An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to create heat. A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms your body. An infrared sauna uses infrared lamps to heat your body directly without warming the air around you.

The appeal of saunas in general is that they cause reactions similar to those elicited by moderate exercise, such as vigorous sweating and increased heart rate. An infrared sauna produces these results at lower temperatures than does a regular sauna, which makes it accessible to people who can't tolerate the heat of a conventional sauna.

The average temperature in an infrared sauna ranges from about 40 to 60 degrees Celsius. Supporters of infrared saunas say the heat penetrates more deeply than warmed air. This allows you to experience a more intense sweat at a lower temperature.