Saunas vs. Finnish Saunas

This topic and page is one of the most viewed on our blog. Most people have owned or experienced one or the other but only a few people have had the opportunity to experience both.

Infrared saunas have not been on the market as long as traditional saunas , so most people are not as familiar with Infrared as they are with traditional saunas. We would like to take this opportunity to lend understanding to this long-misunderstood subject.

A (hot rock) or traditional Finnish sauna does not heat the body. The heating element heats only the air that surrounds it, which in turn results in an extremely hot environment, with air temperatures reaching as high as 180F to 220F. The user must splash water on the heating element in order to adjust the humidity to protect the body's (lungs, skin, eyes, etc.) mucous membranes.
An infrared sauna heats the body directly with infrared heat instead of the surrounding air, resulting in a much lower ambient temperature of typically 100F to 130F. Raising the humidity is not necessary within the sauna. An infrared sauna requires a much shorter warm-up time; this in turn saves electricity.

Because of the lower temperatures infrared saunas are much better suited for people who find extreme temperatures of the traditional sauna to be oppressively hot or claustrophobic. They are also more appropriate for people who suffer from chronic illness who may otherwise be unable to enjoy daily sauna sessions.

Due to these lower temperatures, you can stay in the sauna for longer periods of time. This gives you the benefit of being able to sweat more than you might using a traditional sauna.

Sweat Analysis
Unfortunately there is too much wrong information about the release of body toxins due to infrared saunas. The claims of 15-20% of your sweat contain toxins is completely misleading; many conditions in the human body affect how toxins are released.

We subscribe to the belief that infrared saunas will release more toxins than traditional saunas, but we do not agree with these unsubstantiated numbers.

Power Requirements
Most of our Gaia Saunas use a standard 110 volt, 15 amp power plug. Most Finnish saunas run at 240 volts and between 12 and 30 amps. Many sauna companies fail to pass this important information to the consumer so that you have to upgrade your homes wiring to accommodate Finnish saunas. Another benefit of infrared saunas is that all of our units except our 2 largest models run on standard 110 volt, 15 amp power. This is yet another advantage of infrared saunas. Our trained professionals will assist you in assuring your electrical requirements are within safety standards prior to purchasing any Gaia sauna.

Installation
Unlike Finnish saunas which usually must be built into the allotted space within your home because they come in pre-cut units, infrared saunas are modular. This means they come pre-built and ready to assemble. It is very rare to find a modular hot rock sauna which means the sauna is pre-built for you. Even if you did, it still would take 4 to 5 times as long to assemble as an infrared unit and usually needs upgrades to your home electrical wiring system. With an infrared sauna, if you move locations, because it's modular it disassembles easily to take with you.

Price
With Finnish saunas, they must be constructed predominately out of cedar. Cedar is a much more expensive wood but is needed because with Finnish saunas you need to splash water on the heaters. This exposes the unit to considerably more wear and tear, usually needing to be replaced between 5 to 7 years. This is not required with infrared saunas which is a great advantage because this translates into a lower price for the consumer. Also, infrared saunas do not require vapor barriers to insulate the unit.


Question & Answer?

Q: What is the main difference between the actual heat of an Infrared Sauna and a traditional sauna?
A: Infrared heat is actually energy, part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes other harmless waves like radio waves and visible light, and is therefore a “radiant” heat (don’t worry, it is not radiation, does not contain ultraviolet or x-rays, other areas of the spectrum). Finnish saunas use thermal heat, which heats the surrounding air.

Have you ever been outside on a sunny but chilly day? When the sun is on your body you may feel comfortably warm, but as soon as it is obscured by clouds, you immediately become chilled. The clouds effectively blocked all of the infrared heat coming from the sun.

How Infrared Heat Transfers to the Body

Heat

Heat transfer is the process of heat energy flowing from a source at a high temperature to a load at a lower temperature. The three forms of heat transfer are conduction, convection, and radiation (infrared.) Conduction occurs when there is a transfer of heat energy due to a temperature difference within an object or between objects in direct physical contact. Convection is the result of a transfer of heat energy from one object to another via a moving fluid or gas. Radiation heat transfer can occur by infrared, ultraviolet, microwave and radio waves. Infrared (electromagnetic radiant infrared energy) is the transfer of heat energy via invisible electromagnetic energy waves that can be felt as the warmth from the sun or a downwind fire or other hot object.

Electromagnetic

Infrared rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum:

Infrared energy travels at the speed of light without heating the air it passes through, (the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by carbon dioxide, water vapor and other particles in the air typically is negligible) and gets absorbed or reflected by objects it strikes. Any object with a surface temperature above absolute zero, - 460 ° F (-273 °C) will emit infrared radiation. The temperature of the object as well as its physical properties will dictate the radiant efficiency and wavelengths emitted. Infrared radiation can be compared to radio waves, visible light, ultraviolet, microwaves, and x-rays. They are all electromagnetic waves that travel through space at the speed of light. The difference between them is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. Infrared radiation is measured in microns (mm) and starts at .70 mm and extends to 1000 mm. Although the useful range of wavelengths for infrared heating applications occurs between .70 mm to 10 mm. .

What exactly is Infrared Heat?

Infrared heating is the transfer of thermal energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. True infrared heat should have one common characteristic: that the transfer of heat is emitted or radiated from the heated object or substance. The source emits radiation at a peak wavelength towards an object. The object can absorb the radiation at some wavelength, reflect radiation at other wavelengths, and re-radiate wavelengths. It is the absorbed radiation that creates the heat within the object.

Infrared heating varies by efficiency, wavelength and reflectivity. It is these characteristics that set them apart and make some more effective for certain applications than others. Varying levels of efficiency are possible within IR heating and often depend on the material of the heat source. The basic measure of efficiency lays in the ratio between the energy emitted and the energy absorbed, but other considerations may affect this measurement. One is the emissivity value of the heat source as based on the perfect 'black body" emissivity level of 1.0. Ceramic heaters are capable of 90% or better emissions as opposed to the lower values of other heater substances.

The useful range of wavelengths for infrared heating applications fall within the range of 0.7 to 10 microns (mm) on the electromagnetic spectrum and are termed short-wave, medium-wave or long-wave. The medium to long range wavelengths are most advantageous to industrial applications since almost all materials to be heated or dried provide maximum absorption in the 3 to 10 mm region. Energy from an infrared heat source that also emits light (short-wave) will typically emit 80% of its energy around the 1mm wavelength; where as the ceramic infrared heater emits 80% of its energy around the 3 mm wavelength.

Properties of Infrared Radiation

There are several physical laws that explain the properties of infrared radiation. The first and probably most important of these laws states that there is a positive relationship between radiant efficiency and the temperature of an infrared source. (Radiant efficiency is the percentage of radiant output from a heat source).

The proportion of energy transmitted from a heat source by each of the three heat source methods is dependent on the physical and ambient characteristics surrounding the heat source, and in particular the source's temperature.

The Stefan-Boltzman Law of Radiation states that as the temperature of a heat source is increased, the radiant output increases to the fourth power of its temperature. The conduction and convection components increase only in direct proportion with the temperature changes. In other words, as the temperature of a heat source is increased, a much greater percentage of the total energy output is converted into radiant energy.

The wavelength of infrared radiation is dependent upon the temperature of the heat source. A source temperature of 3600 °F will produce a short-wave of approximately 1mm, while a source temperature of 1000 °F will produce a long-wave of approximately 3.6 mm. The wave-length dramatically impacts the intensity of radiation at the subject.

A critical function of the wavelength of infrared radiation is its ability to penetrate an object.

The penetration of infrared energy is a function of its wavelength. The higher the temperature the shorter the wavelength and the shorter the wavelength, the greater its penetrating power. For example, a tungsten filament quartz lamp operating at 4000 °F., has a greater ability to penetrate into a product than a nickel chrome filament quartz tube operating at 1800 °F.

There are certain advantages gained in industrial processing by using the penetrating capabilities of short-wave infrared. For example, short-wave radiation can be effectively used for faster baking of certain paints since the infrared radiation penetrates into the paint surface and flows out solvents from within. Conventional drying methods can form a paint skin and trap solvents. Some other applications of short-wave infrared include heat shrinking, water dry-off, and preheating of objects prior to further processes. ]

Color sensitivity is another characteristic of infrared radiation that is related to source temperature and wavelength. The general rule is the higher the temperature of the source, the higher the rate of heat absorption of darker colors. For example, water and glass (which are colorless) are virtually transparent to short-wave radiation, but are very strong absorbers of long wave radiation above 2.

Another characteristic of infrared that is not dependent upon temperature or wavelength is response time. Sources with heavier mass take longer to heat to the desired temperature. For example, a tungsten filament has a very low mass, and achieves 80% radiant efficiency within microseconds. A coiled nickel chrome filament in a quartz tube acquires 80% of its radiant efficiency in approximately 75 seconds and metal sheathed rods require approximately 3 minutes.

The rate of response becomes an important consideration especially when applying infrared to delicate and flammable materials.

Theory of Infrared Heating

Infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation which is generated in a hot source (quartz lamp, quartz tube, or metal rod) by vibration and rotation of molecules. The resulting energy is controlled and directed specifically to and on people or objects. This energy is not absorbed by air, and does not create heat until it is absorbed by an opaque object.

The sun is the basic energy source. Energy is projected 93,000,000 miles through space to heat the earth by the infrared process. This infrared energy travels at the speed of light, and converts to heat upon contact with a person, a building, the floor, the ground or any other opaque object. There is, however, no ultraviolet component (sun tanning rays) in Electric infrared.

