I Used a Red Light Infrared Sauna For 6 Weeks: Here's What Happened

It wasn’t because I was too hot, or in physical pain from being disconnected from my phone, worried about what I might be missing while fully unplugged. It was because I felt true peace for the first time in a very, very long time. It was so silent you could hear a pin drop, which would usually terrify me. I’m known to have at least one podcast or playlist going at all times, sometimes both at once, usually while multitasking at work or answering questions from my toddlers. Silence and I are not close. But the silence of the sauna, combined with the warmth on my skin traveling deep into my bones, hit a nerve. I thought to myself, “Wow. People do this on a regular basis?” Revolutionary. How might that change not only my skin and my health, but my life? So I endeavored to find out. Before that day earlier this year, I hadn’t spent any real time in a sauna since high school. Back then, I thought it was brutal. Why would anyone want to be this hot? Teenage me had no vision. I wouldn’t return until I was 33, this time with two decades of experience, three little kids, and a whole new appreciation for what a sauna can do. I didn’t even do it on purpose. My mother-in-law gave me a gift card to a spa I like near my house for my birthday, and the facial I wanted didn’t use up the whole balance. I figured, why not add on a sauna treatment and stretch out my time relaxing? In hindsight, it’s the best gift card I’ve ever been handed. I had no idea that decision would change my life. Fast forward nearly three months, and I have a full-blown red light infrared sauna in my bedroom that I use at least three times a week. Here’s how I got here. How a sauna ended up in my bedroom After that spa visit, I discovered JNH Lifestyles and found out that a red light infrared sauna exists, which was a truly shocking discovery for me. Two of my favorite things in one wooden box? Sold. I’ve been fascinated with red light since it went mainstream in beauty culture a few years ago. I’ve tried two red light masks (one of which I still use between sauna sessions), and I’ve always wanted to invest in a red light panel for my desk or bedroom for the extra exposure. I’ve struggled with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s since I was diagnosed during my infertility journey seven years ago, and I’ve had eczema for as long as I can remember. I’ve also always been obsessed with wellness from the inside out (admittedly, I’m a little shallow and care deeply about looking as radiant as I can at all times). Since then, I’ve been on a quest to improve every area of my life, from my wellness to my beauty routines. I’ve tried more classes, devices, and supplements than anyone I know, and there isn’t much left that I’m not willing to give a shot. A glow-up in every area of my life is the ultimate goal, and I’m constantly looking to level up. So when the opportunity to have a personal sauna installed in my home came along, I jumped at the chance. Reader, I did not play it cool. That sauna is the Arki Solo , JNH’s one-person red light and full-spectrum infrared model. If you’re picturing a contractor and a renovation, you can relax. The Arki is modular, so it arrives in pieces made to be put together at home, and my husband had ours assembled in about two hours. It plugs into a regular 120-volt wall outlet, so we didn’t need an electrician, new wiring, or a special outlet. JNH’s one ask is a dedicated 15-amp circuit, which just means the sauna shouldn’t share its circuit with other appliances. You also don’t need a custom sauna nook or a perfect spot for it. We would have loved to put ours in the bathroom, since that makes the most sense, but our bathroom is far too small. That left the garage or our bedroom, and the bedroom won because it’s the coziest and most convenient place for the nighttime sessions we had planned. It doesn’t heat up the room, either, so you don’t have to worry about your bedroom, or wherever you put yours, turning into a sauna too. What a session looks like I started at 140 degrees for 25 minutes. Six weeks later, I’m up to 145 degrees for 35 minutes, and although I’m confident I could go hotter for longer, I’m enjoying where I am. This is supposed to be relaxing, and I refuse to turn it into a competition. Unless I’ve had a particularly stressful or overstimulating day, I use those 35 minutes to listen to a podcast or my favorite playlist. My phone can’t come in with me, so it connects through Bluetooth. I can’t scroll or answer emails, which makes it feel almost like being unplugged, and that’s really nice. Forced phone-free time turns out to be a luxury. I’m not someone who sweats easily or often, but in the sauna, the feeling of sweat dripping down my back or pooling in my belly button is almost addicting. I know how that sounds. Stay with me. It’s hard to describe the bliss, close to ecstasy, that hits around minute 20 every time. I think that’s when my body adjusts. The heat shifts from intense to soothing, and an almost out-of-body experience begins that doesn’t end until I get out 15 minutes later. Sometimes it’s hard to pull myself away because it feels so good. In my eyes, it’s as good as a full-body massage, or what I imagine really great drugs feel like, although I can’t speak from personal experience there. Talk about an “everything shower.” On sauna nights, my new routine starts with cleansing my face and wrapping my hair up in a nourishing mask . Then I get into the sauna, put on the podcast I’ve been looking forward to all day, and sweat it out with red light all over my body. I get out feeling rejuvenated, with a glow and a flush on my skin, and noticeably less bloated and puffy. From there, I jump into the shower for a shave and a shampoo, then finish with all of my skincare and body cream. I put on a silky matching set of pajamas, blow out my hair, and slide into fresh sheets to watch a show or read on my Kindle. If that sounds high-maintenance, it is, and I regret nothing. I’m no millionaire, but if this isn’t what the Kardashians are doing every night, what is all that money for? What changed in six weeks I’ve tried enough