It is a question of personal preference. Infrared saunas warms the body just a s natural sunlight.Infrared, heats the body without raising the surrounding temperature.
The body perspires and receives all benefits nbut without the harmful effect of excess heat.IT heats the skin directly and within shorter time.
Saunas are useful in many ways, as it helps to speed up the metabolic process.

Answered by wri ter , an ibibo Master, at 6:35 PM on January 30, 2008

I've just bought one. It is great. Made by http://www.sunlightsaunas.com/
It was about $3500, and well worth the price. They are definitely not the same. The differences are listed here: http://www.sunlightsaunas.com/wi.ht m

Answered by chamraj , an ibibo Master, at 1:26 PM on January 29, 2008

Traditional saunas, also called rock saunas or Finnish Saunas, use various types of heaters to warm the air and stones in a room. The room's walls can be logs or some other material lined with wood. Stones placed over the heat source attain a high temperature. In its primitive form the stones are heated by wood without a chimney. The fire dies and the smoke exits by the door. Heat is maintained by the stones. Stones are usually peridotite as they are heat stable. Modern Finnish saunas have thermostatically controlled electric stoves or wood stoves with chimneys.

In a traditional sauna the air temperature typically runs between 169 to 190 °F (76 to 88 °C), though temperatures over 200 °F (93 °C) are sometimes encountered. The hot air causes ones body to heat up, and eventually results in a sweat. Water is thrown on the stones to achieve a "steam shock". Some devotees enhance the experience by mixing vodka etc in the water. This produces a quick "high". Some add herbs or oil like eucalyptus. Traditionally, ones skin is beaten with a bunch of birch twigs. When the heat becomes intolerable one cools down under a cold shower or, as in Finland, by jumping into a frozen lake, or perhaps, most delicately, one rolls in powdery snow. Then one repeats the process to satisfaction. Although potentially unsafe, alcoholic drinks often accompany the sauna.

An infrared sauna uses a specific type of heater that creates infrared waves that heat your body directly, instead of just by the air. The temperature in them is much cooler, at around 110 to 130 °F (43 to 54 °C). The amount of sweat that results from each is comparable, though many people report that the lower temperatures in an infrared sauna allow the user to stay inside longer, resulting in longer sauna sessions and therefore more overall sweating

Answered by deepa , an ibibo Advisor, at 11:13 AM on January 29, 2008

no they are different... they have almost the same effect but the mechanism of action is different...

Answered by anisha , an ibibo Advisor, at 9:40 AM on January 29, 2008

The difference is Steam. The is none with Far-infaraed saunas.The far-infrared spectrum also penetrates deeper into the fat layer beneath the skin, thus improving detoxification effects compared to steam saunas. These saunas produce plenty of sweat - a 45 minute sauna requires a large bath towel to soak it all up.

Answered by Saurabh , an ibibo Master, at 9:39 AM on January 29, 2008

FIR has the ability to penetrate, radiate and reflect. The body is able to absorb FIR because of its deep penetrating power. Far Infrared rays penetrate up to 2-inches deep into the subcutaneous tissues of the skin, transforming light energy into heat energy. This thermal effect causes blood vessels and capillaries to dilate; increasing blood circulation, boosting metabolism and immune response, detoxification, cardiovascular conditioning and weight control. Plus, the heat that is produced helps to rid the body of toxins and metabolic wastes by sweating them out.

Answered by satyapal , an ibibo Master, at 9:38 AM on January 29, 2008

I have used a far-infrared sauna for several years. I use it to detoxify/remove heavy metals and chemicals (this is called 'depuration therapy').

Far-infrared saunas are safer than steam saunas because they produce their effects at much lower (therefore safer) temperatures. The far-infrared spectrum also penetrates deeper into the fat layer beneath the skin, thus improving detoxification effects compared to steam saunas. These saunas produce plenty of sweat - a 45 minute sauna requires a large bath towel to soak it all up.

Answered by Romi , an ibibo Master, at 9:38 AM on January 29, 2008

An infared sauna is a dry sauna, a steam sauna is a wet one. It all depends if you want to feel like you are in the desert or in the jungle on which one you get.

Answered by Uttam , an ibibo Master, at 9:38 AM on January 29, 2008