Are Sauna Blankets Actually As Good As A Real Sauna, Or Are They BS?

All over social media, people are using infrared sauna blankets at home in hopes of making health gains — but the trend gives many doctors pause.

Is there anything better than being wrapped up in a cozy blanket on a cold winter day? Or, to do you one better, how about wrapping yourself in a heated blanket that is said to improve your health?

More and more people doing exactly that, as companies are now selling infrared sauna blankets that supposedly offer many of the same perks as regular saunas, with purported effects on blood flow, stress, chronic pain and more.

Generally, these blankets can reach about 175 degrees Fahrenheit and are designed to cover your body up to the neck — kind of like a heated version of a sleeping bag. They aren’t cheap, but are certainly less expensive than a real at-home sauna, which can cost thousands and thousands of dollars. The price of a sauna blanket can depend on its features and specs, but generally you should expect to spend about $600, although some can be found for around $200.

The blankets have skyrocketed in popularity on social media recently, with beauty and wellness influencers touting their benefits. But are they really as good as folks say?

Dr. Mike Richardson, a family medicine physician based in Massachusetts, said patients frequently ask him about health trends like sauna blankets. It’s hard to definitively say whether the blankets do what they claim because they’re “a newer technology,” Richardson noted.