What is Far Infrared?
What exactly is Far Infrared? We experience infrared energy every day as heat. The warmth you feel from sunlight, a fire or other warm objects is largely the result of infrared radiation.
Far infrared (FIR) is an invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike visible light, we cannot see it, but when far infrared energy is absorbed by the body it is converted into heat. This is what makes it particularly well suited to sauna heating.
Infrared is commonly divided into near, mid and far infrared according to wavelength. Far infrared is strongly absorbed by water in the skin, allowing infrared energy to efficiently warm the body and produce the heating and sweating experience associated with an infrared sauna.
Are Far Infrared Saunas Safe?
Far infrared should not be confused with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV is the part of sunlight associated with sunburn and skin damage, whereas far infrared is non-ionising radiation experienced as heat and does not cause sunburn in the way UV radiation can.
Far infrared has been used for many years in heating and therapeutic applications. In an infrared sauna, FIR energy is absorbed at the skin and converted into heat, gradually warming the body and encouraging perspiration without the extremely high air temperatures associated with traditional saunas.
As with any form of heat therapy, sauna use should be approached sensibly. Stay well hydrated, end your session if you feel unwell, and seek medical advice before using a sauna if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, take medication that affects your response to heat, or have been advised to avoid heat exposure.
The Human Body Radiates Far Infrared
Far infrared isn’t something created by sauna technology — it occurs naturally all around us. The human body itself continuously emits infrared radiation as a result of its temperature, with much of that energy falling within the far infrared region of the spectrum. This is the same thermal radiation that allows infrared cameras and thermal imaging equipment to detect heat from the human body.
Far infrared energy is also strongly absorbed by the water naturally present in our skin. When absorbed, this radiant energy is converted into heat, making FIR particularly effective for warming the body — which is exactly what we want an infrared sauna to do.
Sun Stream’s Nano-Carbon heaters are specifically designed to produce strong radiant heat output across the far infrared wavelengths used for sauna heating.
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How Does a Far Infrared Sauna Work?
A far infrared sauna works differently from a traditional sauna. Traditional saunas primarily heat the air around you to a high temperature, which then heats your body. An infrared sauna uses radiant infrared energy that is absorbed by your skin and converted directly into heat.
Because infrared energy heats your body efficiently without relying solely on extremely hot surrounding air, an infrared sauna can produce an intense warming and sweating experience at a lower air temperature than a traditional sauna. Many people find this lower-temperature environment more comfortable and easier to relax in.
As your body warms, your normal thermoregulatory response increases blood flow to the skin and produces perspiration to help regulate body temperature. With Sun Stream’s high-output Nano-Carbon heaters surrounding the body, radiant infrared heat is directed towards you from multiple directions for an immersive, powerful sauna experience.
Far Infrared vs Mid Infrared vs Near Infrared in Saunas
- Far Infrared (FIR) is strongly absorbed by the water content in our skin, making it highly effective at generating heat in the body. This is why FIR is ideally suited to the primary purpose of a sauna — warming the body and producing a deep, satisfying sweat. Sun Stream Nano-Carbon heaters produce the majority of their radiant energy within the Far Infrared range.
- Mid Infrared (MIR) occupies a relatively small part of the infrared spectrum and is far less studied than Far Infrared or Near Infrared. MIR can contribute to the heating effect of a sauna, but we have found little evidence to support many of the specific wellness claims sometimes associated with MIR in “full spectrum” sauna marketing.
Near Infrared (NIR) behaves very differently from Far Infrared. It produces relatively little heating of the body and is better known for its use in photobiomodulation or light therapy. Research into NIR therapy typically uses LEDs or lasers delivering specific wavelengths at controlled intensities and distances from the body.
For this reason, we believe Far Infrared and Near Infrared are better treated as two different technologies for two different purposes: FIR for sauna heating and NIR for targeted light therapy.