Frequently Asked Questions

We've compiled a long list of our most frequently asked questions relating to infrared sauna safety, health, key benefits, and buying information. If you don't find the answer(s) you need here, reach out to us! We're happy to help.

Safety FAQs

Are infrared saunas safe?

Infrared saunas are safe for most people most of the time. If you're on medication, have an implanted medical device, or have a health condition, you should exercise caution. Don't use an infrared sauna if you've been drinking alcohol, are dehydrated, or have irritated skin.

Are infrared saunas safe?

Absolutely. There will always be studies that show inconclusive data for long-term effects. However, the obvious short-term benefits are not disputed. The pain management and detoxification benefits are great when used regularly and for the correct amount of time for each session. Use the infrared sauna daily for best results. Sessions should last about 20 minutes. Patients treating with infrared should consult a doctor before switching treatments. The sauna can be used as a supplemental treatment, working with their current treatment.

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What is the herxheimer reaction?

Often when a patient is detoxifying or taking antibiotics in the treatment of bacteria of any kind, the bodies reaction resembles that of sepsis. As the bacterial toxins and microorganisms die in the body, they release toxins into the body. This is known as the herxheimer reaction. Many different antibiotics can be used to treat this process.

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Infrared saunas after chemotherapy?

If you are looking for relief from side effects following chemotherapy treatment, regular sauna sits may be an option. Talk to your doctor before starting a sauna treatment. It is recommended that you only spend between five and 10 minutes for your first session. Once you get more acclimated to the heat, you can slowly increase your sauna sits to up to about 20 minutes.

Can you use an infrared sauna with a pacemaker?

You may use an infrared sauna while wearing a pacemaker. Even a permanent pacemaker is all right to use in a sauna. Always talk to your doctor before using an infrared sauna if you have a pacemaker. In most cases it is completely safe to use an infrared sauna with a pacemaker.

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How To Use An Infrared Sauna

Using an infrared sauna can reap an incredible amount of rewards. But before you hop in, it’s important to know infrared sauna time limits, usage guidelines, and other tips for your sauna session.

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How long should I use an infrared sauna?

Use at least twice a week starting with 10-15 minutes at a time and work up to 30-40 minutes at a time slowly. Best practices say not to use the infrared sauna more than twice a day. It’s not recommended to stay in longer than about 20-45 minutes at a time even when you’re used to it.

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How hot do infrared saunas get?

All Good Health Saunas infrared saunas come equipped with high-quality and effective Certified Carbon Heaters and Certified High-End Ceramic Heaters. Together, they can heat the cabin of your sauna to 150°F. However, the ideal running temp is much lower, around 110°F to 130°F. But here’s the best part, you don’t have to wait for your sauna to heat up to begin reaping the benefits. Once your sauna is on, it’s already emitting the infrared energy that’s responsible for weight loss, pain relief, detoxification and other significant health benefits.

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Can I use an infrared sauna with skin cancer?

A person with skin cancer can use an infrared sauna. In many cases, it is actually a recommended treatment for skin cancer. Always consult a doctor before using any alternative treatments as your doctor knows your body very well.

Can people with diabetes use an infrared sauna?

Moderate exercise has great health benefits for everyone, including those who have diabetes. Spending regular time in a good infrared sauna can have many of the same health benefits including increased circulation and elevated heart rate that can help you improve and maintain a higher quality of life. Decreasing stress and increasing circulation have been demonstrated to be effective in controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, obesity related health issues. As with any illness, your doctor’s advice should be followed regarding the use of an infrared sauna with type 2 diabetes.

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Is it safe to use the sauna while breastfeeding?

Though your doctor should always be consulted, it is generally recommended to keep your infrared sauna trips short and infrequent, and to even avoid breastfeeding for 24 hours after a sauna session. A good rule of thumb is to always drink plenty of water, probably more than you really want, when you are using the sauna and after you get out. Replenishing your hydration and electrolyte levels will help you stay healthy and benefit from your time in sauna.

Is it safe to use an infrared sauna while pregnant?

Pregnancy can often come along with an aching back, sore feet, and some general discomfort of the body. With caution, a sauna may be a relaxing experience for women who are pregnant, but only with the supervision of your doctor.

Health FAQs

Can infrared saunas treat blood clot disorders?

Always get the treatment recommended by the doctor. Patients should consider additional treatment such as using an infrared sauna. In addition to medical treatments, an infrared sauna can help the user lose any excess weight that can cause dangerous blood clots.

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Can infrared saunas help with Hyperacusis?

Reducing stress is paramount to helping hyperacusis symptoms. A stressed body will embrace panic attacks and spells of crying. The annoyance of pain in the ears will cause this stress before too long. Relaxing heat from an infrared sauna, uses invisible light spectrums to heat the body and ease pain away. The pain in the ears will slowly reduce with a 20 minute infrared therapy session. With the pain gone, stress will fade away, leaving the user calm and content.

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Can saunas treat yeast infections?

Infrared sauna sessions may provide relief to women experiencing other side-effects that may linger following a yeast infection. If you are new to infrared sauna use, it is recommended that first-time users spend no more between five and 10 minutes. As you get more and more used to the heat, you can slowly increase the time you spend in the infrared sauna to up to about 20 minutes.

