Here’s Why Your Lips Are So Dry During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes. The most common and notable changes include nausea, fatigue, sore breasts, mood swings, and frequent urination. However, pregnancy’s effect on the skin is often overlooked. Research shows that up to 90% of pregnant women will experience skin changes, including dry lips, some mild and some more severe.  During pregnancy, you […]

Some people practice self care by taking baths, others practice it by cuddling up with a good book. For some, sweating it out in the infrared sauna at the local wellness center does the trick—or now, in their own homes. Thanks to innovations in at-home wellness-tech, infrared saunas are no longer just a fancy treatment provided at solely at spas and gyms. Now, with an increased interest in bringing wellness into the home, there are at-home infrared saunas aplenty, allowing anyone who wants to sweat it out in the comfort of their own homes to do so.

Best infrared saunas at a glance

• Best portable: HeatWave Rejuvinator Portable Sauna ($200)
• Best portable budget: SereneLife Infrared 1-Person Sauna Chair ($203)
• Best splurge: HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna ($8,299)
• Best budget stand-up: Serenelife Infrared 1-Person Sauna ($381)
• Best 3-person: Dynamic Maxxus Sauna ($2,699)
• Best 2-person: HeatWave Ceramic Infrared Sauna ($2,702)
• Best rounded Sunlighten The Solo System Personal Sauna ($2,600)

Best infrared sauna blankets, at a glance

• Best overall: HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket ($699)
• Runner-up: Hydragun HeatPod Sauna Blanket ($549)
• Best budget: Vanell, Infrared Sauna Blanket ($139)
• Best for inflammation: LifePro Far Infrared Sauna Blanket ($400)

Benefits of using an infrared sauna

While typical saunas heat the air around you, infrared saunas use infrared rays (something the eye can’t see) to penetrate into your skin and muscles, directly heating your body. According to Lauren Dal Farra, MD, cardiologist and CEO of Palm Health, that process can result in some health perks.

Self-reported benefits include, “increased relaxation, improved skin clarity and elasticity, decreased pain, and increased well-being from using the infrared sauna,” says Dr. Dal Farra. Neurologist Sita Kedia, MD, the chief medical officer at Palm Health, says at-home infrared saunas may also help you sleep better at night.

“People report that regular infrared sauna sessions help improve the quality and onset of sleep. Improved sleep may be attributed to multiple factors, including increased muscle relaxation, pain reduction, decreases in cortisol, and the cardiovascular benefits of increased blood flow and circulation,” says Dr. Kedia. “We also know that routine cardiovascular exercise improves quantity and quality of sleep. Saunas simulate the changes seen with cardiovascular exercise, which may be one of the primary drivers for saunas to improve sleep in individuals.”

How do infrared saunas work?

“During an infrared sauna session, infrared light penetrates the skin, and the core body temperature increases. The body has to work hard to cool itself and maintain thermal regulation,” says Dr. Dal Farra. “As a result, the body induces sweating, vasodilates arteries, and increases the heart rate and volume of blood pumped by the heart each minute. The effect is similar to that achieved by walking at a moderate pace.” Additionally, several studies demonstrate that repeated infrared thermal therapy improves vascular endothelial function. “Regular use of an infrared sauna may provide many of the same cardiovascular conditioning benefits as exercise,” she says.

Infrared saunas vs. sauna blankets

Chances are, the word “sauna” conjures up images of a small, warm room with areas for people to sit or lie down on while they unwind. Traditional infrared saunas look like this and are designed to provide users with a designated space to relax in. But given how expensive these separate rooms can cost, brands have created alternatives that work just as well, without the hefty price tag. These options include portable infrared saunas that pop-up like a tent, smaller, dome-like structures users can lie down in, and infrared masks or belts that provide concentrated relief in the form of a wearable.

The most popular alternative is a sauna blanket, which is just a sauna disguised as a sleeping bag. Designed to be laid in, they’re typically less expensive than traditional, walled-in infrared saunas and are much lighter and more portable, allowing users to relax anywhere they can find an electrical outlet.

How much does an at-home infrared sauna cost?

The price ultimately depends on model and type. Larger, permanent walk-in saunas range anywhere from the $2,500-$10,000 price range, although these are definitely at the most luxurious end of the spectrum. Portable options—which include infrared sauna blankets—can cost anywhere from $150-$700, depending on the style and model.

How to use an infrared sauna

In order to reap the potential benefits of infrared saunas, all you need to do is dedicate a tiny fraction of your day. “We observe that benefits begin at sessions of at least 15 minutes in length. Depending on your health condition, we recommend starting at 15 minutes and working up to 45-minute sessions,” says Dr. Dal Farra. “If you’re using the infrared sauna for cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, I recommend around four sessions per week, or 12 to 15 sessions over three weeks. The temperature of the infrared sauna is typically between 110°F to 130°F.”

The best infrared saunas for home