Infrared therapy
Innovation? Or the latest quackery?
When I first heard about Infrared therapy, my immediate thought was that it sounded dangerous. I mean, surely that’s a form of radiation, and aren’t we supposed to avoid that? And indeed, yes, it is a form of electromagnetic radiation. So it’s a little confusing. However, it’s ultraviolet light, not infrared, that causes sunburn, DNA damage and skin cancer. So what’s the difference between the two?
Infrared and ultraviolet light are both forms of electromagnetic radiation, but they differ significantly in wavelength, energy, and effects. Infrared light has longer wavelengths (700 nm–1 mm) than visible light (400–700 nm with red coloured light at the far end around 620-700nm). Every day we’re already immersed in a degree of infrared radiation from the sun in the form of heat. Ultraviolet light is invisible, has shorter wavelengths (10–400 nm) and carries more energy (therefore to harm).
If we ranked them in order it would go Ultraviolet light - Visible light (from blue to red) - Infrared light.
But infrared light can cause burns and cataracts with prolonged exposure, especially at higher intensities. As such, therapies are divided into Near range, Mid and Far with the intensity increasing as the wavelengths increase ie highest is Far range aka FIR). So it’s not entirely benign. Certainly, pregnant women and people with heart disease are advised not to undergo any sort of infrared therapy.
Yet, I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of articles about a current craze for Infrared saunas? And recently I was sent an Infrared/Red Light LED treatment ‘coat’ for my dog, and a Facelite mask for myself, both purporting to heal, rejuvenate, and for the facemask, increase firmness and collagen production and combat visible signs of skin aging!
So I decided to do some research, investigate the claims, and find out how/if it works.