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Are saunas bad for your lungs?

Saunas are a relaxing option for anyone looking for alternative treatment for healthy lung function. If you are new to sauna sits, it is recommended that first-time users spend no more between five and 10 minutes. As you get more and more used to the heat, you can slowly increase the time you spend in a sauna to up to about 20 minutes.

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What toxins can saunas remove?

Infrared saunas are incredible toxin removers. High-penetrating heat used regularly will remove undesirable toxins from the body with ease. Mercury, lead, aluminum, and cadmium are just a few examples of heavy metals that find their way into the body from daily activity and calorie intake that can be removed with regular sauna usage.

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Can infrared sauna use ease herniated disc pain?

Most patients with a herniated disc are offered treatment that will not involve any invasive surgery. The major treatments suggested are relaxation, painkillers, physical therapy, and exercise. While painkillers may dull the pain, they can be dangerous with numerous side effects and possibly even addiction. The easiest way to relieve the pain from a herniated disc is with warm relaxing heat, like from an infrared sauna.

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Can infrared saunas benefit athletes?

The short answer is “Yes, absolutely!” Many athletes competing on the highest levels of their sport use infrared sauna therapy to improve recovery times, energy levels, and practice meditation. Check out our expert testimonials to learn more about the athletes who use GHS infrared saunas during training.

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Will infrared saunas help with a sinus infection?

Few things can knock you out like a sinus infection. The pressure, the congestion, the nose blowing, any symptom is enough to ruin an otherwise good day. But Good Health Saunas' infrared saunas can help you beat a debilitating sinus infection with a one-two punch.

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Benefits FAQs

How can infrared saunas relieve daily stress?

Symptoms of stress include muscle tension, headaches and high blood pressure. Studies have found that regular sauna use can lower the risk of high blood pressure, and are a relaxing option for those who need to reduce their stress levels. People who enjoy regular sauna sessions are advised to drink lots of water before and after use to stay properly hydrated.

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Can infrared saunas help improve sleep?

A regular sleep pattern is vital to everyone’s health. A good night’s rest is one of the essential building blocks to healthy daily habits and decisions. The heat, sweat, increased blood circulation, and raised heart rate you experience during an infrared sauna session simulates some of the effects of exercise. You will notice yourself feeling more tired at the end of the day, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep - much like when you exercise during the day.

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Can infrared saunas help heal scars?

With regular use of an infrared sauna, scar tissue and color can be reduced over time. Using an infrared sauna with a new cut can also decrease how noticeable scar tissue becomes when the skin heals.

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What is Chromotherapy?

Chromotherapy, also called color therapy, is the use of color and light to gently bring about homeostasis. Color and light is applied to specific areas and acupoints on the body.

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How do infrared saunas burn calories?

Infrared saunas have been shown to burn 400-800 calories in a single 30-minute session, and that’s in the same calorie-burning range as marathon running, racquetball, and rowing. Infrared light penetrates deep beneath the skin, heating the body from the inside, and causing your internal body temperature to rise. When this happens, your heart rate increases, which burns calories.

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What are the benefits of using an infrared sauna after working out?

Combining a hard workout with a relaxing infrared sauna session can increase the benefits of both! When adding time in the sauna to your workout regimen, you can keep your heart rate up, maximizing the cardio benefits of your workout. Infrared heat will also penetrate deep into your muscles, alleviating inflammation and helping to expedite muscle recovery (which can help prevent soreness).

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Buying Guide FAQs

What are the benefits of an infrared sauna?

Infrared saunas use infrared light to heat your body from the inside, allowing you to sweat more at a lower temperature. This provides a long list of health benefits. The increased energy efficiency also means you can stay in the sauna longer because your body won't overheat, and you save money on your electrical bill. It's a long list of benefits!

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How long do infrared saunas take to heat up?

The standard infrared sauna (GHS included) takes 15-20 minutes to heat up to temperature. In order to make sure your infrared therapy session is effective, it’s important to wait until the sauna is fully warmed up before getting in.

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Do the saunas have certified tempered glass for safety and efficiency?

Yes! The glass used for the door and windows on your GHS infrared sauna are made from tempered glass. Tempered glass has been treated by heat or chemicals to increase its strength and improve the overall durability of the sauna. Additionally, if the glass was to ever break, it would break into small fragments instead of jagged, large pieces. Be sure any sauna you consider buying has tempered glass (specifically certified to be positive it is actually tempered), to ensure the safest sauna session for you and your family.

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Are all infrared saunas the same?

Most infrared saunas are very similar. However, quality of materials and EMF levels are important differentiators between high-quality infrared saunas and low-quality, less safe infrared saunas. Check to make sure the sauna you’re shopping for has been tested by a reliable third-party group for quality. Not all saunas are built equally! Cheap usually means low quality (less reliable, high EMF levels, poor material quality, etc.) 

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What is the difference between an infrared sauna and a steam room?

