Clearlight®'s Johannes and Sebastian join entrepreneur and academic Mark Bouris for an in-depth podcast exploring the science and practical use of infrared saunas and red light therapy in enhancing longevity.
Tune in as they dive into the hows and whys of these wellness technologies, and offer actionable insights for energy, recovery, and longevity.
Key Takeaways
1. What is infrared?
Infrared is a form of electromagnetic radiation that sits beyond the visible light spectrum. We cannot see it, but we experience infrared naturally as heat from sources such as sunlight.
Infrared is not a single wavelength. It spans a broad part of the electromagnetic spectrum, with different wavelengths interacting with the body in different ways.
An infrared sauna uses infrared energy to create heat without needing to heat the surrounding air to the same extreme temperatures as a traditional sauna. Instead, infrared energy is absorbed by the body and converted into heat, raising skin and body temperature and producing the familiar physiological response to sauna.
Clearlight® uses a combination of infrared wavelengths across the spectrum, with patented TrueWave® carbon and ceramic heaters designed to deliver broad-spectrum infrared heat across the body.
This is one of the fundamental differences between infrared and traditional sauna. A traditional sauna primarily heats the surrounding air and surfaces, which then transfer heat to the body. An infrared sauna uses radiant infrared energy as the primary source of heat.
2. Infrared Sauna vs. Traditional Sauna
A major theme of the conversation was understanding the difference between infrared and traditional sauna.
Traditional Finnish saunas typically operate at much higher temperatures, often around 77–93°C. The sauna environment is heated first, with hot air and heated stones creating the intense heat experience.
Infrared saunas operate at a lower ambient temperature, generally around 46–54°C. Rather than relying on extremely hot air, infrared energy provides a more direct source of radiant heat.
Both approaches create a thermal response. Heart rate and skin temperature rise, blood vessels dilate and sweating increases. The experience, however, can feel very different.
Traditional sauna has a much longer history and a larger body of research behind it. Research into infrared sauna is growing, but the evidence base is still developing and should not automatically be assumed to be equivalent to the traditional sauna literature.
Ultimately, consistency matters. The most useful sauna is one you can comfortably incorporate into your routine and use regularly.
3. Why Clearlight® uses full-spectrum infrared
Not all infrared saunas use the same technology.
Clearlight® developed TrueWave® to deliver a combination of carbon and ceramic infrared heaters across the sauna, including heater placement at the front and behind the legs. The aim is to create broad, even heat across the body rather than concentrating heat in one area.
This matters because the infrared experience is influenced by more than temperature alone. Wavelength, heater design, placement, coverage and the overall construction of the sauna all contribute to how the heat is delivered.
The result is a lower-temperature sauna experience designed around full-body infrared exposure, rather than simply recreating the hot-air environment of a traditional sauna at a lower temperature.
4. What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is different again.
While infrared sauna uses infrared energy primarily to create a thermal response, red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of visible red and near-infrared light to interact with biological tissue.
This is often referred to as photobiomodulation (PBM).
Common PBM wavelengths fall within the red and near-infrared ranges, with devices using wavelengths such as approximately 630–660 nm for red light and 810–850 nm for near-infrared light. These wavelengths are not being used to heat the body in the same way as an infrared sauna. Instead, the light is being studied for its interaction with cellular processes.
One of the leading areas of research is the mitochondria, the structures within our cells responsible for producing energy. Research suggests that red and near-infrared light can interact with mitochondrial components including cytochrome c oxidase, influencing cellular signalling and ATP production.
This is why red light therapy is being investigated across areas including skin health, exercise recovery, tissue repair and cellular function. The evidence varies considerably depending on the wavelength, dose, treatment area and intended outcome, so it is important not to treat all red light devices or protocols as equivalent.
5. Infrared and red light: different technologies, complementary applications
Infrared sauna and red light therapy are sometimes discussed interchangeably, but they work in fundamentally different ways.
Infrared sauna uses infrared energy to create heat and a whole-body thermal response.
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to influence cellular processes through photobiomodulation.
That distinction is important. One is primarily a heat-based modality; the other is a light-based modality.
They can, however, be used alongside one another. This is the basis of what is often referred to as wellness "stacking": combining different modalities that work through different mechanisms within the same broader routine.
Clearlight®'s Red Light Tower is designed to be used inside the sauna, allowing users to combine full-body infrared heat with targeted red and near-infrared light exposure in a single session.
6. Making the most of your sauna sessions
The podcast also explored how to approach these technologies in practice.
With infrared sauna, there is no need to start with the highest temperature or longest possible session. Beginning with a more moderate session and gradually increasing exposure as you become accustomed to the heat can make the experience more comfortable and sustainable.
Hydration is also important, particularly when sessions involve significant sweating.
With red light therapy, more is not necessarily better. Wavelength, light intensity, distance from the device and exposure time all influence the dose, which is why following the recommended protocol for the specific device is important.
The broader principle is simple: consistency is more useful than extreme protocols.
7. Stacking wellness modalities
The conversation also touched on the idea of combining different wellness modalities, including infrared sauna, red light therapy and halotherapy.
Rather than viewing each technology as a standalone solution, this approach considers how different modalities can fit into a wider recovery and wellness routine.
For those looking to combine infrared and red light, Clearlight®'s Red Light Tower is designed to sit inside a Clearlight® sauna, making it possible to incorporate both into the same session.
For a limited time, save 15% when you bundle your chosen Clearlight® infrared sauna with a Red Light Tower.
8. Timing, consistency and your individual routine
There is no single "best" time to use an infrared sauna or red light therapy. The right approach depends on your routine, goals and how your body responds.
Some people prefer sauna earlier in the day, while others use it as part of their evening wind-down. The same principle applies to red light therapy: consistency and an appropriate protocol are more important than chasing an extreme routine.
The takeaway from the conversation is less about finding one perfect protocol and more about understanding how these technologies work, choosing quality equipment and finding an approach you can maintain over time.
Interested in learning more about the benefits of infrared and red light therapy? Discover more articles from our wellness journal.
Infrared Sauna vs. Red Light Therapy: Uncovering the Key Differences
Why Combining Red Light and Infrared Therapy May Be the Ultimate Wellness Hack
