Seeing Red? Health Benefits of Infrared Light

Talk with your friends, family or ladies lunch group and you may hear them raving about their recent encounter with infrared light sauna treatments or workouts. Social media and television news have also jumped in to popularize the benefits of infrared light for our health. But what is infrared light, how does it affect our overall wellbeing and what benefits can it provide?

Light therapy was originally developed by NASA in the 1980s to grow plants in space but later it was found to have human health benefits. Infrared radiation, IR, or infrared light is a type of radiant energy that’s invisible to human eyes but that we can feel as heat like a sunny day. Two of the most obvious sources are the sun and fire.

Infrared light is known by various names, including photo biomodulation, low-level light therapy, near IR, far IR and waon therapy. Not to be confused with redlight therapy, infrared light is an altogether separate wavelength of light. It penetrates deeply while red light works on the surface of the skin and offers different benefits. Infrared light is invisible and is also effective for use on the surface of the skin but can penetrate down about one and a half inches into the body.

Infrared Saunas
The majority of saunas used in homes and commercial settings are traditional electric saunas, but infrared versions are quickly becoming a popular option. Spas and gyms offer them to clients and are touting their health benefits. People can also purchase infrared saunas for their home.

A traditional heat sauna can feel very hot, often as high as 180 degrees or more. This is because regular saunas heat the air that surrounds the person rather than radiating into the body. Breathing can be uncomfortable at very high temperatures. People generally want to sweat when they enter a sauna, and traditional saunas rely on higher temperatures to produce sufficient perspiration.
An infrared light sauna uses infrared light to heat the body while the air surrounding it stays unchanged. The wavelengths have the ability to penetrate through layers of the skin, become absorbed by the body, and heat it from the inside out. As a result, the body’s core temperature rises without being in a very hot room. This can be much more comfortable than a traditional sauna.

Infrared Workouts
Gyms and fitness centers in many parts of the country are now turning up the heat with infrared workouts such as hot Pilates, hot yoga and hot core, all done in a room with infrared therapy. The instructed or virtual workouts are much shorter than regular workouts (15 to 30 minutes long) with sauna temperatures set at or around 125 degrees Fahrenheit. The infrared rays penetrate the skin and muscle and increase core body temperature. Then, as the body works to cool itself, the heart starts pumping faster and increases body sweat. This change in body heat can provide pain relief while temporarily resolving mobility problems for up to 60 minutes after working out. Some studies suggest regular infrared workouts can produce positive physiological changes in the body in the long term.

To perform a safer workout, fitness experts recommend drinking plenty of water before, during and after the infrared exercise. For those who may start to feel slightly dizzy or lightheaded, it’s recommended to take a break or step outside the room to cool down.

Possible Benefits
Although more studies are needed, infrared light can offer several benefits, including pain relief, increased blood flow, reduced inflammation and improved sleep. It’s believed to boost metabolism, break up fats in cells to release from the body, and to improve diabetes and heart function. It may also help with stimulation of collagen, relaxation and elevating mood.

Possible Risks
Although infrared saunas, treatments and exercise are popular, experts warn of possible health risks as well. Thermal or heat injuries can happen, depending on the wavelength of the infrared light. Thermal injury can occur even without pain, so it’s not always easy to identify. People with advanced symptomatic heart disease, pregnant women and those who are sick should not undergo infrared therapy.

Additionally, experts caution that using infrared therapy to treat chronic diseases while neglecting the use of medications and recommended treatment procedures is also risky. Experts caution that infrared therapy should be used in conjunction with regular medical treatment, not as a sole solution to health issues.

Infrared therapy can be a safe and effective way to reduce pain, treat a wide variety of conditions and possibly heal the body and mind in several ways. Although more research is needed, infrared therapy can offer lasting help for feeling better. It is best to talk with a healthcare representative to understand your personal benefits and risks.

Sources: news-medical.net, verywellhealth.com and wellandgood.com.