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.
Research has shown that infrared light could play roles in light stimulation and biological regulation. Infrared light has been used to regulate neural function due to its high spatial resolution, safety and neural sensitivity and has been considered a useful method to replace traditional neural regulation approaches.
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.
Near infrared (NIR) light has been shown to provide beneficial treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other neurological problems.
Since infrared therapy enhances and improves circulation in the skin and other parts of the body, it can bring oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues, promoting healing. It helps ease pain, relieve inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress.
You can relax in an infrared sauna and it will not cause harm to your skin. Infrared therapy can increase the body's core temperature, resulting in a much deeper, more detoxifying sweat from the cellular level of the skin where many toxins are housed.
Consult a physician prior to use. Do not use if pregnant, have serious inflammation, a fever, a communicable disease, acute bleeding, or intoxicated.
The tissue penetration is maximum at these wavelengths, and thus red or near-infrared light (600–950 nm) is utilized in LLLT. [2,3] LLLT has been reported to stimulate hair growth in men and women in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and was approved by the US FDA in 2007.
NIR light can penetrate the head and reach the brain. NIR is absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria. Heat-gated ion channels also play a role.
IR-A radiation with its excessive heat can cause irreversible damage (such as burns) to the retina and cloud the lens, which can lead to a cataract (also known as glassblower's cataract or infrared cataract). IR-B radiation can damage the blood vessels down to the fatty tissue.
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.
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.
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.
According to the researchers, each one of the brain connectivity pattern appears to be best arranged to perform better on tasks associated with specific cognitive domains: blue-light exposure activates areas associated with attention and circadian rhythm, green-light exposure improves visual attention and red-light ...
The tNIR light treatments demonstrated safety and positive cognitive improvements in patients with dementia.
Key Findings. A new study by a team of researchers from the Wellman Center for Photomedicine and the Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital underscores the potential of near-infrared light therapy in mitigating the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
It is important to note that more frequent usage doesn't necessarily mean better results; overdoing it could lead to irritation and sensitivity in the treated areas, so it's best not to exceed the recommended frequencies.
Unlike ultraviolet light - which has damaging effects upon the tissues and cells of the body - infrared light helps cells regenerate or repair themselves. Infrared light also improves the circulation of oxygen-rich blood in the body, promoting faster healing of deep tissues and relieving pain.
Excessive exposure can result in damage or even burns. In general, thermal burden can lead to disturbances in the heat balance of the entire organism. The eyes are particularly sensitive to thermal effects. Suitable protective goggles can protect the eyes against excessive exposure to infrared radiation.
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.
Unlike the cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning booths, RLT doesn't use this type of light. 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.
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.
In a study published in the Journal of Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, researchers found that red light therapy decreased pain, fatigue, and improved nerve conduction velocity in patients with peripheral neuropathy. Red light therapy is a non-invasive, pain-free procedure that is easy to use.