Electric infrared energy travels in straight lines from the heat source. This energy is directed into specific patterns by optically designed reflectors, Infrared, like light, travels outward from the heat source, and diffuses as a function of the square of the distance. Intensity, therefore, would decrease in a proportional manner. So, at 20' from the heat source, intensity of the energy concentration is ¼ the intensity developed at 10' distance.

For comfort heating, there must be reasonably even accumulated values of heat throughout the comfort zone. Proper mounting heights of the individual heaters, fixture spacing, reflector beam patterns, and heat source wattage must be specified to generate the proper heating levels at the task area. The amount of heat delivered is also adjusted by input controllers or by thermostats which respond to surrounding temperature levels and provide ON-OFF or PROPORTIONAL inputs.

Advantages of Infrared Heating

1. Heats People without Heating Air - Infrared travels through space and is absorbed by people and objects in its path. Infrared is not absorbed by the air. With convection heating the air itself is warmed and circulated ... however, warm air always rises to the highest point of a building. With Infrared heating, the warmth is directed and concentrated at the floor and people level where it is really needed.

2. Zone Control Flexibility - Infrared heating is not dependent upon air movement like convection heat. Infrared energy is absorbed solely at the area it is directed. Therefore it is possible to divide any area into separate smaller zones and maintain a different comfort level in each zone. For example, Zone A, with a high concentration of people, could be maintained at a 70 degree comfort level while at the same time Zone B. a storage area, could be kept at 55 degrees or even turned off completely.

3. Staging - Another unique control feature of electric infrared that increases comfort conditions and saves energy consumption is staging. Where most systems are either "fully ON" or "fully OFF" the staging feature also allows only a portion of the equipment's total capacity to be used. For example, a two- stage control would work as follows: During the first stage, one heat source in every fixture would be energized. During the second stage, two heat sources in every fixture would be energized. For further control sophistication, a large area can be both zoned and staged. These systems, then, allow a more consistent and uniform means of maintaining a specific comfort level and avoid the "peak & valley" syndrome.

4. Instant Heat - Electric infrared produces virtually instant heat. There is no need to wait for heat buildup. Turn the heaters on just prior to heating requirements.

5. Negligible Maintenance - Electric infrared is strictly a resistance type heat. There are no moving parts or motors to wear out; no air filters or lubrication required. Periodic cleaning of the reflectors and heat source replacement is all that will be required.

6. Clean - Electric infrared, like other forms of electric heating, is the cleanest method of heating. There are no by-products of combustion as with fossil fuel burning units. Electric infrared adds nothing to the air nor takes anything from it.

7. Safe - UL listed
   • No open flame
   • No moving parts to malfunction
   • No fuel lines to leak
   • No toxic by-products of combustion

8. Efficient - All Infrared Heaters convert energy to heat at 100% efficiency

SAUNA MYTHES

• Myth: All woods are the same.
  FALSE- Not all woods are the same. In fact there are many differences from wood to wood, even from woods in the same family. Cedar, Birch and Hemlock are the most commonly used woods for sauna construction. All are soft woods that absorb water better than other hardwoods. However, even though they are of the same family there are many differences. Hemlock is the cheapest of the aforementioned wood types. It will absorb water but it does have one major drawback. Hemlock can split when it dries which is a major problem in the hot sauna environment. When wood absorbs water it actually swells, somewhat like a sponge. As it dries out Hemlock has a tendency to split, especially around areas that have screws or openings.
  
