If you’ve spent any time on social media looking for ways to enhance your wellness, you’ve most likely come across infrared sauna blankets. Recently, infrared therapy tools like sauna blankets and personal saunas have experienced a surge in popularity thanks to the potential benefits they offer.
Are you looking to improve your skin, soothe your muscles, promote joint health, and more?
Getting all of these benefits by simply lying under a special blanket may seem too good to be true. This begs the question: Do sauna blankets work, or are they just another trend? And if they do work, what do you need to know before incorporating one into your health and wellness routine?
Below, we break down the science-backed benefits of infrared sauna blankets so that you can start investing in your wellness from the comfort of your own home.
What is a Sauna Blanket?
Infrared sauna blankets are heated, portable devices that use infrared wavelengths to provide your body with the benefits of a traditional sauna.
Traditional infrared saunas are small rooms that heat up your body with infrared lamps. Sauna blankets take this concept and make it more convenient by adding infrared heating elements to a wearable blanket, so you can enjoy sauna therapy sessions at home instead of paying for infrared sauna access at your gym, spa, or a specialty studio.
Just like traditional sweat saunas, infrared sauna blankets raise the core temperature of your body with the goal of activating your body’s healing functions. As such, people use sauna blankets to achieve a wide range of wellness goals, from improving their circulation to enhancing the appearance of their skin. Learn more about the traditional sauna vs sauna blanket in our blog.
The Science Behind Infrared Sauna Blankets
Infrared sauna blankets aren’t just gimmick devices that claim to offer outlandish benefits. The idea of infrared treatment is backed by science, and there have been several studies that validate the benefits of using infrared sauna therapy devices.
To better understand the science behind these innovative tools, here’s a breakdown of how they work:
Electromagnetic Radiation
Just like other saunas, infrared sauna blankets use the power of heat to stimulate your tissues. This provides the foundation for all of the benefits you can experience, as the heat can increase your blood flow to1:
- Support your natural healing abilities
- Reduce soreness
- Excrete toxins from your body
However, unlike traditional saunas, which heat the air around you to indirectly raise your body temperature, infrared blankets use electromagnetic radiation to directly target your tissues.1
Even though many people refer to infrared rays as “infrared light,” they’re actually a form of electromagnetic radion that emits heat. When infrared waves hit your body, your tissue absorbs the energy and heats up. Even more impressive? Infrared waves can travel up to seven centimeters deep into your body, energizing your skin, muscles, joints, and more.2
Potential Health Benefits
So, spending time in an infrared sauna elicits a physical reaction in your body that can benefit your health and well-being in multiple ways. Here are just some infrared sauna blanket benefits that help explain why people incorporate this device into their wellness regimens:
Detoxification
When you tuck into your sauna blanket, you’ll quickly begin to absorb the infrared rays and your body temperature will rise. Then, you’ll start to sweat, which is one of the most effective ways your body expels toxins.3 In fact, when you sweat heavily (like you do in a sauna blanket), it’s easier for your body to expel heavy metals, providing you with a deep detox.4
Your sweat will also help expel impurities from your skin, boosting both the health and appearance of your complexion.5
Muscle Recovery and Pain Relief
Enjoying infrared sauna sessions after working out can decrease muscle soreness and accelerate the recovery process.1 This means you’re more likely to feel refreshed and energized after a workout instead of stiff and sore.
But how exactly do sauna blankets support muscle recovery?
Put simply, the increased blood flow encourages your cells to regenerate and works to reduce inflammation. This, in turn, promotes muscle relaxation after an intense workout.
These same principles also make infrared sauna blankets effective for chronic pain relief. For instance, people who deal with inflammation from musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia can spend time in their infrared sauna to reduce inflammation around their joints and nerves. Additionally, the endorphin boost from the increased blood flow can offer extra relief and relaxation.
Cardiovascular Health
If you want to be proactive about protecting your cardiovascular health, spending time in an infrared sauna is a good place to start. Because infrared saunas increase your blood flow, they can ultimately support your circulatory system, similar to cardio workouts.
In fact, studies show that infrared sauna sessions can affect your circulatory system similarly to light exercise, such as taking a brisk walk.11 Because of how these devices get your blood flowing and heart pumping, infrared saunas can serve as a simple, low-impact way to complement a heart-healthy lifestyle.
In addition, consistently spending time in an infrared sauna can help regulate your blood pressure, which is one of the most important ways you can protect your cardiovascular health.6 Researchers have even found that infrared sauna treatment can alleviate symptoms of congestive heart failure.6
Safety and Considerations
The benefits of infrared sauna blankets are clear, but are infrared sauna blankets safe? Before you use any new wellness product, it’s important to research potential drawbacks and risks. Although sauna blankets are widely considered to be safe for most people, there are a few safety considerations to keep in mind.