wellness trends to know that most of them don’t earn a permanent spot in my routine. This one has. Here are the results I’ve seen from using the sauna three times a week for the past six weeks. My skin is clearer, glowier, and more even-toned, with a lot less texture and bumpiness on my face and especially on my arms, where my eczema has always been at its worst. I’m more relaxed mentally, and physically my body feels lighter and less bloated. I fall asleep faster when I get into bed. My hair is fuller, and I’m getting haircuts more often because the regrowth from my postpartum hair loss is coming in faster. That’s a problem I’m happy to have. I also need less recovery time after workouts and feel less sore, even though I’m taking harder classes and using heavier weights. If I could use the sauna every single evening, I would. That would be the dream. It would also require me to shower, wash, and blow out my hair every evening, which I’m not willing to do at this point in my life. A girl has limits. But between me and my husband, who is now just as obsessed, it gets used every single night. The surprise convert On top of everything I’ve seen in myself, the greatest change may be in my husband, and I say that with love. We’ve known each other since high school. He was extremely into fitness as a teenager but eventually gave it up once he started working full time and we had kids. He always felt like he didn’t have the time or energy to dedicate to his health. Although we’ve always eaten healthy at home, over the years he started eating more fast food for lunch at work and snacking in the evenings. He stopped feeling good about taking family photos, and I could see on his face that he was short on confidence. I’m not a naggy wife, so I never pushed him to diet or work out. I’ve always loved him the way he is, and I never wanted him to feel like I was asking him to change or that I was unhappy with his lack of interest in fitness. Through all of it, I never lost my own motivation, keeping up yoga or Pilates over the years along with daily hot girl walks and small portions. When I told my husband we might be getting a sauna, I could tell immediately that he was excited. Not five minutes after we hung up, he was sending me articles on the benefits of infrared and red light and asking when it could be delivered. So much for playing it cool. It runs in the family. He was even the first to use it once he’d installed it. He paired his second session with a quick lifting session using my five-pound pink weights. The next day, he was off to Walmart to buy himself a set of 20-pound weights. Since then, he has worked out for a full hour before each sauna session. Last night, I caught him scrolling X and screenshotting new workout techniques and equipment to buy, all while rolling hair growth oil into his scalp with a derma roller . We've been eating healthier and I've noticed that he's been packing leftover protein from dinner each night for his lunch the next day. Who is this man? I’m convinced he’ll be stealing my Lemme Burn capsules next. Every glow-up has an origin story, and his starts with a sauna. The little things have compounded from there. Since his first session, he’s down 10 pounds and visibly putting on muscle. The sauna didn’t lift those weights for him, but it got him to pick them up. And for the record, I never said a word. But enough about us. To really dive into the science behind the Arki and why it works, I interviewed the team at JNH Lifestyles and asked every question that came up during my six-week experiment. There are 26 of them, because I don’t do anything halfway. Let’s get into it. This article may contain affiliate links or paid partnerships. We may earn a commission or compensation at no extra cost to you. All products are chosen independently by our editorial team and reflect our genuine recommendations. Arki Solo: Editor Q&A Answers to editorial questions about the Arki Solo 1-Person Red Light and Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna . Each answer lists the sources it draws on. 1. How often should someone use the Arki to see results, and how long should each session be? We recommend starting with two to three sessions a week, each lasting 20 to 45 minutes, with the infrared heat and red light running together. As the body adapts to the heat, most people find they can comfortably add sessions or extend them. There is no need to set the sauna to its 170°F maximum. Most users settle into a range of about 120 to 145°F and move up gradually as they feel comfortable. Settings above 150°F are best left for people who have acclimated over time. As for when results appear, it depends on what you are using the Arki for. The effects of the heat, such as sweating, increased skin blood flow and a sense of relaxation, happen during the session itself. Longer-term changes from either the heat or the light depend on the goal, how consistently the sauna is used and, for red light in particular, the wavelength and total light dose. We have outlined a realistic timeline in the final question of this document. Sources: Photobiomodulation CME Part I (PubMed) · Arki Solo product page 2. How do the effects of red light or sauna differ between women and men? The underlying mechanisms are the same for everyone. Heat increases skin blood flow, triggers sweating and engages the body's temperature-regulation system. Red and near-infrared light influences signaling within cells. Neither works differently based on sex. Where women can differ is in hormonal context. After ovulation, core temperature rises by roughly 0.5 to 1.3°F during the luteal phase, largely because of progesterone. The same sauna setting can therefore feel warmer at some points in the cycle than others. There is also a body of research that is specific to women. Far-infrared studies have examined menopausal symptoms, menstrual pain and fibromyalgia, while red light research has looked at menstrual pain, breast-cancer-related lymphedema, female-pattern hair loss and postpartum applications. A randomized crossover trial in ten healthy women found that infrared sauna primarily produced a thermoregulatory response rather than acting as a substitute for exercise. Women do not need a different protocol. Cycle phase, pregnancy, menopause, medications and individual heat tolerance are simply worth paying attention to. Sources: Menstrual cycle and thermoregulation (PubMed) · Infrared sauna crossover trial in women (PubMed) 3. I have read that red light and saunas can be beneficial for women with Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism. Why is that? There is early and genuinely interesting research on red light for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but it is important to be precise about what it shows. The studies used light applied directly over the thyroid at controlled doses, not red light sauna use in general. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune condition in which chronic inflammation gradually damages thyroid tissue and can lead to hypothyroidism. Red light is being studied because of its potential effects on inflammation, oxidative stress and cellular energy. In one randomized placebo-controlled trial using 830 nm light over the thyroid, participants who received the light needed a lower average dose of levothyroxine at follow-up and had lower TPO antibody levels than the placebo group. A 2026 systematic review of six human studies found similar signals but concluded that the evidence remains too limited and inconsistent for red light to be considered an established treatment. The connection between sauna and hypothyroidism is less direct. Heat supports circulation and relaxation, which can feel especially good to people who are sensitive to cold, but sauna has not been shown to correct low thyroid function or treat Hashimoto's. In research on repeated sauna exposure, thyroid hormones and TSH did not change significantly. The Arki's red and near-infrared wavelengths overlap with those used in this research, but the Arki does not reproduce a thyroid-targeted clinical protocol. It should be viewed as a wellness tool rather than a treatment. Anyone with a thyroid condition should continue their prescribed care and discuss sauna use with their healthcare provider. Sources: Systematic review of PBM for Hashimoto's (PubMed) · Randomized placebo-controlled trial, 830 nm over thyroid (PubMed) · Thyroid hormones and repeated sauna exposure (PubMed) 4. Why is sweating beneficial? Sweating is the body's built-in cooling system doing its job, and a sauna session is a controlled way to switch that system on. As the cabin warms you, blood flow to the skin increases, the sweat glands release fluid, and as that sweat evaporates it carries heat away from the body and holds your core temperature steady. Sweating is the visible sign that this entire response is working, and that response is what people are really after when they use a sauna. It is worth being clear about what sweating is not. Sweat is mostly water and electrolytes with small amounts of other substances. Some studies have detected metals and other compounds in it, but a comprehensive review of sweat physiology concluded that sweating plays a relatively minor role in clearing waste compared with the kidneys and digestive system. We do not describe the sauna as a way to "flush toxins." Two practical points follow from this. Sweating means fluid and electrolyte loss, so drink water before and after a session. And any drop on the scale immediately afterward is water, not fat. Sources: Sweating as a heat loss thermoeffector (PubMed) · Physiology of sweat gland function (PubMed) 5. Why is red light beneficial? Red and near-infrared light act on cells directly, without heat. At the right wavelengths and doses, the light is absorbed by the mitochondria, the cell's energy producers, and can influence energy production and the signaling involved in inflammation, circulation and tissue repair. This process is known as photobiomodulation. It is a different mechanism from the sauna heat, which works through the body's response to warming, and the Arki provides both. The evidence for red light is strongest for specific applications rather than a blanket claim that it improves everything. Clinical studies and reviews support its use for certain types of pain, wound healing, hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) and skin appearance. The Arki Solo delivers red and near-infrared light in roughly the 630 to 850 nm range, which overlaps with the wavelengths used in this research, around the entire body. Because results in any given study depend on that study's exact dose and protocol, we describe the Arki as whole-body exposure to research-range light rather than as a guarantee of a particular study's outcome. Sources: Photobiomodulation CME Part I: Overview and Mechanism of Action · Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Redox Signaling in Photobiomodulation · Evidence-Based Consensus on the Clinical Application of Photobiomodulation · Umbrella Review of Randomized Clinical Trials on Photobiomodulation 6. Do you recommend a hair covering, such as a wool sauna cap, to protect hair from heat damage? A sauna cap is optional, and most people will not need one. It is a sensible precaution for anyone with bleached, color-treated, dry or fragile hair, or for people who run the sauna hot and often. Hair is mostly keratin, and repeated high heat can roughen the outer surface of the hair shaft. Laboratory research using heated air found more visible cuticle damage as temperature increased. That work involved hair dryers rather than saunas, so it does not show that normal Arki use damages hair, but it does support the general principle that repeated high heat is harder on hair that is already processed. There is one trade-off to be aware of. Anything covering the scalp also blocks the red and near-infrared light from reaching it. If the priority is high heat and protecting your hair, a wool cap or a dry towel wrapped around the hair works well. If the priority is red light on the scalp, skip the cap and run a lower-temperature session. At the 120 to 145°F range where most users settle, many people find they do not need a cap at all and save it for hotter sessions. Sources: Hair shaft damage from heated air (PubMed) 7. Should you