The primary difference between infrared saunas and steam rooms is how they heat. Steam rooms overheat the air inside the sauna with, well, hot steam. This provides skin-deep heat application, which heats your body from the outside. Infrared saunas use infrared light to penetrate beneath your skin and heat your body from the inside. Raising your core body temperature increases heart rate, improves blood flow, and provides deeper/more direct therapy to muscles, tissues, and organs. In short, infrared saunas provide a long list of benefits that steam rooms cannot.

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What is the difference between carbon heaters and ceramic heaters?

There are a few substantial differences between traditional ceramic heaters and carbon heaters. Ceramic heaters are largely last generation's heaters, while carbon heaters are the modern infrared sauna heaters. Carbon heaters can operate at a lower temperature than ceramic heaters thanks to the wavelength of infrared heat. Ceramic heaters must heat up to well over 150 degrees to heat the inside of the sauna - sweating occurs at around 115 degrees, so it is not recommended to sit inside a traditional ceramic-heated sauna for long.

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What is the best low-EMF infrared sauna?

Good Health Saunas produces infrared saunas with very low-EMF heaters (EMF levels tested, reported, and approved by Vitatech Electromagnetics). It's worth mentioning that everything produces EMFs - literally everything. EMFs are measured as wavelengths. High-EMFs represent waves that are taller and closer together (shorter wavelengths). These waves result in more intense radiation, which can negatively affect the body. On the other hand, low-EMFs produce shorter waves that are spread out (longer wavelengths). These wavelengths can pass through the body with effectively zero disturbance to your body.

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Are infrared saunas expensive to own?

A kWH of energy for an hour in most US states, on average, is less than $0.12 cents. Using the $0.12/hour average, the cost to operate one of our 20 amp saunas is $0.20/hour. Always check your local prices when determining final numbers for your budget. Infrared saunas are affordable to run and will not break the bank.

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How do infrared saunas work?

Infrared saunas use safe, deep-penetrating far-infrared (FIR) light. Far-infrared saunas recreate a narrow band of light naturally produced by the sun. High quality heating elements are located in infrared saunas, which include a combination of carbon and ceramic heaters. Although you can’t see the infrared light being emitted by these heating elements, you quickly begin to feel a warming sensation in your skin, muscles, and tissues throughout your body.

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How much do infrared saunas cost?

The average GHS sauna ranges between $4,000 - $10,000. As with any purchase, you’ll get what you pay for. At GHS, we’re proud to offer high-quality, effective saunas that deliver real results. From the materials that go into your sauna to the benefits you’ll get from it, we work hard to ensure that your sauna is a high-value purchase at an affordable cost.

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How hot do infrared saunas get?

GHS infrared saunas use carbon and ceramic heaters which, together, can heat the cabin of your sauna to 150°F. However, the ideal recommended temperature is between 110°F and 130°F.

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What’s the difference between infrared rays and sunlight?

An infrared sauna’s health benefits are all caused by the thermal energy you feel when you sit in its dry, relaxing warmth. That soothing heat may feel similar to the warmth of soft sunlight, but don’t be fooled, an infrared sauna’s heat is very different than the sun’s rays. Sun rays include a spectrum of light: ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared. Each type of radiation is experienced in different ways and has different effects on the human body.

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Infrared Sauna vs. Traditional Sauna

Traditional saunas work by heating the surface of the skin, which then warms the underlying muscles and tissues. Too much time in a traditional sauna can cause heat-related exhaustion and dehydration. In contrast to traditional saunas, the infrared energy in infrared saunas directly heats the skin, tissues, and muscles without the need to dramatically warm the air around you.

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What is an infrared sauna?

We are so glad you asked! Infrared saunas use safe, deep-penetrating far-infrared (FIR) light energy to gently soothe pain in deep tissues, muscles, and joints. And they are life changing. Since they deliver radiant heat infrared saunas have been found to help patients reach a number of health and wellness goals.

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Company FAQs

Do the saunas have certified tempered glass for safety and efficiency?

Yes! The glass used for the door and windows on your GHS infrared sauna are made from tempered glass. Tempered glass has been treated by heat or chemicals to increase its strength and improve the overall durability of the sauna. Additionally, if the glass was to ever break, it would break into small fragments instead of jagged, large pieces. Be sure any sauna you consider buying has tempered glass (specifically certified to be positive it is actually tempered), to ensure the safest sauna session for you and your family.

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Do the saunas have 360 degree heat penetration?

GHS infrared saunas feature 360° infrared heat. With heaters surrounding you and hitting you from all angles, the infrared waves will touch every part of your body, maximizing the benefits of your sauna session!

Does GHS include delivery and setup service?

Yes! We want to make sure the delivery and installation of your new sauna is on-time and done right. Be sure to ask if there's a window of time to expect your sauna delivery, how long it should take, and if we will be there to install it for you (depends on your location).

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Does GHS have a local distributor?

Good Health Saunas is based in Wisconsin (with locations in Waukesha and Appleton), but we also have a location in the Mall of America in Minnesota. You can find those addresses and info in the footer. If you don’t live around those locations, we also travel to tradeshows (expos, state fairs, home shows, etc.) all over the country. We always recommend checking out any sauna in person before purchasing, if you can. So come visit us when we attend a show near you - check out our upcoming shows