When you’re outside on a sunny day and feel the gentle warmth of the sun on your skin, you’re benefiting from infrared light. Unlike ultraviolet (UV) light, which causes sun burns, skin damage, and even cancers, red light supports the cells to regenerate or repair themselves. So how can one get the benefits of the sun’s infrared spectrum, without the damage of the UV spectrum?

Infrared light therapies (also known as photobiomodulation) claim numerous health benefits, from pain relief to inflammation reduction, to radiant skin. Before you go out shopping, be aware that there are several types of red light therapies, with specific wavelengths, targeted to help in unique ways. Hopefully this post will shed some light on the differences and help you choose the one that’s best for your needs.

Red Light

Wavelength: 620 to 780 nanometers
Potential health benefits:

• Works at the superficial / surface level
• May support skin rejuvenation and hair growth
• Generally come as wall-mounted or table top devices

Near Infrared Light (NIR)

Wavelength: 780 to 3,000 nanometers
Potential health benefits:

• Near-infrared (NIR) is the shortest wavelength, but it penetrates the deepest
• Most similar to the infrared light from the sun
• Increases blood flow and may improve circulation
• May increase energy production
• May reduce shallow body pain and inflammation
• Generally available in NIR saunas

Far Infrared Light (FIR)

Wavelength: 50,000 to 1,000,000 nanometers
Check out: Higher Dose Infrared PEMF mat
Potential health benefits:

• Far-infrared is the most similar in wavelength to the infrared heat produced by our own bodies
• Feels hotter than NIR, raises the body’s core temperature, and activates the sweat glands
• Increases heart rate, blood flow, and nitric oxide production
• May reduce pain and inflammation
• Relaxes and loosens muscles
• May assist your body’s detoxification systems and boost metabolism
• Incredibly relaxing and may help with stress reduction
• Generally available in FIR saunas and infrared mats

Photobiomodulation patches

Wavelength: various
Check out: Lifewave Patches
Potential health benefits:

• Reflect specific wavelengths of your body’s own infrared light back through the skin
• May support pain relief, stem-cell activation, stress reduction, etc. depending on the product selected
• Applied directly to the skin

While infrared and red light therapy is generally thought to be safe and non invasive, as always, you’ll want to check with your doctor to make sure that you don’t have any preexisting conditions or take any medications that would be contraindicated.

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health-related issue.