Category
Infrared vs. Traditional
The honest comparison.
| Traditional (Finnish style) | Infrared | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical air temp | About 174 to 195°F in the studies' era, with steam (löyly) | Often around 120 to 160°F |
| How it heats you | Hot air and steam | Infrared light warms the body directly |
| Long-term evidence | Large Finnish cohort studies (observational) | Much less; not shown to be equivalent |
The 2018 Mayo Clinic Proceedings review notes most of the strong data comes from traditional saunas. See the study. Infrared can still be a pleasant, practical habit. It is just a different exposure.
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