The Pros and Cons of Ceramic Infrared Saunas

Unlike traditional saunas, which use steam to heat the body, far-infrared saunas (סאונה)emit infrared radiant heat. It's better tolerated than steam by many people, and the heat is absorbed directly into the skin. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions report relief from symptoms after using infrared saunas.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Ceramic Infrared Saunas

Ceramic infrared saunas offer several benefits as well as drawbacks. These saunas produce the same infrared heat as carbon infrared saunas, but with limitations.

Ceramic infrared saunas concentrate heat near the heating units. They're great if you want to apply infrared heat to a specific area of the body, but they're slower to heat up the entire sauna cabinet than the carbon infrared saunas. And while one of the benefits of ceramic infrared saunas is the slightly lower price, if you're considering purchasing a three or four person infrared sauna, a carbon sauna is by far the better investment.

The Benefits of Carbon Infrared Saunas

Carbon infrared saunas have several benefits in terms of performance and energy savings. Carbon infrared saunas heat evenly, dispersing the heat for whole-body warmth. They warm up quickly and are more energy-efficient than ceramic infrared saunas (סאונה).

The only drawback for some people is the slightly higher price tag on carbon infrared saunas.  However, if you're considering a three or four person sauna, the higher quality and energy savings of the carbon infrared sauna offset the higher price tag.

Look for Added Infrared Sauna Enhancements for an In Home Spa

Most people like to use an infrared sauna for 20 minutes or more. During your sauna time, it helps to have some extras to make your sauna time more enjoyable. Some infrared saunas now come with CD or MP3 players so you can listen to your favorite music, magazine racks, adjustable back and seat rests and more.

While there's a lot to learn while shopping for an infrared sauna, most retailers try to make it easy for a customer to understand the different types of saunas (סאונה), especially the heating elements. Ceramic and carbon infrared saunas each have their benefits and drawbacks. Whatever you choose, remember that a sauna is a lifetime investment that will last for many, many years.  If you can, choose one that offers all the benefits you can afford for maximum enjoyment.