The names sound alike, and both involve light you can’t fully see. So it is no surprise that people often ask whether an infrared sauna and red light therapy are the same thing, or search for a “red light sauna”.
They are two different experiences. One is about warmth. The other is about light without heat. Here is a simple guide to each, and how guests enjoy them at Serenus Float & Wellness in Bloomington, Indiana.
The short answer
An infrared sauna warms you. Red light therapy doesn’t. If you leave feeling warm and loosened up, you were in the sauna. If you spent a few quiet minutes standing in a soft red glow, that was red light.
Infrared sauna: gentle, enveloping warmth
A traditional sauna mainly heats the air around you. An infrared sauna warms your body directly, which creates a deep, relaxing warmth at a lower air temperature. Many people find that more comfortable than the hotter air of a traditional sauna.1
Our infrared sauna is wood-lined, with soft colored lighting and room for two. Sessions are 30 or 60 minutes. You sit, you warm up slowly, and the rest of the day waits outside.
Red light therapy: light without the heat
Red light therapy uses particular wavelengths of red light, sometimes together with near-infrared light. Scientists call it photobiomodulation, and they study how light absorbed by the body may influence the way cells produce and use energy.2
There is no heat to build up, so sessions are short. Our red light booth is open and standing, with nothing to climb into. Sessions are 10 or 20 minutes, and you can add the optional vibration plate if you’d like rhythmic movement beneath your feet.
Skin appearance is one of the most common reasons people are curious about red light. The American Academy of Dermatology describes it as a possible complement to a broader skin-care routine, with changes that come gradually over regular sessions.3
Why the names get mixed up
Both use the word “infrared”, and some red light devices include near-infrared light. Sauna cabins also sometimes have colored lighting, which can look like a red glow from the outside.
The simplest way to tell them apart is to ask what the session is for. A sauna session is built around heat. A red light session is built around light.
Which one is right for you?
Choose the infrared sauna if you love warmth, want a longer stretch of quiet, or would like to share the time with a friend.
Choose red light therapy if you have only a few minutes, prefer not to get warm, or are curious about light for your skin-care routine.
You don’t have to choose just one. They are easy to pair in a single visit: warm up in the sauna, then finish with a few minutes of red light.
What the research can and can’t tell us
Research on both is still growing, and studies use many different devices and schedules.4 The simplest way to find your favorite is to try each one and notice how you feel. If you have a specific health or skin concern in mind, your doctor or dermatologist can help you decide what is best for you.
Before your first session in Bloomington
For the sauna, bring a water bottle and take your time cooling down afterward. If you are pregnant, have high blood pressure or a heart condition, or take medication that affects how you handle heat, please check with your doctor first.5
For red light, please check with your doctor if you are pregnant, sensitive to light, have a seizure disorder, or take medication that increases light sensitivity.3
Your host will show you how everything works before you begin. Explore infrared sauna sessions and red light therapy at Serenus, or see our first-visit guide to plan your time with us. You will find us at 410 South Landmark Avenue, and you are welcome to get in touch with any questions.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2024). Do infrared saunas have any health benefits? ↩
- de Freitas LF, Hamblin MR. (2016). Proposed Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation or Low-Level Light Therapy. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 22(3). ↩
- American Academy of Dermatology. Is red light therapy right for your skin? ↩1 ↩2
- Son Y, Lee H, Yu S, et al. (2025). Effects of photobiomodulation on multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review of randomized clinical trials. Systematic Reviews, 14, 160. ↩
- Hussain J, Cohen M. (2018). Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018, 1857413. Includes both traditional and infrared sauna studies. ↩