avoid using a phone, Kindle or other electronic devices inside the Arki? Why? Yes. Keep them outside the cabin. The Arki reaches up to 170°F, and consumer electronics are not built for that heat. Apple, for example, rates iPhones and iPads for ambient temperatures of 32 to 95°F. You do not need your phone inside for audio. The Arki has Bluetooth, and the paired phone can sit within about 10 to 15 feet, safely outside the cabin. Sources: Apple operating temperature guidance 8. Do you need to shower and wash your hair after every session, or is it fine to towel off? Does sweat sitting on the skin cause breakouts, and what does it do to color-treated hair? Remove sweat from your skin after every session, whether by showering or toweling off, but you do not need to shampoo your hair every time. Sweat itself is not harmful to skin. If it is left to sit and mix with oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, makeup or skincare products, it can contribute to irritation or clogged pores in people who are acne-prone. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends showering after heavy sweating when possible and cleansing gently rather than scrubbing. If a shower is not practical, pat sweat away with a clean towel and rinse acne-prone areas. For the hair and scalp, rinsing with water is enough after a heavy sweat, and you can otherwise wash on your usual schedule. Frequent shampooing can itself cause dryness, particularly for processed, curly, dry or color-treated hair. With color-treated hair, both repeated heat and frequent washing can contribute to dryness and faster fading. Laboratory research shows that higher-temperature air can damage the surface of the hair shaft, though that research used hair dryers rather than saunas, and there is not yet good clinical research on how infrared sauna sessions specifically affect hair color. People with color-treated or fragile hair may prefer to wash less often, use gentle products and keep an eye on heat exposure. Sources: American Academy of Dermatology on sweat and acne · Hair shaft damage from heated air (PubMed) 9. How much does a standard session cost in electricity on a 120V outlet? Roughly 11 to 25 cents per session, depending on length. A typical 30-minute session costs about 17 cents at the current U.S. average residential electricity rate. The Arki Solo is rated at 1,850 watts and does not require preheating, so you only pay for the time you are in it. Session length and Approximate cost 20 minutes = About 11 cents 30 minutes = About 17 cents 45 minutes = About 25 cents These figures assume the sauna draws its full rated power for the entire session. Real-world use is often a little lower, because the heaters cycle once the cabin reaches your set temperature. Exact cost depends on your local electricity rate. The Arki Solo plugs into a standard 120V outlet. Our installation guidance specifies a dedicated 120V/15A circuit. Sources: Arki Solo product page · U.S. EIA average residential electricity price 10. Does the menstrual cycle change how sessions feel? Is there a phase where heat tolerance drops? It can. After ovulation, progesterone raises resting core body temperature by approximately 0.5 to 1.3°F during the luteal phase, the period between ovulation and the start of the next menstrual cycle. Because the body is starting from a slightly higher baseline, some women feel warm sooner or find their usual setting more intense during that window. A systematic review and meta-analysis of women exercising in the heat found that starting and post-exercise internal temperatures were higher in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase. It did not find consistent differences in sweat rate, skin temperature or heart rate between phases. So there is no point in the cycle when women universally need to avoid the sauna; heat tolerance simply shifts a little across the month. Our advice is to go by how the session feels rather than holding to the same temperature and duration every time. If you feel hotter than usual, lightheaded, unusually tired or just less comfortable, lower the temperature or shorten the session. Small adjustments through the month are entirely reasonable. Sources: Menstrual cycle and thermoregulation (PubMed) · Meta-analysis of menstrual phase and exercise in heat (PubMed) 11. Anything to know for women trying to conceive, mid-IVF, or on hormonal birth control? For women on hormonal birth control, there are no special precautions. There is no evidence that contraceptives make sauna use unsafe. Some women feel slightly warmer and most notice nothing; normal hydration and heat-tolerance advice applies. For women trying to conceive, there is no strong evidence that sauna use reduces fertility. The caution begins once pregnancy is possible. ACOG advises avoiding saunas and hot tubs in early pregnancy because a large rise in core temperature may harm a developing fetus. If you are actively trying, talk to your provider before continuing high-heat sessions. For women mid-IVF, there is not enough research to establish a sauna protocol during stimulation, retrieval, transfer or implantation, so follow your fertility specialist's guidance, particularly after embryo transfer. A small 2024 case series reported successful pregnancies in three women after red light therapy, but three patients on a specialized protocol is far too little to draw conclusions from, and those results do not apply to the Arki. Sources: ACOG on sauna and hot tub use in early pregnancy · Menstrual cycle and thermoregulation (PubMed) · Hormonal contraceptives and thermoregulation (PubMed) · 2024 case series on PBM and fertility (PMC) 12. Are there interactions with common prescriptions such as thyroid medication, SSRIs, diuretics or isotretinoin? The main consideration with most medications is how they affect the body's response to heat, not an interaction with the red light. Diuretics call for the most caution. And no one should stop, skip or adjust a prescription in order to use the sauna. With thyroid medication such as levothyroxine, there is no general recommendation to avoid sauna. The CDC notes that levothyroxine can increase sweating, so anyone