  Birch and Cedar are much better at absorbing water and returning to shape without splitting. They are both excellent woods for sauna use, but Cedar is by far the most commonly used and effective wood type. Not only does it have excellent absorption properties, but it also contains microbes that destroy bacteria and fungus. Furthermore, Cedar has excellent odor fighting qualities. Shoe horns are always constructed from Cedar for this very reason. So when purchasing a sauna, make sure to take the wood type in to account when making your decision.
• Myth: All heaters are the same.
  FALSE- In today?s sauna market there are several different heater types available. They all produce heat but they definitely are not all the same. Since most people buying a sauna today won?t be building fires, we?ll just focus on the two most common. The first and probably most well know sauna heater is the electrically heated hot rock system. With these units rocks are heated to temperatures ranging from 180 ? 200 degrees. Most of the complaints associated with these types of heaters are based on the excessive heat. The second type of heater is the Infrared heating system. This is the latest advancement in sauna technology and is quickly replacing the hot rock system. The advantage of Infrared heat is twofold. First the heat is delivered through energy waves (for more info go to the Infrared heat tab on our site). These waves allow the heat to penetrate deeper into the body, warming it from the inside out. Second is the efficiency of the heat. Since Infrared heat is up to 80% efficient at being absorbed by the body it can run at lower temperatures. This provides the sauna user a much more comfortable environment as well as cheaper operating costs and better safety features.
• All saunas are the same.
  FALSE- If you have spent any time looking at different saunas available today you know that all saunas are definitely not the same. From the wood type to the size, there are many reasons why saunas can differ. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. The price differences reflect the quality and longevity of the units, because for the most part they all should produce heat. Money can be saved by purchasing a pre-fabricated unit that you assemble on your own. Other features that will reflect the pricing are wood type, heaters, amenities, construction, size and where you live. Take all these factors into account when purchasing your sauna and try to get the best combination of all the aforementioned factors to ensure you get a high quality long lasting sauna.
• All sauna companies are the same.
  FALSE- As with all industries, companies can differ for several reasons. Some companies market themselves for their cheap pricing while others advertise their quality. You?ll find some companies that boast of their high end heating systems and others that offer every amenity available. What you usually can?t find though is a company that offers all of the above. Not only does Gaia offer high quality affordable saunas, built with top of the line heating systems and modern amenities, but they back it up with friendly customer service. In fact Gaia believes so much in the products they sell that criticism is a welcome source of quality improvement. As members of the Better Business Bureau and the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, Gaia has several outlets for its customers to provide feedback in direct as well as indirect fashions. All this feedback allows Gaia to continue its tradition of providing products and services that our customers can rely on.

Why Gaia Sauna is Right for You

Gaia sauna provides all the services you desire when choosing a company to work with. We pride ourselves on our customer service and our ability to meet our customer's demands. Unlike other larger companies, Gaia sauna's employees will go the extra mile to serve your needs. Our customer service representatives will work with you to determine your health goals, design demands and monthly budget concerns to find the right sauna for you. Our goal at Gaia sauna is to educate our customers about the many positive health benefits a sauna can bring. We strive to provide our customers with high quality, all natural infrared saunas at a price they can afford and to do it in a professional, friendly manner. At Gaia Saunas we want our customers to know as much about saunas as we do. We?ve designed our site to provide information so our customers can make intelligent decisions about their sauna purchase. Whether you are buying a sauna for health reasons or just to relax, our site will give you the answers you need.

Far Infrared Energy vs. Traditional Sweat Bathing

Conventional steam heated saunas heat the air withsteam and usually operate at temperatures ranging from 180F-190F. Heating the steam not only takes longer to heat up, but also releases a steam that is often unbearably hot and difficult to breath. Furthermore, the steam only penetrates the walls of the skin, which creates nothing more than a surface sweat and does not reach deep down into the body's core.

On the contrary, Far Infrared Saunas operate effectively between 100F-130F, creating a warm and comfortable environment. This advantage is due to the Far Infrared energy waves that work off a process known as Direct Light Conversion. Direct Light Conversion is a phenomenon which only warms the object it focuses on and does not warm the free air surrounding it. Studies have shown that only 20% of the Far Infrared heat created in a sauna is lost into the air, leaving 80% to be absorbed by the body. The Infrared heat penetrates deep down into the body's core, creating a deep sweat, while also relaxing the muscles and internal organs. Our customers find that the relaxing sensation of a 15-30 minute sauna session becomes as habitual as unwinding with a hot bath or by having a nice glass of wine, it's that comfortable.

How to Build a Far Infrared Sauna

1. Step 1

   Before the Building Can Begin
   
   There are several details you will need to complete before you can ever pound nail to wood. You will need to decide on the location, inside or out. If you decide to build an outside building for the sauna you will need to check the local laws for any special requirements they may need. Building inside is less expensive than outside for you can use the existing floor and even two of the walls if desired.
   
   Once the location is decided on, a scaled drawing of the sauna should be created. The easiest method of accomplishing this is to get a tablet of engineers graph paper. Each square of the paper can be designated to be 6 inches, or even a foot. The first thing to decide is whether you need to use 120 or 240 volts. The larger your sauna is going to be the more likely you will need to have it wired for 240. If you are going to build an indoor sauna your design should consist of the room size, lighting, heaters, controller, door and ventilation locations, as well as bench details.

2. Step 2

   The Sauna Shell - Picking the Type of Wood
   
   Most often sauna walls consist of 2×4 lumber spaced 16 inches on center. The lumber most often used to encase the inside, outside and ceiling is tongue and groove boards. This allows for a tight fit while leaving the wood with the ability to contract and expand with the heat. While it is not a requirement to use tongue and groove boards it is important to stay away from woods that split when they become extremely dry, like oak. Waterproof woods, like cedar, are not necessary. Plywood and paneling should also be avoided, because when heated they tend to release the toxins in the glue which bind their layers. The interior wood should be left unfinished to avoid any toxins within the stain, varnish or paint from being released when heated. Sauna ceilings are usually lower than in a regular room. A lower ceiling is more cost efficient as it uses less energy to heat the space.

