Light therapy has been used for many decades to treat a lot of illnesses. Skin diseases, depression, hair loss, and weight loss are just some of the physical issues that a light therapy can treat. However, it is important to note which light therapy is safe and gives you the most benefits. Infrared light therapy and red light therapy are two of the most popular ones that are marketed in a lot of commercial saunas and spas.
While the two are often confused for the other, they are actually quite different with regard to their nature and the benefits that they offer. Yes, they are similar, but they are also quite different in certain aspects. In order for you to understand the difference between red light therapy and infrared light therapy, we’re going to break the two types down and understand what they both have to offer.
Why We Need Light Therapy
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The human body needs to be exposed to light for it to be healthy. As known to many, Vitamin D is an important vitamin that a human body produces when the bare skin is exposed to sunlight. Exposure to different kinds of light can stimulate positive changes in hormones and chemicals in the body. This can help lift up your mood and also give you more vitamins.
Light therapy measures light in nanometers. There is a certain degree of nanometers that are needed in order for the light to have an effect on the body. The three most effective degrees of nanometers are 670 nm, 728 nm, and 880 nm. These three cover both red light and infrared light. The red light has a wavelength of 630 nm to 700 nm while the infrared light has a wavelength of 800 nm to 1 mm.
Difference Between the Two: Infrared Light Vs Red Light
We’ve already mentioned that the two have different wavelengths. The wavelengths determine their visibility in the light spectrum or the electromagnetic scale. The Red lights fall in the visible part of the spectrum (630 nm to 700), and the infrared light falls in the invisible part (700 nm to 1 mm).
What this means is that the longer the wavelength, the deeper the light is able to penetrate. So for red lights, only the skin and a few levels underneath can be penetrated. For infrared lights, on the other hand, cells and tissues can be penetrated. This is why a lot of people who have muscle aches and pains opt to have the top infrared saunas therapy they can find.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy
Now that we know the difference between the two in terms of light penetration level, let’s talk about their specific benefits.
As mentioned above, the red light can only penetrate the skin and a few levels underneath. This is why the red light therapy is good if you want to treat skin surface issues like eczema and acne. It can help heal skin, balance skin tone, and replenish collagen. Red light therapy can also reduce wrinkles and give anti-aging effects. It can also reduce scars, wounds, and stretch marks. Lastly, it helps aid in hair growth by stimulating cell repair in the scalp.
For this reason, it is not at all surprising why a lot of facial clinics now offer this type of light therapy to their clients.
Benefits of Infrared Light Therapy
Infrared light, on the other hand, goes much deeper than the skin. It goes toward the tissues, cells, and even the organs. This is why it is best for muscle aches and pain relief. In fact, the infrared sauna houses can totally eliminate back pains or full body aches. Aside from that, it can also help with blood circulation and weight loss. It also detoxifies the body, making you generally healthier.
In addition, infrared light has a positive effect on tissue and cell regeneration. It can reconnect the fibroblasts so that cell repair is much easier for the body.
Conclusion
Both infrared and red lights are good for the body, depending on what kind of benefits you want. Sure, they are a bit similar as they are both on the red spectrum of light, but they are very different with regard to benefits. In any case, a combo of the two is great for your body.
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