already experiencing heat intolerance, heavy sweating or a racing heart related to their condition or dose may find high heat more intense. Start conservatively and check with your provider. SSRIs and SNRIs such as fluoxetine, sertraline, duloxetine and venlafaxine can also increase sweating, according to the CDC. That does not rule out the Arki, but you may become hot, sweaty or dehydrated more quickly. Start at a moderate temperature, stay hydrated and watch for dizziness. Diuretics increase fluid loss and can contribute to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, lower blood pressure and a higher risk of dizziness or fainting in heat. Our Arki safety guidance specifically recommends medical consultation for people taking them. Speak with your provider before starting a high-heat routine, and do not try to compensate by drinking excessive amounts of water. With isotretinoin, the main concern is dryness. Large studies list dry lips, dry skin and facial redness among its most common side effects, and heat and sweat can make already-dry skin more uncomfortable. A lower temperature, a shorter session and a gentle moisturizer afterward may help. There is no established evidence that red or near-infrared light interacts with isotretinoin. Sources: CDC: Heat and Medications, Guidance for Clinicians · Adverse Effects of Isotretinoin: A Large Retrospective Review (PubMed) · Skin Barrier Changes Associated With Oral Isotretinoin (PubMed) 13. Breast implants, IUDs, filler, permanent jewelry, metal hardware: is any caution warranted? Having an implant or device does not automatically rule out the Arki. The greatest caution applies to recent procedures, implanted medical devices and internal metal hardware, and our safety guidance recommends consulting a healthcare provider in those cases. With breast implants, the concern is mainly around surgery and healing. The FDA lists excessive heat or cold therapy among factors that can increase the risk of tissue necrosis around breast implants. A fully healed implant will not be damaged by a sauna, but we recommend following your surgeon's guidance before returning to high heat, especially after a recent augmentation, reconstruction or revision. With an IUD, there is no established evidence that sauna heat damages or displaces a correctly positioned hormonal or copper device. It sits inside the uterus and is not affected the way an external object would be, so there is no general reason to avoid the sauna. If you are experiencing unusual cramping, bleeding or pain related to your IUD, address that with your provider first. With dermal filler, established filler is not known to "melt" during normal sauna use. The concern is the period right after injection, when heat can increase temporary swelling. Follow your injector's aftercare instructions; waiting periods are covered in question 15. With internal metal hardware such as plates, screws, rods or joint replacements, our safety guidance recommends medical consultation before use. Infrared sauna is not the same technology as MRI or electromagnetic diathermy, but implant type and location, surrounding tissue, surgical history and heat sensitivity vary widely, and your surgeon is best placed to advise. With permanent or other external jewelry, the concern is practical: metal against the skin can become hot during a high-temperature session. Remove any jewelry you can before entering. If permanent jewelry cannot be removed, notice how it feels and end the session if it becomes uncomfortably warm. Sources: FDA: Risks and Complications of Breast Implants 14. Should you go in with a bare face? What should you apply afterward, and how soon? Go in with a clean, bare face. Removing makeup, sunscreen and heavier skincare gives the light direct access to the skin and keeps products from mixing with sweat. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends removing makeup before activities that cause heavy sweating, especially for anyone who is acne-prone. You do not need a special serum for the red light to work; it simply needs to reach clean, uncovered skin. Afterward, let your skin cool down first, then gently rinse or cleanse away sweat without scrubbing and pat dry. Follow with a simple moisturizer to support the skin barrier. If you will be outdoors during the day, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen once the skin is cool and dry. For stronger actives such as retinoids or exfoliating acids, wait until the skin is no longer hot, flushed or sweaty. Heat temporarily increases redness and sensitivity, so applying these immediately after a high-heat session can feel more irritating. Sources: American Academy of Dermatology on sweat and acne · Photobiomodulation CME Part I (PubMed) 15. Lash extensions, fresh hair color, recent Botox or filler: are there waiting periods? Wait at least 24 to 48 hours after filler. Follow your injector's guidance after Botox, and your lash technician's or stylist's instructions for lashes and fresh color. For dermal filler, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends avoiding excessive heat, including saunas, for 24 to 48 hours because heat can increase temporary swelling while the area settles. We recommend the same unless your injector advises otherwise. For Botox and other botulinum toxin injections, the guidance is less restrictive. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons states that normal activities can generally resume immediately, with the main precaution being not to rub or massage the treated area, which could cause the toxin to migrate. There is no strong evidence for a universal sauna waiting period, but because the Arki gets far hotter than an everyday environment, follow your injector's specific instructions, particularly on the first day if there is any redness, swelling or tenderness. Lash extensions are a cosmetic rather than a medical consideration. Heat, steam, sweat and moisture can affect some adhesives, especially soon after a new set or fill. Follow the waiting period your technician or the adhesive manufacturer recommends. Once fully cured, you can use the Arki normally, though frequent high heat may affect retention for some people. Fresh hair color carries no medical restriction; the concern is protecting the color and condition of the hair. Heat, sweat and frequent shampooing can contribute to dryness and faster fading, especially with vivid, semi-permanent or heavily processed color. Follow your stylist's guidance on when to get the hair wet or expose it to prolonged heat. One useful option: the Arki's red-light-only mode lets you get a light session while temporarily avoiding heat after a cosmetic treatment. After Botox or filler, still follow your injector's instructions before resuming anything around the treated area. Sources: ASPS: What not to do after getting facial filler · ASPS: Dermal Fillers Recovery · ASPS: Botulinum Toxin Recovery 16. Does the red light do anything visible for body skin, or is the face still where people notice? Body skin responds to red and near-infrared light too. Photobiomodulation works wherever an appropriate dose of light reaches exposed tissue. Research has found effects on processes involved in collagen production, inflammation, tissue repair and skin structure, and clinical studies using specific protocols have reported improvements in skin texture, elasticity and wrinkles. The face is where the cosmetic evidence is strongest, largely because it has been studied more, and it is where people tend to notice change first because they look at it closely and photograph it often. One advantage of the Arki Solo is that its emitters are positioned for 360-degree whole-body exposure, so exposed arms, legs, torso and back receive light in the same session as the face. We do not promise a specific amount of body tightening, cellulite reduction or collagen increase; those outcomes have not been studied on the Arki itself, and results depend on wavelength, dose, frequency and the outcome being measured. Sources: Photobiomodulation CME Part I (PubMed) · Photobiomodulation Reduces Periocular Wrinkle Volume by 30% (PubMed) · Red light and skin structure (PubMed) · Arki Solo product page 17. What do you actually wear in it, and does that change if you are mainly there for the light? For a heat-focused session, wear whatever is comfortable: a towel, a swimsuit, shorts or other minimal clothing. Always place a towel on the bench to absorb sweat and protect the untreated Canadian hemlock. If your main goal is the red and near-infrared light, more exposed skin is better. Clothing over an area reduces or blocks the light reaching the skin underneath, and research confirms that the response depends on how much light actually reaches the tissue. The Arki lets you run red light on its own, so if you want a light session without high heat, use that mode and expose the areas you want the light to reach. If you are using heat and light together, minimal clothing lets more of the body receive light while you get the full sauna experience. Keep the towel underneath you either way. Sources: Arki Solo product page · PBM dose and tissue response (PubMed) · PBM treatment parameters (PubMed) 18. Morning or evening? Does an evening session help sleep or wreck it? Either works, and an evening session is unlikely to hurt sleep as long as you leave time to cool down before bed. If the sauna leaves you feeling alert and energized, morning or afternoon may suit you better. If you find it relaxing, it fits naturally into an evening wind-down. The research on evening heat is encouraging. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that passive heating with a warm bath or shower one to two hours before bed was associated with better self-reported sleep quality, better sleep efficiency and falling asleep faster. The proposed reason is that heating pushes blood flow to the skin and extremities; when the heat stops, the body sheds heat more efficiently and core temperature drops, which is part of its normal preparation for sleep. Earlier studies found that evening passive heating increased sleep propensity and altered slow-wave sleep, and a study in older women with insomnia found better sleep continuity after passive heating about 90 minutes before bed. Those studies mostly used warm-water immersion rather than infrared sauna, so we do not claim the Arki is clinically proven to improve sleep, but they support the idea that timing matters. Finish an evening session with enough time to cool down and rehydrate before bed rather than going straight from a hot cabin under the covers. Sources: Meta-analysis of passive body heating and sleep (PubMed) · Evening passive heating and sleep propensity (PubMed) · Passive heating in older women with insomnia (PubMed) 19. Before or after a workout? Does heat blunt strength gains the way cold is said to? Use the heat after training, and consider red light before. Current research does not show that post-workout infrared sauna blunts strength or muscle gains the way repeated immediate cold exposure may. A 2025 study followed 40 female team-sport athletes through six weeks of strength and power training. One group used an infrared sauna for ten minutes after training, three times a week; the other did the same training without it. Both groups gained muscle size, and the sauna did not significantly reduce muscle growth or strength development. The sauna group also showed some favorable changes in neuromuscular performance. That contrasts with cold-water immersion immediately after resistance training, which some studies have associated with smaller gains in muscle size and strength, which is why athletes focused on maximizing adaptation often keep cold exposure away from lifting sessions. Red light has a different timing story. Several studies have applied it before exercise, with potential benefits for muscle endurance, fatigue and recovery. A randomized controlled trial in high-level soccer players found that pre-exercise red light improved VO2 max and time to exhaustion while reducing markers of muscle damage, inflammation and oxidative stress, and meta-analyses have found similar effects on muscle endurance and strength recovery. Those studies used carefully controlled devices and doses, so the Arki has not been shown to reproduce them exactly, but there is a reasonable scientific