3. Step 3

   Insulation and Door Installation
   
   It is not necessary to install an insulated door. The door should be hinged so it opens away from the sauna, and if desired have tempered glass for its window. If you install a pre-hung sauna door be sure to make the width of the rough opening 2 inches larger than the door. The height needs to be an inch taller, so the jamb of the door can easily fit within the space, and it can be properly squared up.
   
   Insulation is not a requirement in a far infrared sauna, but advised as it is energy efficient and keeps the temperature from fluctuating. It is important to ventilate the sauna. Often a space is left at the threshold of the door which provides fresh air into the sauna. Outgoing vents need to be built into the sauna at roughly two-thirds up the opposite wall from the air intake. Putting intake vents near the floor is also acceptable if the space under the door does not provide enough air.
   
   Traditionally the floor in a sauna is an elevated platform called a duckboard. This design keeps your feet from getting wet, but since far infrared is a dry heat a duckboard is not necessary. It is necessary the floor be made of fire resistance materials. Just like the duckboard, a vapor barrier on the walls is not needed, but will help insulate the room if used.

4. Step 4

   Installing the Bench and Lights
   
   The bench is usually about 2 feet wide and as long as the interior of the sauna. But again the concept is not written in stone. Custom design the bench to create the kind of comfort you desire. It is important nail and screw heads be recessed into wood so their metal does not burn you when sitting on the heated hardware. And finally, there should be a light in the sauna, location is up to you.

5. Step 5
   
   Figure 2 - Solid Ceramic Heaters Create the Best Far Infrared Heat

   Putting the Far Infrared Emitter Units Together
   
   The muscle of the far infrared sauna are the heat generating emitter units. Each unit has only five different kinds of parts. These are the housing tray, reflector, 2 ceramic emitters, 2 clips and 2 sets of screws and nuts (Figure 2). The housing tray and reflector are shipped as one unit. In order to install the heat emitters the 2 sets of screws and nuts holding the housing tray and reflector together must be removed. There are 2 screws and an inch long nut per each set. Once the housing tray and reflector have been separated the emitters can be installed.

6. Step 6
   
   Figure 3 - It is as Easy as 1 2 3

   Installing the Emitters
   
   Put the emitter wires through the oblong hole in the reflector (Figure 3). The back of the emitter fits nicely into the oblong hole. To attach the emitter to the reflector, slide a clip into the groove provided. The emitter wires are then put into the terminal blocks and screwed down to secure. Repeat this process with the second emitter.
   
   Once the emitters have been installed it is an easy job to reattach the reflector/emitter unit to the housing tray. First screw the inch long nuts to the reflector/emitter unit. Put this unit into the housing tray and screw the housing tray to the same nuts from the back side.

7. Step 7
   
   Figure 9 - Emitters above the bench should be installed vertically and horizontally when below the bench

   How Many and Where to Put the Emitters
   
   There is a very simple formula for figuring out how many emitters will be required for your sauna. Simply multiply the length by the width by the height to find out how many cubic feet of space your sauna will have. You will need 17 watts of emitters per each cubic foot. So, multiply 17 by the number of cubic feet you came up with. This number will tell you how many total watts you will need. The emitters Promolife sell are 163 watts each. To figure out the number of emitters you will have to divide the number of watts needed by 163.
   
   Emitters above the bench should be installed vertically and horizontally when below the bench. In the following photo you will see the emitters have been finished off by placing a wire grid over the unit and furring out the wall so the person taking a sauna does not touch the heating element directly (Figure 9). There is no right or wrong way to complete the encasement of the emitters, but safety should be kept in mind when designing all aspects of the project.

8. Step 8
   
   Figure 10 - Installing the Emitter Units and Controller

   Installing the Emitter Units and Controller
   
   Each of the emitter units must be installed into the sauna walls. This entails recessing them into the 2×4 wall and hooking them up to the main electrical power. It is advised you install fire resistant insulation behind each emitter unit (Figure 10). Is is not required, but will add peace-of-mind to your sauna experience by providing the knowledge the wood behind the emitter unit is not vulnerable to combustibility.
   
   It is advised you hire a professional electrician if you have no experience installing electrical wiring. However, the majority of locations in the United States still allow a home owner to do their own wiring, but it must go through the same building inspection a professional electrician goes through. To learn more about how to wire electricity visit the DoItYourself.com website. Be sure and check with your local building codes before installing your own electricity. Please note if you pound a nail badly you may split the wood, or end up with something that looks unsightly, but when electricity is installed incorrectly you risk the chance of a fire.

9. Step 9
   
   Figure 11 - Installing the Sauna Controls

   Installing the Sauna Controls
   
   The sauna control is the last thing that needs to be installed. The photo below shows a dual control unit which has controls on both the inside and outside of the sauna (Figure 11). The black control goes on the outside of the sauna. When purchased, a schematic drawing is provided as to how the controller should be wired.