Who Should Avoid Sauna Blankets?
Any kind of sauna—whether it’s a sauna blanket or a traditional steam sauna—is designed to increase your body temperature and heat rate for a short period of time. For the average, healthy person, this can offer certain health and wellness benefits. However, an elevated heart rate and body temperature may not be beneficial for all people.
For example, it’s best to avoid saunas during pregnancy, because increasing your body temperature above 101 degrees can cause developmental issues and birth defects.7 You’re also more susceptible to dehydration when you’re pregnant, so excessive sweating during your sauna sessions could pose more of a risk.
Additionally, if you have a preexisting cardiovascular condition, spending time in a sauna could cause issues with your blood pressure or heart rate.8
There’s another group that should also steer clear of saunas completely—children under six years old. Because young kids can’t regulate their body temperatures as effectively, overheating is a significant concern.8 Children over six should also be closely monitored and spend less time in a sauna blanket to avoid potential issues.
Precautions and Hydration
Before any sauna session, it’s important to prepare properly to make sure you feel your absolute best during and after the experience. For instance, by drinking plenty of fluids ahead of time, you can ensure you stay adequately hydrated—no matter how much you sweat.
While you're wrapped in the blanket, pay close attention to the time to avoid overheating. It’s also best to start with short sessions, as this gives your body the chance to acclimate safely. You can gradually work up to longer 30-minute sessions as you become more comfortable with your blanket.1 Learn more about how often you should use a sauna blanket in our blog.
You can also adjust the temperature of your blanket, starting on a lower setting at first and increasing the heat later on.
Finally, whether you’re new to sauna blankets or you’re a seasoned sauna lover, pay close attention to how your body feels during your sessions. If you start feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or uncomfortable, that’s a sign to stop, take a break, and hydrate.
Choosing the Right Sauna Blanket
Getting the most out of your infrared sauna blanket starts with selecting the right device. Look for a company that offers quality products backed by a warranty to ensure you can use your blanket for years to come.
Once you’ve found a reputable brand, consider other factors, such as:
- Size – Look for devices that are spacious enough to comfortably fit your entire body.
- Safety features – Enhanced safety features can help you avoid overheating.
- Design – You might be interested in a sauna blanket designed with cutouts for your arms so that you can use your hands. Some blankets also offer convenient remote controls for easier operation.
It’s also important to consider the price. Sauna blankets come at a variety of price points, with higher quality, more durable models often being a bit more expensive. Look for options in your budget, but keep in mind that investing in the right model upfront can help you save money on replacement costs down the line.
Bring the Sauna Experience Home with Lifepro
With an infrared sauna blanket, you can experience all the incredible wellness benefits of a traditional sauna from the comfort of your own home—you don’t even have to get out of bed. By cozying up in your at-home sauna for just a few minutes a day, a few times a week, you can work toward your wellness goals with ease.
Lifepro’s infrared sauna blankets make it possible to detoxify your body, relieve pain, support your heart health, and more without disrupting your busy routine.
Unlock a better you by exploring Lifepro’s collection of sauna blankets—and other wellness and recovery products—today.
Sources:
- Cleveland Clinic. Infrared Saunas: What They Do and 6 Health Benefits. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/infrared-sauna-benefits
- Neuropsychiatry. Transcranial Low-Level Laser Therapy for Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease. https://www.news-medical.net/health/How-Does-Infrared-Therapy-Work.aspx
- National Library of Medicine. Blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study: monitoring and elimination of bioaccumulated toxic elements. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21057782/
- Health. What Is a Heavy Metal Detox? And Do You Need One?. https://www.health.com/heavy-metal-detox-8426032
- American Academy of Dermatology. How your workout can affect your skin. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/workout-affect-skin
- National Library of Medicine. Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2718593/
- American Pregnancy Association. Saunas During Pregnancy. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/saunas-and-pregnancy/
- Wiley Online Library. Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2018/1857413
- Experimental Gerontology. Sauna use as a lifestyle practice to extend healthspan. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556521002916
Author
Joel Gottehrer is the Co-Founder of Lifepro Fitness and has dedicated his life to helping people transform theirs. With over 12 years of experience in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and owner of two personal training studios, Joel has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to helping transform lives. After suffering from physical injuries, Joel and his business partner, Abraham Brach, came together with a common goal to alleviate the pain caused by their injuries.
They continued to find themselves disappointed with the results stemming from various products promising to relieve their pain, and with that – Lifepro Fitness was born. Joel's mission is to have a positive impact on millions of lives with the Lifepro brand. Whether it's finding new and innovative ways to help people recover from injuries or developing products to improve overall wellness, Joel is always looking for ways to push the boundaries. Thanks to his commitment to help people live their lives free of pain, Lifepro has been able to do this for thousands of people since its founding in 2017.