basis for light before training and heat after. In practice: after a workout, once your heart rate has settled, use heat and light together for recovery. Before a workout, a red-light-only session is an option if you want light exposure without heating the body first. Sources: Post-exercise infrared sauna and strength adaptation, 2025 (PubMed) · Cold-water immersion and resistance training adaptation (PubMed) · Pre-exercise PBM in soccer players (Wiley) · Meta-analysis of pre-exercise PBM (PubMed) 20. Who shouldn't use this? Low blood pressure, POTS, autoimmune flare-ups, migraine-prone? Most healthy adults tolerate sauna use well. Conditions that make heat, sweating, dehydration or changes in blood pressure harder for the body to manage call for medical guidance first, and POTS in particular warrants caution. With low blood pressure, heat dilates the blood vessels near the skin, which can lower pressure further, especially combined with fluid loss from sweating. That raises the risk of lightheadedness, weakness or fainting. Start at a lower temperature, keep sessions short, stay hydrated and exit immediately if you feel dizzy. With POTS, Johns Hopkins notes that symptoms commonly worsen in warm environments such as hot baths, hot showers, hot rooms and hot weather. Vessel dilation can increase blood pooling and make it harder to maintain blood flow and pressure when upright. Speak with your provider before starting a high-heat routine rather than assuming the sauna will be beneficial. An autoimmune condition does not automatically rule out the Arki. There is research on sauna and infrared therapies in some inflammatory and rheumatic conditions, but it cannot be generalized to every condition or every flare. If you are actively unwell, feverish, dehydrated, unusually weak, or in a flare that affects heart rate, blood pressure or temperature regulation, postpone and follow your provider's guidance. For people prone to migraine, the response is individual. The American Migraine Foundation lists both excessive heat and dehydration as possible triggers, while some people find warmth relaxing. If heat is a known trigger for you, use a lower temperature, keep sessions shorter, hydrate and stop at the first sign of symptoms. More broadly, our Arki safety guidance recommends medical consultation if you are pregnant or potentially pregnant, have a cardiovascular condition, have an implanted medical device or internal metal hardware, or take medications such as blood thinners or diuretics. Never use the sauna under the influence of alcohol or sedatives, and exit immediately if you feel dizzy or unwell. The Arki reaches 170°F, but that is not the goal of every session; most users prefer 120 to 145°F, and anyone with circulation, blood pressure or heat-tolerance concerns should be especially conservative. The red light system also runs independently of the heat, though a condition that rules out high heat does not automatically mean red light is appropriate for it, so individual medical guidance still matters. Sources: Johns Hopkins Medicine: POTS · Acute Heat Exposure-Related Illness (PubMed) · American Migraine Foundation: Migraine Triggers 21. What is safe to clean untreated hemlock with? How do you handle the bench and glass? Keep it simple: a dry cloth on the exterior, minimal moisture on the interior, and standard glass cleaner applied to a cloth for the glass. No oils, harsh chemicals or abrasives anywhere. For the exterior hemlock, dust with a dry, soft cloth. Our care guide specifically advises against a damp cloth on the untreated exterior, because moisture and cleaning products can change the look of unfinished wood over time. For the interior and bench, the key is removing sweat promptly. Wipe the bench and floor after each session and leave the door open so the cabin can dry. Sitting on a clean towel keeps most sweat off the wood in the first place. When a more thorough wipe is needed, use as little moisture as possible; our first-use instructions call for a damp cloth after the initial burn-in cycle has cooled, so a lightly damp cloth is fine occasionally. Never leave the wood visibly wet. For the glass door and surfaces, use a soft, non-abrasive cloth with a standard glass cleaner, applied to the cloth rather than sprayed around the cabin. Our warranty guidance advises against oils, chemical treatments or finishes unless recommended by JNH Lifestyles, and the interior should never be painted, stained or varnished. Sources: JNH Lifestyles Warranty 22. Do you need to air out the sauna (keep the door open) after using it to prevent mold? Yes. Leave the door open for about 15 to 30 minutes after each session so the cabin can release residual heat and moisture. Sweating adds moisture to the cabin, particularly around the bench and floor. Because the Arki Solo is built with untreated Canadian hemlock, letting that moisture evaporate rather than trapping it inside keeps the wood dry and reduces the conditions that lead to odor, staining or mold over time. The routine is simple: wipe visible sweat from the bench and floor, leave the door open for 15 to 30 minutes, and close it once the interior has cooled and dried. Using a clean towel on the bench during the session reduces how much moisture reaches the wood to begin with. 23. Do the red light emitters degrade over time, and are they replaceable? Like any LED, they slowly lose some brightness over many years of use rather than suddenly burning out. The U.S. Department of Energy describes this gradual decline as lumen depreciation, and LEDs are rated by how long they hold a percentage of their original output rather than by a failure point. We do not publish an hour rating for the Arki emitters, so we will not quote one. Both the red light and near-infrared emitters are listed as covered electrical components in our warranty. If one stops working, contact JNH support; we will diagnose the issue and replace the part. We ask that customers not disassemble the panels themselves. Sources: U.S. Department of Energy on LED lumen depreciation · JNH Lifestyles Warranty 24. What is the warranty coverage, and what does a service call actually look like? The Arki