Depending on its intensity, proximity and the duration of exposure, infrared radiation can be harmful to the eyes as well as to the skin. The eyes generally react much sooner and are much more sensitive than the skin to the effects of IR radiation, which can be harmful from a certain degree of intensity and exposure.
Results. Detrimental effects such as thermal burns, photocarcinogenesis, and photoaging have been reported, though evidence suggests that these may be due to the thermal effects produced secondary to IR exposure rather than the isolated effect of IR.
The frequency of the radiation: visible radiation, such as UV or X-rays, can damage genetic material. Invisible radiation, such as the radiation from infrared heating, is harmless for the human body provided the power, distance and duration are appropriate.
Thermal injury can occur even without pain. Also, pregnant women, people with heart diseases, and those who are sick should never undergo infrared therapy. Moreover, experts warn against using infrared therapy to treat chronic diseases while neglecting the use of medications and recommended treatment procedures.
Results: Detrimental effects such as thermal burns, photocarcinogenesis, and photoaging have been reported, though evidence suggests that these may be due to the thermal effects produced secondary to IR exposure rather than the isolated effect of IR.
One of the great things about infrared saunas is that they are gentle enough to use daily if you choose. However, if you want to use your infrared sauna for more specific purposes, like pain relief or detoxification, you'll need to space out your sessions accordingly.
Based on these observations, it can be concluded that IR and heat are important physical stimuli that may cause aging in human skin. Therefore, in addition to sunscreen to block the effects of UV, novel strategies to block IR- and heat-induced skin aging need to be developed to prevent skin aging more completely.
Infrared therapy is a safe and effective way to reduce pain and treat a wide array of conditions. It seems to be a safe, effective, and drug-free way for long-lasting pain relief. It also helps to heal injured body parts.
The red and near-infrared light photons penetrate through the skull and into brain cells and spur the mitochondria to produce more ATP. That can mean clearer, sharper thinking, says Naeser.
Skin irritation is the most common side effect of light therapy. It's not unusual to experience some mild redness, itching, or irritation if you have sensitive skin or other skin conditions. Red light devices at home have been known to cause blisters, but that's usually because people don't follow the usage guidelines.
That means it has the potential to burn, and exposure to near infrared has been found to burn the retinas of the eyes. Far-infrared, by contrast, is completely safe. It's known as the 'light of life' – we said earlier that 49% of the light from the sun is infrared.
We found that the content of collagen and elastin produced by the fibroblasts increased after infrared radiation, and that this increase was proportional to the duration of irradiation exposure. Following 6 months of treatment, all patients reported good (51-75%) improvements in skin texture and roughness.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) also known as low-level level laser therapy is the use of red and near-infrared light to stimulate healing, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation.
Who should not use red light therapy? People who take medications that increase their skin or eye sensitivity should not use red light therapy. People who have a history of skin cancer or eye disease should speak with their doctor before using red light therapy.
However, if products are misused — perhaps used too often or not according to directions — there's a chance your skin or eyes (if not protected) could be damaged. The long-term safety of devices that use red light therapy isn't yet known.
Potential benefits of red light therapy
"There is no doubt that red light can be very, very beneficial to skin," Nazarian said. She said there are "a lot of studies on red light" but that additional, more standardized studies are still needed. "What it's actually doing is stimulating the cells to create new energy.
The only difference is that red light penetrates the skin less, while near infrared light penetrates deeper (of course, the only other major difference is that red light is visible and infrared is invisible, but this is irrelevant therapeutically).
You can put the items below on your skin before red light therapy: Start with a gentle cleanser to remove any dirt, oil, or makeup. Apply a light, hydrating moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. Use a serum with antioxidants like Vitamin C to enhance the therapy's benefits.
Depending on its intensity, proximity and the duration of exposure, infrared radiation can be harmful to the eyes as well as to the skin. The eyes generally react much sooner and are much more sensitive than the skin to the effects of IR radiation, which can be harmful from a certain degree of intensity and exposure.
With lower power LED devices (e.g. 10mW/cm2) 30 minute sessions twice a day may be needed and may still not be enough for a good result. In any case, even 10 minutes of even low intensity LED treatment are better than nothing. However, for optimum and/or fast results, relatively higher light intensities will be needed.
The consequences of exposing your eyes to intense light can range from eye strain and discomfort to potential retina damage. To reduce these risks and ensure a safe treatment, it's vital to protect your eyes with black out goggles or eye shields.