Want your skin to look fresher? An infrared sauna is one of the best feel-good habits for it. Thirty to forty minutes of deep, even warmth brings blood to the skin and leaves you with that post-sauna glow, and regular sessions are linked with better-hydrated skin. For fine lines, add red light therapy in a back-to-back session. Both are at sēk, $60 a session, each in your own private room.
What the heat does for your skin
- The glow. Warmth widens the small blood vessels near the surface, so more blood reaches your skin. A 2018 review in Mayo Clinic Proceedings names this effect on circulation as one of the main ways regular sauna use works on the body.
- Hydration. In a controlled study in the journal Dermatology, regular sauna users had a more stable skin barrier and better water-holding capacity in the outer layer of skin than people who did not use a sauna.
- The reset. Infrared sauna supports relaxation, better sleep and muscle recovery, and rested skin looks it.
Collagen and fine lines: why we pair it with red light
Infrared and collagen have been studied together. In a Yonsei Medical Journal study, skin cells exposed to infrared made more collagen and elastin, and patients treated with a targeted infrared device on the face saw improvements in texture and wrinkles.
The strongest results for fine lines belong to red light therapy. In a controlled trial of 136 volunteers published in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, red and near-infrared light over 30 sessions improved skin roughness and measured collagen density compared with controls. Every Celluma panel we use is FDA cleared and drug free.
So the pairing is simple: the sauna for the glow, the warmth and the reset, red light for collagen support where you want it. Both in one visit, booked back to back. Red light and the sauna run one after the other, never at the same time.
Pod or cabin
Both use Sunlighten infrared in your own private room.
Infrared Sauna Pod. Lie back with your body inside the pod and your head comfortably outside, for 30 minutes. Your sēk Specialist sets the heat to your comfort and can adjust it during the session.
Infrared Sauna Cabin. Sit upright in a full-size cabin at 150°F for 40 minutes, with room for up to three people.
Neither is better. It comes down to whether you would rather lie back on your own or sit up, maybe with company. Weighing infrared against a traditional sauna? Here is the difference.
A skin-focused visit
- Arrive with clean skin, no lotions or oils, and well hydrated.
- Book red light therapy and an infrared sauna session as two appointments, back to back. They run one after the other, never together. Tell us your skin goal and we will suggest the order.
- Red light is 30 minutes under the panel, no heat, no downtime. Many guests doze off.
- Sauna is 30 minutes in the pod or 40 in the cabin. Drink water after.
- Breakouts? Our post on red light therapy for acne covers the acne setting.
What it costs
An infrared sauna session is $60, pod or cabin, plus $10 for each additional guest in the cabin. Sauna 10 is 10 sessions for $350, $35 a session, pod or cabin each visit. Red light therapy is $60 for one panel or $85 for full body, and Red Light 10 is 10 sessions for $350. Packs are on the pricing page. Every membership includes both, and memberships are set up with a real person: text 615.614.3461 or email hi@seksauna.com. FSA and HSA cards are accepted.
Before you book
Infrared sauna may not be appropriate for everyone. Speak with a healthcare professional before use if you have a cardiovascular condition or heart-rhythm concern, use an implanted medical device, are recovering from surgery, have an open wound, or have another health condition that may be affected by heat exposure. Stop the session and seek assistance if you feel dizzy, faint, unwell, or unable to tolerate the heat. Adding red light therapy? The safety notes are on our red light therapy page.
Try both this week
New to sēk? The Intro Week Pass is 4 sessions in 7 days for $99, with Full Studio Access. Spend two on red light therapy and two on the sauna, and see how your skin looks by the weekend. Join within 30 days and your $99 applies toward your first month.
Sources
- Laukkanen JA, Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK. Cardiovascular and other health benefits of sauna bathing: a review of the evidence. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2018;93(8):1111-1121.
- Kowatzki D, Macholdt C, Krull K, Schmidt D, Deufel T, Elsner P, Fluhr JW. Effect of regular sauna on epidermal barrier function and stratum corneum water-holding capacity in vivo in humans: a controlled study. Dermatology, 2008;217(2):173-180.
- Lee JH, Roh MR, Lee KH. Effects of infrared radiation on skin photo-aging and pigmentation. Yonsei Medical Journal, 2006;47(4):485-490.
- Wunsch A, Matuschka K. A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, 2014;32(2):93-100.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new treatment, including infrared sauna or red light therapy, to determine whether it is appropriate for you.
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