carries our Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty, structured by component: Component and Coverage Heater panels = 7 years Cabinetry and wood structure = 7 years Controls and electrical components, including the red light and near-infrared emitters =3 years Tempered glass = 1 year Coverage applies to the original purchaser, is non-transferable, begins on the shipment date and requires indoor installation. Replacement parts are covered; labor and shipping for those parts are not. If something goes wrong, the first step is to contact JNH support with your order number, a description of the issue and a photo or video if helpful. Our team identifies the component involved and, if it is covered, sends the replacement. A technician does not automatically come to your home; the sauna is designed so that individual parts can be swapped rather than replacing the whole unit. Support can be reached at (909) 321-2858 or support@jnhlifestyles.com. Sources: JNH Lifestyles Warranty 25. What makes JNH Lifestyles different from other brands offering saunas or red light? We engineer the Arki as a single whole-body wellness system rather than a sauna with a red light panel added to it. What sets it apart is the combination of features, not any one of them. The Arki Solo combines 360-degree red and near-infrared light, from twelve emitters positioned around the cabin, with near-, mid- and far-infrared heat reaching up to 170°F. That delivers whole-body light exposure and a true high-heat infrared sauna in one compact, one-person unit. The two are independently controllable: red light alone, heat alone, or both together, depending on the day. Behind that is more than 35 years of infrared manufacturing experience. Our saunas are designed in California and built through our own manufacturing operation rather than sourced off the shelf from a third-party supplier, which gives us direct control over heater design, materials, electrical systems and assembly. Rather than simply calling the Arki "low EMF," we rely on independent electromagnetic testing; the Arki is designed for ultra-low EMF and ELF performance, with an average measurement of about 0.32 mG at the heater surface, and JNH saunas carry third-party safety certifications including ETL certification for the United States and Canada. The construction uses untreated Canadian hemlock, dual-wall insulation, tempered glass, modular assembly and a 120V electrical design, so a substantial sauna and light system fits into a home without the footprint of a built-in sauna. Finally, the Arki is designed to be serviceable after purchase. Our Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty provides seven years on cabinetry and heater panels, three years on electrical components including the red light and near-infrared emitters, and one year on tempered glass. If a component develops a problem, our support team diagnoses it and provides the replacement part rather than treating the sauna as disposable. Sources: Arki Solo product page · JNH Lifestyles: Our Story · JNH Lifestyles Warranty · JNH Lifestyles Customer Support · Why Arki 26. When should someone expect to see results from using the Arki regularly? Some effects are immediate; the changes people tend to photograph take weeks. Based on the timeframes used in the research we cite, a fair window for evaluating the Arki is six to eight weeks of regular use, at two to three sessions per week. Four weeks is the earliest point at which a cited study measured a change. Timeframe and What the research supports First session = Sweating, increased skin blood flow, warmth and relaxation. These are the body's immediate responses to heat and occur every session. Weeks 1 to 3 = Heat acclimation. Most users start around 120 to 145°F and raise the temperature as they get comfortable; sessions feel easier and can run longer. 4 weeks = A randomized trial of 660 nm red light found a 30 percent reduction in periocular wrinkle volume after ten sessions over four weeks. 6 weeks = The length of the strength-training study in which post-workout infrared sauna three times a week did not blunt muscle or strength gains and showed some favorable neuromuscular changes. 12 weeks = A red light facial study measured skin improvements at four, eight and twelve weeks using two twelve-minute sessions per week. None of these studies used the Arki Solo; they used dedicated devices with specific doses. The timeframes show when researchers have measured change with red light or infrared heat, not a promise of what the Arki will do by a particular week. The outcomes people are most likely to notice at home are subjective ones, such as sleep, workout recovery and how the skin feels and looks, so it helps to note those from the first session so there is a genuine before to compare against. Sources: Photobiomodulation Reduces Periocular Wrinkle Volume by 30% (PubMed) · Post-exercise infrared sauna and strength adaptation, 2025 (PubMed) · Reverse skin aging signs by red light photobiomodulation (PubMed) The JNH team was careful to separate what the research proves from what it only hints at, and I respect that. I’d take a straight answer over a sales pitch any day. I can only tell you what six weeks did for me. My skin is clearer and smoother, I fall asleep faster, and I bounce back from workouts quicker. My husband has become a man who owns 20-pound weights and a derma roller. The part I didn’t expect is how much I look forward to it. Three nights a week, I get 35 minutes where the only thing on my to-do list is to sit there and sweat. That wave of calm still shows up around minute 20, the same one that had me in tears at the spa. JNH puts a 30-minute session at about 17 cents in electricity, which makes it the cheapest spa appointment I’ve ever kept. I recommend a lot of products in this job, and very few of them have changed how my evenings feel. If a sauna has been sitting on your wish list, the Arki Solo is the one I’d tell a friend to buy. It fits one person, plugs into a standard outlet, and took my husband two hours to put together. Use our link for a free Oxygen Ionizer when you order your Arki Solo , and then tell me how your minute 20 goes.