Perimenopause and Menopause are transformative stages in a woman's life, often accompanied by a range of physical and emotional challenges. According to the Australasian Menopause Society, an estimated 1.1 billion women worldwide will be postmenopausal by 2025. However, the number of women experiencing menopause-like symptoms could be much higher, as there is growing evidence suggesting that women in the late-reproductive stage may begin experiencing symptoms associated with menopause years before the official transition.
Perimenopause and menopause symptoms often include joint pain, sleep disturbances, skin changes, and reduced bone density. In addition, menopause can significantly impact heart health causing changes in cholesterol levels, increased blood pressure, potential weight gain and increased risk of diabetes. As a result, many women turn to natural solutions to restore balance and overall well-being, and proactively manage potential health risks.
Infrared has gained popularity as a holistic treatment to alleviate various menopausal symptoms. By promoting relaxation, circulation, and cellular regeneration, infrared heat offers a holistic way to help women feel more comfortable, confident, and in control of their health.
Research indicates that a decline in oestrogen levels during menopause can lead to joint discomfort. Oestrogen plays a crucial role in protecting joints, reducing inflammation, and supporting the function of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Maintaining an optimal balance of oestrogen is key for joint health and function.
Infrared therapy works by deeply penetrating tissues, improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting muscle recovery. By enhancing blood flow and relaxing muscles, infrared heat can provide relief from the pain and stiffness often experienced during menopause.
Sunlighten’s Infrared Sauna Therapy supports a healthy circadian rhythm, enhancing sleep quality by leveraging light exposure and body temperature regulation. Light is the most significant cue for our internal clock, influencing hormone release—melatonin at night and cortisol during the day—while also determining when we feel sleepy or awake. Factors like shift work or irregular sleep patterns can disrupt this balance, leading to poor sleep and overall health concerns.
If you’re struggling with perimenopause or menopause fatigue, Infrared sauna use, particularly with Sunlighten’s advanced SoloCarbon® heating technology, provides a relaxing way to support sleep. By using a sauna 30 minutes to an hour before bed, the gradual drop in core body temperature mimics the body’s natural sleep response, promoting deeper, more restorative rest. This gentle light plus heat exposure can reduce stress, lower cortisol levels, and ease muscle tension, making it an effective addition to a bedtime routine.
The rapid decline in estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause often results in noticeable changes in the skin, such as dryness and a loss of plumpness. A 2006 study examined the impact of infrared therapy on collagen and elastin—the key proteins responsible for healthy, youthful skin. The study found that exposure to infrared light increased collagen and elastin production, with participants reporting enhanced skin texture, reduced roughness, and improved skin colour.
By incorporating infrared light therapy into your self-care routine, you can support your skin’s natural cellular renewal process, keeping it hydrated and glowing throughout menopause.
Sunlighten’s patented SoloCarbon® infrared heating technology offers an optimal detoxification experience. It is clinically proven to raise core body temperature by almost two degrees, promoting a deep, productive sweat. Unlike traditional saunas that primarily heat the outer air, Sunlighten’s precise Far infrared wavelength penetrates at a cellular level to increase core body temperature, transfer vibrational energy to release toxins stored in our fat cells and facilitate the expulsion of these toxins through perspiration.
This approach results in a more effective and effortless detoxification process, offering all the benefits of a deep sweat without the discomfort of stifling heat.
Estrogen plays a crucial protective role against heart disease in women. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases.
Studies have shown that infrared sauna therapy can be an effective natural method to temporarily lower blood pressure. A 2005 clinical study by the University of Missouri Kansas City found that Sunlighten’s SoloCarbon far infrared heaters helped to reduce blood pressure after regular sauna sessions. The study demonstrated that regular infrared sauna use dilated blood vessels, improving circulation and reducing the volume of the inner lining of blood vessels, which can lead to healthy blood pressure levels.
By incorporating infrared therapy into your routine, you can take proactive steps to maintain cardiovascular health during menopause.
Perimenopause and menopause are natural life phases, but that doesn’t mean you have to endure its discomforts without support. Infrared therapy provides a holistic, science-backed approach to managing symptoms, helping you feel stronger, more radiant, and more at ease in your body.
Whether you're seeking pain relief, better sleep, glowing skin, or heart and bone health, infrared sauna therapy is a gentle yet powerful tool to support your well-being through this transition.
Take time for yourself, align with your inner wellness, and embrace the healing warmth of infrared therapy.
References:
- Australasian Menopause Society. (n.d.). Menopause-like symptoms may become apparent before the menopause transition. Australasian Menopause Society. Available at: https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/studies-published/menopause-like-symptoms-may-become-apparent-before-the-menopause-transition
- Healthline. (2010). Joint pain and menopause: What’s the connection? Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/joint-pain-menopause#:~:text=According%20to%202010%20research%2C%20it's,necessary%20for%20ideal%20joint%20performance
- Ma, M. A., & Morrison, E. H. (2023, July 24). Neuroanatomy, Nucleus Suprachiasmatic.
- Gallagher, G. (2022) 'Understanding How Your Skin Changes During Menopause', Healthline, 18 July. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/menopause-skin-changes#skin-conditions-with-menopau
- Ju Hee Lee, Mi Ryung Roh, & Kwang Hoon Lee. Effects of Infrared Radiation on Skin Photo-Aging and Pigmentation. Yonsei Med J. 2006 Aug 31; 47(4): 485–490.
- Core Body Temperature Study, UMKC, 2001Ryczkowska, K., Adach, W., Janikowski, K., Banach, M., & Bielecka-Dabrowa, A. (2022). Menopause and women’s cardiovascular health: is it really an obvious relationship? Archives of Medical Science, 19(2), 458–466. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms/157308
- UMKC (2021). Lower Blood Pressure Sauna Study. Available at: https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/9832d3f0-685b-0021-9fc3-0a88ee8dfc7a/f28f3d4e-13ee-4325-8c66-29002ae2f7d2/UMKC%20Lower%20Blood%20Pressure%20Sauna%20Study.pdf