10. Step 10

    Enjoy Your Newly Built Far Infrared Sauna
    
    Once you have built your sauna undoubtedly you will want to proudly show off your handiwork, as well you should, you will have earned bragging rights. However, the best part is not the chest thumping you can do, but the years of health benefits you will receive for having done something that may just prolong your life.

Skin tips for the sauna: can extreme heat from saunas or steam rooms damage my skin? Are there precautions I should take? - Beauty Q+A

Q After working out, I love to relax in the sauna or steam room, but I heard they can be bad for the skin. Is this true?

A It depends, says Debra Luftman, M.D., a Los Angeles dermatologist. If you have rosacea, eczema or sensitive skin, it's best to steer clear of saunas and steam, because they can aggravate your skin condition, she says. Rosacea, which causes excessive flushing, broken blood vessels and/or acnelike red bumps, can be exacerbated when blood vessels dilate in response to the skin becoming overheated, Luftman explains. And because moist heat from a steam room draws water out of the skin, eczema (excessively dry, irritated skin) can become worse, sensitive skin can become irritated and atopic dermatitis (a rash caused by skin allergy or irritation) may itch more intensely.

But if you have normal skin, limited exposure (no more than 15 minutes at a time) isn't harmful and actually can be beneficial to the skin, Luftman says. Aside from giving you a relaxed feeling, "it dilates blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the skin, so you get a rosy glow," she explains. Moist or dry heat can also help those with cystic acne on the face and body. "Heat tends to help soften the cysts," she adds. To ensure that the steam or sauna session isn't harmful to your skin, follow these tips:

* Shower first. Yeast on the body grows quickly when skin becomes warm, oily and sweaty (such as after exercise). Normal cleansing typically prevents overgrowth, but if you go directly into a hot environment like a sauna or steam room where you continue sweating, there's a greater chance of developing a condition called tinea versicolor, says Luftman. This looks like white or brown thin scaly patches that may itch, particularly when you sweat. (Consult your dermatologist if you think you have these symptoms; they can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription antifungal creams or sprays.)

* Slather on moisturizer afterward. Heat from a steam room or sauna can leave skin dry. After your sweat session, rinse off in a cool shower and apply a generous amount of body lotion to damp skin. Try Nivea Body Extra Enriched Lotion with vitamin E ($5; at drugstores).

* Keep your body hydrated. Drink plenty of water before entering a sauna or steam room and afterward to replenish fluids lost through sweating.

Infrared Saunas. The Best Saunas On The Planet?

Infrared Saunas are extremely popular, but many people are not exactly sure what makes an Infrared Sauna different from a traditional Finnish Sauna.

We hope to demystify Far Infrared Saunas by telling you what they are and what they do. And not only that but to discuss the concern that some people have about whether or not Infrared Saunas are safe.

Far Infrared Saunas come in many shapes and sizes too, from large fixed units to smaller portable Infrared Saunas. Small units for a small number of occupants, and choose a larger unit for a larger number. It’s possible to get a single person sauna, right up to larger saunas for home installation that seat 6 or more people.

And of course the sauna that you choose affects the cost of type of the installation of the sauna.

Saunas are high tech pieces of equipment. They are designed to be user friendly for as good a user experience as you can get. A good sauna can be a delight to have in your home, offering you the perfect way to destress, relaxa and get healthier.

We mentioned health benefits. What exactly are some of the health benefits that are claimed to follow from regular use of Infra red Saunas?

There are many, though of course it is debated about which of these are scientifically confirmed, however there are many health benefits claimed by sauna users which are difficult to confirm scientifically, and may never get researched.

1. Reduce Weight.

One of the major benefits claimed (and sought by users) is the ability of a good sauna to help the user reduce weight. The rationale for it goes like this.

As the body heats up it increases it’s metabolism. Blood circulates faster, the body produces sweat and your heart works harder to produce these effects.

This all means that the metabolism increases as the body works harder, and this burns calories. Similarly to the effect produced by exercise.

And the principal of a Infrared Saunas is that they heat deeper into the body than traditional saunas and so produce a better result of increasing the metabolism.

The Journal of the American Medical Association compared rowing and marathon running with the use of infra red therapy by way of infrared saunas, and concluded that the use of an infrared sauna actually burnt more calories in half and hour than the rowing and running.

In fact the Journal of the American Medical Association recognised the benefits of infrared saunas way back in August of 1981, so it’s certainly not new.

2.Reduce pain from such conditions as arthriti rheumatism.

Many clinical trials have been undertaken to show the effect that Infrared Saunas have on reducing the pain from joint and muscle related conditions. The increased blood flow previously discussed increases the blood supply to affected tissues and trials show stiffness and pain reducing in many cases by up to 20%.

