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Writer's pictureTiffany Ahern

What To Wear In Infrared Sauna

Updated: May 15, 2023

To get the most from infrared sauna sessions, you should prepare for the experience with the right clothing. Learning what to wear in an infrared sauna can prevent unnecessary discomfort or tightness.


Blissfusion Encinitas Infrared Sauna
Our Infrared Sauna

Dressing For Your First Infrared Sauna Session

For the best-infrared sauna experience, wear something loose-fitting and light. This may vary from shorts and a light cotton shirt to your bathing suit, a towel, or nothing. You'll want maximum ventilation because the infrared sauna raises your core body temperature and produces a lot of sweat. Breathable fabrics help patients avoid feeling suffocated or restricted.


The light produced by infrared saunas heats your body from within, so many of the practices used with conventional saunas, like wearing a sauna suit or heavy clothing, are unnecessary. This will only increase the patient's chances of overheating during their session, leading to a poor experience.



Privacy In The Sauna

Most medical spas with an infrared sauna understand the importance of privacy and offer patients a private room to dress or undress for their session. The infrared sauna pod is yours for the session, so feel free to wear clothes, your sports bra, or just a towel; whatever's most comfortable for you! We do ask that you bring a towel in to sit on if you're going unclothed.


Is An Infrared Sauna Sanitary?

Nobody wants to sit in someone else's sweat and germs, so Blissfusion sanitizes their infrared sauna between visits. This is fairly common to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. In addition to thorough cleaning procedures, infrared saunas naturally kill bacteria and pathogens. The light and infrared heat produced by the sauna neutralize many strains of bacteria, enhancing the cleanliness of an infrared sauna.


Electronics In Infrared Saunas

While infrared saunas produce less ambient heat and are generally considered safer for electronic devices, you are entering at your own risk. Many of our visitors use their electronic devices in the infrared sauna, but too much heat can cause damage to certain electronics. If you notice the device overheating, pause the session and remove it from the sauna before continuing.


Before Infrared Sauna Sessions

Before coming in for a sauna session, avoid dehydrating drinks and foods, like soft drinks, alcohol, and salty snacks. Drink water plentifully for at least 24 hours prior and consume energy-rich foods. Rinse off before your sauna session to remove excess dirt, oils, lotions, and contaminants. Finally, wear some removable clothing, avoiding any tight clothes or non-breathable materials. The medical spa will typically provide towels, so all you need is a change of cloth


Should You Shower After The Infrared Sauna?

Showering after your infrared sauna session is important for various reasons. A cold shower helps cool down the body and stop sweating. Cold showers can also amplify the benefits of infrared saunas by causing a surge of endorphins, adrenaline and increasing blood flow. We recommend pairing the infrared sauna with cryotherapy to get the most from your session. The combination of heat and intense colds provides various health benefits to the body. Find more information about combining infrared sauna sessions with cryotherapy here.


Do Infrared Saunas Work With Clothes?

When considering what to wear in an infrared sauna, remember that your clothes will absorb heat, releasing it back into the room and preventing you from receiving the full benefit. In short, too much clothing inhibits sweating and may give you a worse sauna experience. Going nude, with only a towel, or with minimal clothing will allow the most infrared sauna benefits during your session.


Can I Take My Phone Into An Infrared Sauna?

While electronics are often safe inside the infrared sauna, we advise using caution when using your phone. Cell phones, smart watches, wireless headphones, and other electronics are subject to overheating in the sauna. The higher the room temperature, the more damage will be caused. Infrared saunas achieve heat intensity between 60 and 65°C (113 – 140 F), enough to damage a device.




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