Infrared saunas are small rooms that use infrared heaters to emit light experienced as radiant heat. It is absorbed by the surface of the skin. These saunas heat the body primarily by conduction and convection from the heated air and by radiation of the heated surfaces in the sauna room. Because of this, the infrared sauna isn’t an actual sauna by Finnish sauna societies. This is because of the application of the infrared electromagnetic field spectrum to the human body.

In 2018, there was a meta-analysis of 9 clinical trials found that 5 weekly sessions of infrared sauna for 2 – 4 weeks, was associated with a significant reduction in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). This is a marker of heart failure progression. It also is associated with cardiothoracic ration. This is an indicator of heart enlargement. It also improved left ventricular ejection fraction but no significant effect on left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure.

There are claims of detoxification. This is due to naturopaths believing that toxins leave the body through sweat. This is the reason these quacks believe that infrared saunas are a good treatment to try to reverse autism. This is not the case. There is no scientific evidence showing that it has any detoxification properties.

Adverse Effects

Naik S (21 September 2008). “Infrared Radiation”. Scribd.com. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
Rice C (12 July 2017). “Don’t Call it Sauna”. Sauna Digest. Medium.
Källström M, Soveri I, Oldgren J, Laukkanen J, Ichiki T, Tei C, et al. (November 2018). “Effects of sauna bath on heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. Clinical Cardiology. 41 (11): 1491–1501. doi:10.1002/clc.23077. PMC 6489706. PMID 30239008.