There are many conditions that may benefit from the use of infrared therapies including saunas, including but not limited to Neuralgia, Sciatica, Menopause, Bursitis, R.S.I and more.

3. Cardiovascular benefits.

As previously noted the use of infrared saunas has some of the same effects as exercise, and so this exercises the cardiovascular system and increases blood flow through the body. There are many people who cannot undertake exercise for one reason or another, often from age or infirmity, and so the use of infra red therapies and infra red saunas can be beneficial.

Blood pressure may reduce and circulation improve overall, with related benefits.

4. Infra red Saunas can help relax you, reduce stress and help with sleeping.

Just taking the time to sit down and relax from our hectic lifestyle itself has to be good, but doing so in a sauna is a great way to destress and relax. And users report much better ability to sleep as well.

5. Skin benefits.

It is suggested that the heating of the body, the sweating produced as a result and other effects of sauna use can clean and detoxify the body and in particular the skin, and that this revitalises the skin and helps remove dead skin cells. Users report improvements in their skin quality, including skin that is softer and looks healthier. It may even help disguise some of the effects of aging.

6. Improve cellulite.

Cellutite, that scourge of the modern woman,is unsightly and hard to move. It is, in fact, pockets of trapped fat which cause an orange peel effect on the skin, hence the unsightliness.

It is almost totally confined to women. Use of the sauna allows the far infrared heat to warm the body and increase the metabolism, and this in turn also improves in the body’s ability to burn cellulite, as it does in the body’s ability to burn other fat.

So as you can see there are many claimed health benefits for the use of infrared technology, especially saunas. Whether of course these benefits actually happen to you is another thing, as there will be many other factors that impact on the benefits, but certainly it is a therapy that has been considered by the Journal of the AMA, a particularly prestigious organisation.

We have a range of different pages for you to read about Infrared Saunas, you’ll see the pages listed in the sidebar. Feel free to stay as long as you wish and read it all.

You’ll also see various links to sites that sell Infrared Saunas. Through the use of modern web technology we are able to keep an eye on prices for Saunas, and bring you the lowest price available, so if you’re in the market for an infrared sauna then follow the links to find the best prices on the net before you buy.

Why Is This Infrared Sauna Therapy Unique?

Because it uses infrared radiant energy to directly penetrate the body's tissues to a depth of over 1.5". Its energy output is tuned to correspond very closely to the body's own radiant energy that our bodies absorb as much as 93% of the infrared waves that reach our skin. Suffice it to say, that Chinese researchers consider the band from 2-25 microns as the most therapeutic. That's 2-25 microns of far infrared radiation.

A conventional sauna must rely on indirect means of heat: First on convection (air currents) and then conduction (direct contact of hot air with the skin) to produce its healing effect on us. In a high quality sauna, less than 20% of the infrared energy heats the air, leaving over 80% available to be directly converted to heat within our bodies.

Thus an infrared based system can warm you to a much greater depth and much more efficiently than a conventional sauna, as its energy output is primarily used to convert energy directly to heat in us and not to create excessively hot air that then only heats the skin superficially. This crucial difference explains many of the unprecedented benefits reported to be available through infrared therapy, not attainable through the use of a conventional sauna.

Tips on Building a Home Sauna

You have been saying for a long time you would really like to build your own home sauna and have decided the time is now. So give me the hammer. Hold on, not quite that fast. Remember the saying that anything worth doing is worth doing well? Basically it is saying to take your time and research what you are planning. This holds as true for your home built sauna as it does for any other project. This article is intended to discuss the different type of saunas, the different various components that make up a sauna and also address some of the decisions needing to be made. If you do a good job researching your project and stick with a plan, you will find building your home sauna a very satisfying and rewarding project.

There are a couple important decisions that must be made before going too far. Something not often thought about is the fact that a home with a quality built-in sauna can add considerable value to the home. The most increase in value comes from a sauna fitted in an area of the house that looks the most natural. If this is important to you, then by all means take the time needed to decide on the most ideal placement. Another decision needing made is the size of the sauna, which certainly influences where it can be built and its cost. These are probably the toughest decisions you will have to make.

When its been decided where the sauna will go, and its size, you can then decide what type of sauna to build. The two choices, depending on your carpentry skill level, are the prefab (also called pre-built or modular) and precut or custom designed. If you possess basic carpentry skills you can save money by going with a precut sauna kit. A precut kit contains all the material needed to build a custom designed home sauna. The kit will contain many parts and pieces, thus the reason for some carpentry skills. If you just aren’t sure about your building skills then consider purchasing a pre-built modular sauna. The reason this type sauna will cost more is the amount of prefabrication that will go into the product by the manufacturer. What is nice however, is when it arrives from the manufacturer, you basically just assemble the pieces. Keep in mind that most sauna kits do not come with a floor and you will need to build one. If a sauna is built for outdoor use it will require a concrete base and if used indoors it will need a floor that is washable and preferably moveable.

