Infrared Sauna with Red Light Therapy: How It Works and Who It's For
Written by the Restore Suite Team. Last updated June 2026.
“Infrared sauna” and “red light therapy” get used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing, and some saunas combine both. This page explains the difference in plain terms, what a combined unit actually does, and who it makes sense for.
Red light therapy vs. infrared sauna: the difference
Both use light, but for different jobs. An infrared sauna uses far (and sometimes mid) infrared to gently heat your body and make you sweat. Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light delivered to the skin, and it isn’t primarily about heat. A “sauna with red light therapy” is a cabin that adds red/near-infrared light panels to the infrared heating, so you get the warmth and sweat of a sauna plus the light exposure in one session.
| Infrared sauna | Red light therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Whole-body heating and sweating | Targeted light exposure to the skin |
| You feel | Warmth, sweat | Little to no heat |
| Typical use | Relaxation, recovery routines | Skin and recovery routines |
| Combined unit | Adds red/near-infrared panels to an infrared sauna, both in one session | |
What a combined sauna actually does
In a combined cabin you sit in infrared heat as you would in any infrared sauna, while red and near-infrared panels add light exposure. The appeal is convenience: one device, one session, instead of a separate sauna and a separate red-light panel. If you were already going to use both, combining them saves space and time.
A note on expectations: red light therapy is an active area of research, and results vary by device, wavelength, dose, and the person. Treat a combined sauna as a convenient way to do two wellness habits at once, not as a medical treatment, and look at the specifics of any unit’s light panels rather than the word “red light” alone.
Who a red-light sauna is for
- People who already want both: you’re drawn to infrared sauna sessions and curious about red light, and would rather not buy two devices.
- Small spaces: a single combined cabin (including portable models) is easier to fit than separate equipment.
- Routine-builders: folding two habits into one sitting makes a daily routine easier to keep.
If you mainly want heat and sweat, a standard infrared sauna or full spectrum sauna is simpler and usually cheaper. If the red-light element is the draw, browse our saunas with red light therapy for models that include it.
Can red light therapy in a sauna help your skin?
Skin is the most-researched use of red light, and it is the reason many people add panels to a sauna. Red and near-infrared wavelengths are studied for supporting skin tone, the look of fine lines, and post-workout recovery, but the honest picture is that results depend on the device, the wavelength, the dose, and the person, and the research is still developing. Treat the light panels as a convenient add-on to a habit you already enjoy rather than a guaranteed skin treatment, and check the actual wavelengths and output of any unit instead of trusting the words "red light" on the box. If skin is your main goal, compare models in our saunas with red light therapy and our full spectrum saunas.
How often should you use a red light sauna?
For the sauna side, most home users do a few sessions a week, with daily sessions becoming common once you are comfortable with the heat. The red-light element is generally used in short, regular exposures rather than long ones, so a typical session is simply your normal sauna sitting with the panels on. Start conservative, stay hydrated, and build up as it suits you. If you have a heart condition, are pregnant, or take medication affected by heat, check with your doctor first. A smaller portable infrared sauna makes a daily routine easier to keep, while a full infrared sauna suits longer relaxation sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Is an infrared sauna the same as red light therapy? No. Infrared saunas use infrared to heat your body and make you sweat; red light therapy delivers specific red and near-infrared wavelengths to the skin and isn’t mainly about heat. Some saunas combine both in one cabin.
Can you get a portable sauna with red light therapy? Yes, some compact and portable units add red-light panels, which makes the combination accessible without a full cabin build. Browse our portable infrared saunas and infrared sauna range.
Does red light therapy work through sweat or heat? Red light therapy is about light reaching the skin, separate from the sauna’s heat. In a combined unit they happen together, but they’re doing different things.
Can red light therapy help with wrinkles or skin? Red and near-infrared light are studied for skin tone and the appearance of fine lines, but outcomes vary by device, wavelength, and dose, and the research is ongoing. Look at a unit's specific wavelengths and output rather than the label alone.
How often should you use a red light sauna? Most home users sauna a few times a week, building toward daily as they get comfortable, with the red-light panels on during a normal session. Start conservative, stay hydrated, and adjust to what suits you.
Is red light therapy in a sauna safe? For most healthy adults, used as directed, it is generally well tolerated, though you should avoid staring directly at bright panels and follow the maker's eye-safety guidance. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, or take medication affected by heat, check with your doctor before regular sauna use.
Explore the range: infrared saunas · full spectrum · portable. Not sure what fits? Contact us and we’ll help you choose.