Infrared Sauna vs Steam Sauna in Dubai: Which Is Better for UAE Homes?
Why 60°C Can Feel Like 90°C
Many people compare sauna temperatures and assume that higher heat automatically means a stronger session. In reality, infrared and steam saunas use two completely different types of heat. A 60°C infrared session can feel just as intense — sometimes even deeper — than a 90°C steam sauna.
1. Two Different Types of Heat
Steam / Traditional Sauna
A steam sauna heats the air around you using stones and steam. This convective heat raises the room temperature to 80–100°C, and your body warms as the hot air surrounds your skin.
Infrared Sauna
Infrared saunas work differently — they warm the body directly using far-infrared light. The air stays milder (50–65°C), but the heat penetrates deeper into your tissues.
Simple way to picture it:
- Steam sauna = intense hot air, like opening an oven
- Infrared sauna = warm sunlight on a cool day
Even with cooler air, infrared creates a powerful, steady heat that makes most people sweat heavily within minutes.
2. The Science: How Deep the Heat Really Goes
Research on far-infrared therapy shows that these wavelengths can penetrate the skin several millimeters, warming muscles and soft tissues below the surface rather than just the skin.
This triggers vasodilation — your blood vessels widen, boosting circulation and heart rate in a way similar to light or moderate exercise. That’s why infrared heat feels deep, comforting and intense without extreme temperatures.
- Steam heats you from the outside in
- Infrared heats you from the inside out
This inside-out heating effect explains why 55–60°C infrared sessions often feel as strong as a 90°C steam sauna.
3. Comfort vs Intensity: The User Experience
Steam saunas can feel overwhelming — very hot air, heavy breathing and shorter session times. Infrared offers a gentler, more breathable environment while still elevating your core temperature.
Studies comparing cardiovascular responses show that both types of heat can raise heart rate and circulation to similar levels, even at lower temperatures in infrared cabins.
For this reason, people who struggle with the intensity of steam rooms often find infrared far more tolerable and easier to use consistently.
4. Sweat, Detox & Recovery: Do Both Work?
Yes — both sauna types support sweating, circulation and relaxation. The difference is in comfort and practicality:
- Infrared allows deeper sweat at lower temperatures
- Helps with post-workout recovery and reducing soreness
- Easier to fit into a 3–4× weekly routine
Steam saunas offer the classic high-heat ritual, while infrared is more focused, efficient and home-friendly.
5. Which One Is Better?
It depends on lifestyle. Steam saunas deliver powerful, traditional heat. Infrared provides deep warmth, longer comfort, lower running costs and simpler home installation.
A 60°C infrared sauna isn’t “weaker” than a 90°C steam sauna — it’s a different heat mechanism that warms the body more efficiently and allows longer, more comfortable sessions.
Key Takeaways
- Lower temperature does not mean lower impact — infrared heat works deeper
- Infrared = gentle, breathable, longer sessions
- Steam = intense, traditional high-heat experience
- Both support circulation, sweating and wellbeing
Further Reading
Share this article: