Red Light Therapy vs. Infrared Sauna: What's the Difference?
Key Takeaways
Red Light Therapy uses targeted wavelengths to stimulate cellular repair, enhance energy, and improve skin health.
Infrared Saunas raise core temperature through heat, helping with detox, circulation, and full-body relaxation.
Red Light Therapy is a non-invasive, cool treatment, while Infrared Sauna sessions involve warmth and sweating.
Choosing between them depends on your goals, but using both in a routine offers balanced wellness benefits.
Pause offers both services across several locations, making it easy to maintain your wellness routine anywhere.
Not all light therapies are created equal—and that’s a good thing. When it comes to boosting your energy, easing discomfort, and supporting long-term health goals, Red Light Therapy and Infrared Saunas each offer their powerful benefits. If you’re wondering which one suits your wellness routine best, or if you should be doing both, Pause Studio has you covered.
Let’s explore the core differences between these two wellness experiences, what they do at a cellular level, and why each may play a unique role in improving your quality of life.
What Is Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy, also known as low-level light therapy, uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate your body’s natural healing processes. It uses near-infrared light and visible light within the red spectrum to promote tissue repair and increase energy levels within cells.
This process works with your body, not against it. When red and near-infrared wavelengths penetrate the skin, they activate mitochondria—your body’s powerhouses—triggering the release of more energy for improved function and recovery.
What Happens in an Infrared Sauna?
Infrared sauna therapy is a completely different experience. Instead of using light to energize your cells directly, it uses infrared heat to warm your body from the inside out. This raises your core temperature and gets your heart rate up in a gentle, controlled way—without the intense heat of traditional saunas.
During an infrared sauna session, your body responds to the rise in temperature by increasing blood circulation and sweating out heavy metals and other toxins. The result? A full-body detox that supports everything from cardiovascular health to pain relief and improved circulation.
Comparing the Core Benefits
Both therapies use light, but their goals and effects differ. Red Light Therapy delivers targeted therapeutic effects to support skin health, joint pain relief, and muscle recovery at the cellular level. It’s especially popular for its role in fibroblast proliferation and tissue repair, making it ideal for people focused on longevity and beauty benefits.
On the other hand, infrared saunas provide broad-spectrum support. From relieving chronic pain and lowering blood pressure to supporting skin conditions and improving sleep quality, they address full-body health through thermal response.
Infrared Wavelengths & Light Spectrum
Red Light Therapy uses a narrow light spectrum—primarily visible light and near-infrared light. These light wavelengths are absorbed by the skin and underlying tissues and interact with cytochrome c oxidase in your cells. The result? Enhanced cellular repair and more efficient energy production.
Infrared saunas, however, rely on infrared heaters that emit infrared wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum. This includes far-infrared, which penetrates deeply into tissues and warms the body directly. The benefit? A safe rise in core body temperatures, which mimics a cardiovascular workout and improves blood flow throughout the body.
Pain Relief and Muscle Recovery
If you’re dealing with muscle soreness or joint stiffness, both therapies can help—but in different ways. Red Light Therapy supports recovery by energizing your cells and encouraging tissue healing. It’s perfect for targeted areas like shoulders, knees, or skin concerns.
Infrared sauna treatment, in contrast, relaxes the entire body. The heat improves blood circulation and helps loosen tight muscles. It’s ideal after a workout or a stressful day when your whole body needs a reset.
Detox and Skin Health
Infrared sauna sessions shine when it comes to detoxification. The infrared heat helps eliminate toxins and boosts lymphatic drainage. Many clients report noticeable changes in their skin’s appearance and texture after regular sauna use.
Red Light Therapy also supports skin health, but from the inside out. By stimulating collagen production and increasing blood vessels in the treated area, it promotes a natural glow and helps with common skin conditions like redness, dullness, and aging signs.
LED Light Therapy vs Infrared Heat
Another key difference is how the treatments feel. Red Light Therapy is cool and calming. You simply lie under panels of LED light therapy without breaking a sweat. It’s painless and relaxing.
Infrared saunas use infrared heat to stimulate sweating and raise your core temperature. While not as hot as traditional saunas, the feeling is still warm and enveloping, making it a popular choice for people who love the sensation of heat during wellness routines.
Which One Should You Choose?
It depends on your goals. If you want to enhance your cellular repair, support skin rejuvenation, or reduce joint pain in specific areas, Red Light Therapy may be your ideal option. It's also a great addition to a daily routine when you need a quick, non-invasive boost.
If you’re looking for whole-body detox, cardiovascular support, or chronic pain relief, infrared sauna therapy delivers a deeper, longer-lasting heat with more systemic benefits.
Better yet, many Pause clients choose to alternate between both. That way, they enjoy the targeted benefits of Red Light Therapy and the broad health benefits of infrared sauna therapy in a balanced, effective way.
Where to Try These Therapies
At Pause, we offer both therapies as part of our curated services designed to support your total wellness. Whether you want a quick recharge with Red Light Therapy or a relaxing session in our infrared sauna in West Hollywood, you’ll find options tailored to your needs.
Our spaces are designed for comfort and care, with private rooms, premium amenities, and expert guidance available to help you choose the right path for your health goals.
Ready to Light Up Your Wellness Routine?
Red Light Therapy and Infrared Saunas are more than just trends—they’re powerful tools for a better you. Whether you're seeking better sleep, pain relief, or skin health, these therapies offer therapeutic benefits that go far beyond the surface.
Experience both at Pause and see the positive effects for yourself. And if you seek more than just one place to relax and reset, we serve at several locations so you can keep your wellness routine consistent wherever life takes you.
From Venice and West Hollywood to South Bay, Brentwood, Studio City, and Newport Beach—each studio offers a full range of services to support your journey.