It’s no secret that as time moves forward, we tend to try to do anything to slow it down—or even reverse it. We all want clear and brilliant pores, minimal wrinkles, and glowing skin. We all want to bask in the fountain of youth.

Yet, the key to anti-aging isn’t necessarily layering on various skincare products. Anti-aging and beauty actually go more than skin deep. Your beauty self-care routine also involves what you do during your day and outside of your regular skincare regime.

Surprisingly, heat therapy can play a significant role in anti-aging. So, how can heat therapy enhance your natural beauty and boost your confidence? In this article, we’re going to give you all the reasons you need to include heat therapy in your life.

Whether you have an upcoming event or you simply want to give your regular self-care and beauty routine a little boost, an infrared sauna session might be exactly what you need.

It’s no secret that many anti-aging skincare products don’t hold up their end of the bargain. In fact, reputable organizations and academies even claim that over-the-counter anti-aging creams don’t do anything when it comes to reversing the effects of time¹.

Yet, heat therapy offers an all-natural and chemical-free approach to your beauty self-care routine. And if you’re wondering how exactly infrared saunas can help you achieve glowing, youthful, and clear skin, keep reading. We’ve got five reasons why heat therapy is something you should definitely consider.

1. Enhances Elastin Production

The two main proteins that make up the skin include elastin and collagen. These two proteins prevent skin sagging and enhance skin texture, leading to overall smooth skin. The unfortunate truth is that with age, the body produces less collagen. In turn, this leads to less elastin and wrinkles².

The good news? Infrared light has been associated with increased collagen and elastin production³. Participants in infrared sauna studies have even experienced improved skin texture and improved skin color⁴. Thus, maybe the answer to anti-aging isn’t hidden within an expensive over-the-counter anti-aging cream. Instead, regular infrared sauna sessions could provide the all-natural approach your body craves and the real answer to “how to boost collagen production."

2. Decreases Stress (And Age-Related Changes!)

Stress is a completely normal part of life. However, excessive stress can lead to accelerated aging and even life-threatening diseases, such as cardiovascular issues and diabetes⁵.

When stress happens, the stress hormone—cortisol—increases in the body. Research even links increased stress to increased inflammation and aging within the body⁶, and associates cortisol dysfunction with this elevated and widespread inflammation⁷.

In fact, one of the best things you can do for your overall health and wellness is to find ways to manage your stress—and heat therapy can be one of them! Studies show how infrared sauna sessions can help lower cortisol levels and activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your rest-and-digest system), helping you relax and preventing associated age-related changes⁸.

3. Boosts Your Daily Caloric Burn

Maintaining a healthy weight is, undeniably, important for overall good health. Being overweight or obese is associated with various chronic and life-threatening diseases⁹. As previously mentioned, beauty doesn’t just run skin-deep. There’s more to it than that.

Infrared sauna therapy can help boost caloric burn and help you maintain a healthy weight. In turn, this can keep everything functioning well on the inside, which translates into beauty and radiance on the outside.

4. Improves Lymphatic Drainage

Interestingly, infrared technology has been used to aid lymphedema patients¹⁰. Lymphedema occurs when swelling happens due to inadequate drainage of the lymphatic system. As we age, the lymphatic system becomes less active. This usually means that this system could use a little boost in the form of infrared sauna sessions.

By maintaining good lymphatic function, the rest of your body functions that much smoother and experiences fewer age-related changes. This is because proper drainage of lymph fluid enhances immune function, leading to a decreased risk of you getting sick¹¹.

5. Improves Sleep

You’ve probably heard this before: Sleep is essential for the optimal functioning of your body and mind. In fact, sleep deprivation is closely associated with increased aging¹².

Since infrared sauna sessions can help reduce stress, they can also help improve sleep. Cortisol, the stress hormone, leads to increased alertness and difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep. By activating your parasympathetic nervous system with heat therapy, you can obtain a good night’s sleep that much easier.

If you’re considering adding an infrared sauna to your regular regime, here are a few things you should know:

● Start with 3-4 sessions a week. Once you get used to it and your body has adapted, you may choose to begin daily sessions.

● Make sure to bring a water bottle to each session, and ensure you stay hydrated before and after every session.

● Start with 15-20 minute sessions, slowly building to 45-60 minute sessions.

● Don’t consume alcohol before or during your infrared sauna session (this can put you at an increased risk of dehydration).

● Don’t use your infrared sauna if you feel unwell.

● Wear loose clothing or sweat-wicking clothing during your sessions.