Infrared Sauna Vs Steam Room: Everything You Need To Know About

With over a million saunas in the county, the trend of heat therapy is here to stay. But when it comes to choosing a type of sauna, the debate seems to be never ending. 

That’s because while some sauna enthusiasts prefer dry heat, others are too passionate about steam saunas. 

And this is particularly true for the infrared sauna vs steam room debate, where opinions differ sharply about which one is better for you. 

So much so that sauna goers often ask me how to decide between infrared vs steam sauna. In fact, I am sure you’d have faced the same confusion. 

Now, I always suggest you choose one based on your own preferences and wellness goals. 

However, to do so, it is essential you know all the differences between infrared and steam saunas. After all, just like dry vs wet saunas, these two heat therapy methods are completely different. 

So, read on as I’ve detailed all the steam vs infrared sauna differences along with my tips on when you should choose either of them. 

Infrared sauna vs steam room: Let’s understand in detail

Although both infrared and steam saunas are primarily meant for heat therapy, they are very different from one another. And this is evident in their operation and overall effects on your body. 

In fact, basic heat benefits aside, the short and long-term results of using a steam versus infrared sauna will differ significantly. 

As such, my advice is you choose one of these based on what you’re trying to achieve. 

To help you choose the right one between infrared sauna vs steam room, I’ve explained how both operate, their effects on your body, and the overall experience you can expect.

What is an infrared sauna?

Let me start with the infrared sauna first, a pinnacle of sauna technology that has taken the steam sauna market by storm. In fact, you can now find portable infrared sauna pods on the market, something you can plug in and use just about anywhere. 

But let’s keep the focus on infrared sauna rooms since we are drawing comparison with steam rooms. 

For starters, an infrared sauna room is like any other sauna with an enclosure featuring a seating area. However, unlike regular dry and steam saunas where the entire enclosure is heated, infrared saunas rely on infrared rays that penetrate your skin and heat your body. 

As a result, while the ambient temperature remains low, your body’s core temperature increases phenomenally and you experience profuse sweating. 

Overall, you’ll experience dry heat in the range of 120°F and 150°F in an infrared sauna, which is comfortable for a lot of people since there’s zero humidity. 

How does an infrared sauna work? 

As I said, an infrared sauna uses infrared light rays that penetrate deep into your skin and heat up your body from within. And this eliminates the need to heat the ambient air in the sauna. 

So, while the sauna enclosure itself remains way cooler, it's the infrared rays that make you sweat out. 

The outcome: You experience relaxation, muscle relief, and detox benefits without being overwhelmed by intense heat. 

What are the health benefits of infrared sauna sessions? 

1. Relief from pain and sore muscles 

If there’s one benefit that infrared saunas stand out for, it is pain relief and muscle recovery. So much so that gym-goers admit to having experienced almost instant post-workout relief in an infrared sauna. 

And that’s because the infrared rays penetrate deep into your muscles and directly heat those areas that are most affected after exercise or injury. 

This relaxes your muscles, increases blood circulation, and reduces inflammation, providing you quick pain relief. 

2. Increased detoxification 

Like regular saunas and steam rooms, infrared saunas also help detoxify your body. But what’s interesting here is the claim that infrared rays help with better detoxification. 

In fact, for a lot of people deciding between infrared vs steam sauna health benefits, this makes the former an obvious choice. 

So how true is this claim?

Well, there’s some truth to this argument for sure. That’s because the heat from infrared light directly stimulates your sweat glands and includes sweating to an extent where your body releases harmful toxins like heavy metals and pollutants​. 

3. Improved skin health 

Since infrared sauna ambiance is more comfortable compared to steam rooms, you tend to sit in there for a longer duration. And this means more sweating and opening of skin pores. 

The result is a clear radiant skin while also helping get rid of skin conditions like acne. 

However, when it comes to experiencing skin benefits, it is essential you know the risks of infrared saunas and don’t overdo your session since it can result in skin burns. 

4. Weight loss 

There are a lot of studies that suggest an infrared sauna does help you burn calories. That’s because as your body works to regulate its temperature in the face of excess heat, it burns excess calories in the process. 

And although not as prominent as exercising or jogging, regular infrared sauna sessions can lead to moderate weight loss in the long run. 

What is a steam room?

Next up in the infrared sauna vs steam room explainer, let’s understand what a steam room is all about. 

To begin with, a steam room is a sealed enclosure which is heated by a steam spa steam generator. And the main highlight here is a moist ambiance with humidity levels going up to 100 percent. 

Talking about the temperature, it typically ranges between 100°F and 120°F, which is lower than in a sauna. However, with high humidity levels, the heat can feel quite overwhelming comparatively and might take some practice for you to build endurance. 

How does a steam room work? 

Unlike infrared saunas, a steam room doesn’t use any direct heating mechanism. Instead, it is heated by a steam bath generator which boils water to create both heat and steam.

In fact, when it comes to the working of infrared sauna vs steam sauna, these generators are the mainstay of the latter. This makes the best steam bath generators a prerequisite for optimum heating. 

Now, this hot and humid ambiance makes you sweat profusely and brings an array of health and wellness benefits. And if you’re someone who has high heat tolerance levels, regular steam showers can be quite therapeutic. 

What are the health benefits of steam bathing? 