There are two more decisions you need to make before ordering your sauna kit. The first one is the type of wood you would like used in construction. The more common choices are poplar, aspen, cedar, pine and fir. Cedar tends to be the most popular choice. The other decision is what type of heater do you want. The choice of heaters are wood, electric, gas, or infrared. Even though they all have their own specific advantages, the most popular heater is the electric. A word of advice…before ordering your heater, check the local building codes to assure you order one which is approved. This is a good time to remind you that if price is going to be a major factor, the highest priced components of a sauna building project are 1) size of sauna, 2) type of heater, 3) type of wood used, and 4) amount of prefabrication involved. If the cost of your sauna is getting a little pricey and needs some fine tuning, keep in mind that changing the specifications to any of these four areas will directly effect the final cost of your sauna.

In summary, remember that sauna manufacturers and dealers want to sell saunas and also have satisfied customers. So whether you plan on building a precut sauna kit or simplifying construction by buying a prefabricated home sauna, reputable dealers will be happy to help you customize your installation to fit your particular requirements. No need to hesitate asking for advice and help. Have fun with your project and good health and wellness to you.

Designing your sauna

The design of a sauna is of course related to your needs: how many bathers you want to accommodate, what kind of heater you are using and the limitations placed by the existing building. Even a small sauna should be large enough to fit at least two bathers. Designs vary from a modest sauna in an apartment to a large sauna in a separate building on the lakeside.

You must have at least one shower. Really old saunas do not have running water, but people carried water in by the bucketful. In any case you need some water for cleaning up. A second shower will be useful if many people are bathing at the same time.

In an apartment

The sauna should ideally be placed next to an exterior wall, so that you can arrange fresh air ventilation through the wall. If your sauna is not near an exterior wall, arranging proper ventilation will be slightly more difficult.

If you can arrange it, the sauna should be situated so that there is a suitable changing room nearby. Your guests in particular will appreciate a quiet place to change. Placing the sauna near a balcony or patio -- if you have one -- will allow you to use it for cooling down after a bath.

A sauna cabin

When you go to the trouble of building a separate sauna cabin, you want to have place for at least four people in the sauna, possibly more. The shower room only needs room for two at the same time since there is usually no rush when bathing and one can wait a while before showering.

In addition to the sauna and shower, there should be a dry room to undress and change. Ideally this would be an additional room between the shower and the other parts of the house, but can also be a screened section of the cabin's main room or the porch.

Sizes and measurements

The size of your sauna will depend on several factors: the number of bathers, the placement of the benches, the space requirement of the heater and the method of heating.

The sauna should be 2000 to 2200 mm (6-7 ft) high, so that there will be 1000-1200 mm (3 1/2 - 4 ft) above the highest bench. The height of the bench was traditionally such that the bathers' feet would be above the heater during bathing. This is no longer a strict requirement if the sauna is properly heated so that the entire room is sufficiently hot.

You should have at least 600 mm (24 in) of bench space per bather. You can get by with less, but try to make the sauna wide enough to lie down on the bench. The bench should be 450-900 mm (17-35 in) deep for pleasant sitting. Again, this allows you to lie down without falling. The lower benches used as steps to the highest bench should be 300-400 mm (11-15 in) deep.

The benches and the heater

The benches can be placed in many different ways in the sauna. The simplest and most space efficient is a long bench on one side of the room. Other possible designs are the L-shape and the U-shape where the benches are on two or three walls of the sauna with the heater in the middle.

The Ice Sauna

No Ice Hotel would be complete without a steaming hot Ice Saunas. It goes without saying that these sauna and bathing facilities are impressive. They are guaranteed to leave no-one cold.

After a deep cleansing session in the saunas you might like to relax in a warm bath. This could be described as a large bath tub with a view! The sky above may put on a spectacular show of northern lights - the Arctic sky at night is endlessly fascinating.

‘In the sauna, truth is revealed’

This is the motto of the Swedish Sauna Academy which was founded in the genuine, traditional sauna in Jukkasjärvi.
And the truth is, a sauna is guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart.

In Jukkasjärvi you will have the opportunity to try different kinds of sauna.
You will be instructed by an expert, our Master of Saunas Ceremonies, who will introduce you to the noble art of enjoying a real, traditional saunas.

Genuine, traditional sauna and tub bathing

Why not try the excellent saunas in Jukkasjärvi.
The sauna building is a part of our local heritage and was once the first inn in the area.
You can lie in the outdoor hot tubs whilst enjoying the fascinating Arctic sky at night. Other kinds of traditional sauna are also available
You can also order meals and drinks (all appetites catered for!) and we’ll do everything we can to make you comfortable.