1. Better respiratory health 

One of the main highlights of steam room benefits is improved respiratory health. So much so that from simple nasal blockage to asthma to bronchitis and more, regular steam bathing can provide relief from all. 

How, you might wonder? 

You see, steam helps open your airways and reduce congestion while the overall humid heat goes deep into your respiratory tracts and alleviates other synonyms. 

The result: You are able to breathe much better than before. 

2. Hydrated and radiant skin 

Yet another advantage of regular steam bathing is hydrated and glowing skin, thanks to direct exposure to steam, heat, and humidity. 

Not only do steam rooms help remove impurities from your skin but also leave you with a soft and rejuvenated skin. That’s because it improves skin barrier, increases hydration, and has a profound effect on the skin's pH levels.

Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? 

3. Improved relaxation and stress mitigation 

As you sit for a few minutes in a steam room, your cortisol or stress hormone levels decrease. At the same time, the soothing environment helps release endorphins aka feel good hormones. 

So, you’re sure to feel relaxed and experience significant stress relief right after your steam shower session. 

4. Natural detox 

You’ll agree when I say that sweating is the best way to detoxify your body. And when we talk about steam vs infrared sauna for detoxification, the latter helps you detox in the most natural way. 

How? 

Well, instead of directly heating your skin cells, a steam room ambience gradually increases your body’s temperature. This means your body gets heated and you experience sweating only when the steam room’s ambient temperature rises. 

Infrared sauna vs steam sauna: Which is better? ​

In the above sections, I've detailed all the differences between steam sauna vs infrared sauna, along with their heating method and unique benefits. 

Now, the answer to which is better steam or infrared sauna, will depend on what you’re looking to achieve. 

For instance, if stress relief is your primary objective and you’ve a good heat tolerance, then a steam room should be your go-to heat therapy method. 

All in all, here’s when you can go for either of the two: 

Infrared sauna is a great opinion if: 

• You want something that’s comfortable and doesn’t overwhelm you with heat and humidity. 
• You want pain relief or post-workout muscle recovery. 
• You want to experience effective detoxification.

Steam room is excellent if:

• You want relief from respiratory issues like nasal congestion, bronchitis, etc. 
• You want hydrated and glowing skin. 
• You want to relax and get relief from day-to-day stress. 
• You have high heat tolerance. 

Things to consider when choosing between infrared sauna vs steam room 

1. Space availability 

Infrared saunas are quite compact and take less space compared to steam rooms. Also, they’re far less complicated to install and operate.

That’s because, unlike steam rooms, infrared saunas don’t require a dedicated area for steam generators or complex plumbing work to name a few. 

So, if you’re lacking adequate space, installing an infrared sauna will make more sense. 

2. Maintenance requirements 

Steam rooms need frequent maintenance. Herein, you’ll have to clean the enclosure, drain the steam generator, and check for rust or leakages. 

Now, although infrared saunas don’t need to be maintained very often, you might have to replace infrared lamps once in a while. And this can be both complicated and expensive. 

3. Installation and operating costs 

Talking about the installation cost of steam sauna vs infrared sauna, the former is more cost-efficient. Here’s how:

• You can install a basic steam room for anywhere between $1000 and $1500.
• The starting price of an entry-level infrared sauna is $2000 and most residential infrared saunas cost an upward of $4000. 

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Coming to operating cost, a typical steam room session in your home doesn’t cost more than $1 in utility bills. Also, modern-day steam generators consume less than a gallon of water per session. 

At the same time, infrared saunas are also quite energy-efficient and using one won’t break the bank. 

Frequently asked questions 

What’s the difference between infrared and steam sauna? 

The difference between infrared vs steam sauna primarily lies in the heat method they use and the benefits they offer. 

For instance, while infrared saunas use infrared heat to directly heat your body without heating the enclosure, steam rooms have a highly warm and humid ambiance. 

Talking about individual health benefits, infrared saunas are great for post-workout pain relief and increased detoxification, among others. Similarly, steam rooms are a great tool for relaxation and mental calm. 

Which is better infrared or steam sauna? 

What’s better between an infrared sauna vs steam room will purely depend on your health and wellness objectives. 

For instance, if you’re someone who indulges in intensive workout, infrared sauna is perfect for post-workout recovery. 

At the same time, if you’ve got dehydrated skin and you’re looking to improve skin health, steam room sessions can work wonders. 

Is infrared sauna better than steam room? 

In a lot of ways, an infrared sauna does fare better over traditional steam rooms. That’s because you need less space to install and spend less time on upkeep. 

However, infrared saunas also have their downsides. 

For instance, installing an infrared sauna can be super expensive in the first place. Also periodic upkeep can cost you more than what it costs to maintain a steam room. 

Wrapping up the infrared sauna vs steam room debate 

As you can see, there’s no clear winner in the infrared vs steam sauna debate. And rightly so, as both offer a unique set of benefits and help achieve different health goals. 

Thus, the choice between the two will ultimately come down to your desired outcome. 

I hope that by now I’ve answered all the questions that you had regarding infrared sauna and steam rooms. Also, I am sure you’ve gained enough clarity about which one is right for you. 

Got more questions or need assistance with your steam room project? 

You can get in touch with us!

At Steam and Sauna Experts, we are seasoned steam room installation professionals. And our storefront fratres and extensive inventory from the likes of Amerec, Delta, Steam Spa, Steamist, and more. 

In short, we’ve got all your steam room requirements covered.

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