Infrared and diseases? How does that actually work?

Infrared is radiation, but it is a harmless form: the wavelengths are converted into heat that warms the skin, speeds up blood circulation, and helps eliminate waste products more quickly. Infrared heat is therefore mainly used for pain relief and relaxation in cases of rheumatic, skin, and stress-related complaints, as a supplement and not as a replacement for medical treatment. If you have a condition or disease, always consult your doctor first. Below, you can read what is known about the effects of infrared for each topic.

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Infrared and diseases? How does that actually work? We explain it!

“Radiation? That doesn’t seem good for my body…”

A fair point, but not in every case. Infrared is a form of radiation that is not harmful at all; on the contrary. Infrared has a very positive and beneficial effect on the body and mind, including in various conditions and diseases. Curious? Then read on!

To make it clear for you:

1. General effects of infrared therapy
2. Rheumatism
   • Fibromyalgia
   • Arthritis
   • Ankylosing spondylitis
3. Skin diseases and complaints
   • Wrinkles
   • Wound healing
   • Cellulitis
   • Acne
   • Eczema
   • Psoriasis
4. Stress and depression

The infrared lamp

Infrared lamps are widely used to combat muscle and joint pain, but they can also provide relief for back pain or stomach pain, for example. The pleasant warmth of the infrared lamp provides rapid pain relief and improved circulation. Good circulation promotes muscle relaxation.

The wavelengths of infrared rays are converted into comfortable heat. The radiation does not increase the body's temperature but warms the skin. The shorter the infrared rays, the more powerful the effect of the infrared light. As the skin temperature rises, blood circulation accelerates and the heart rate increases. This allows waste products to be eliminated more quickly.

In addition to muscle and joint pain, it therefore also has numerous other benefits. These include reducing skin diseases and conditions such as wounds, acne, and cellulite. In addition, the infrared lamp is an effective treatment for stress. The product has a relaxing effect. Besides affecting your mental state, stress also contributes to physical complaints. The less stress you experience, the fewer complaints you have (such as stomach pain, headaches, and fatigue).

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Rheumatism

Infrared has been used for years to treat painful joints. So it is only natural to ask whether infrared light also works for rheumatism. The answer is yes. Infrared has a beneficial effect on various forms of rheumatism. Read below about its effects on different forms of rheumatism.

Fibromyalgia

Muscle pain, fatigue, stiffness, and various painful areas are all familiar to someone with fibromyalgia. However, no abnormalities can be found in the muscles, connective tissue, or joints. Repeated studies of the condition have shown that people with fibromyalgia have increased muscle tension. Pain increases in cold conditions and with inactivity. The symptoms are not only physical. Sleep problems, concentration difficulties, and depressive feelings are also common symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for fibromyalgia. Only pain management and learning to cope with pain can provide relief. A session with infrared equipment can help with this. The radiant heat can reduce physical pain, while the relaxing environment supports the reduction of mental tension.

Arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis:

In 2008, Dr. H. Isomaki researched the effects of infrared light on arthritis and concluded that infrared has a beneficial effect on muscle and joint pain associated with arthritis, which in turn improves mobility. Better mobility encourages people to adopt a more active lifestyle and improves their quality of life. As a result, people experience a genuinely better mental balance!

Dr. F. Oosterveld, professor at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, and rheumatologist Prof. J.J. Rasker of the University of Twente have also conducted extensive research in recent years into the effects of infrared on conditions such as arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. They concluded that, after one 30-minute infrared cabin session, patients with arthritis experienced a reduction of around 40% in stiffness and pain. The same researchers concluded that, for ankylosing spondylitis, pain and stiffness decreased by as much as 50% to 60% during a 30-minute infrared cabin session.

Although many aspects still require further research, according to Dr. Oosterveld, the study served an important purpose: providing rheumatism patients with clarity about how infrared heat works.

Skin conditions

Infrared radiation has a positive effect on many skin conditions and complaints. Infrared stimulates healing, cleansing, and production. Below, read the explanation of how it works for common conditions and complaints.

Wrinkles

Infrared softens fine lines and wrinkles on the face. This was shown in research by dermatologists Yu Shun Tian, Nan-Hyung Kim, and Ai-Young Lee. Infrared promotes collagen and elastin production in the skin. These are two proteins that keep the skin supple and wrinkle-free.

Wound healing

Infrared promotes the formation of new capillaries, supplying the wound area with oxygen and thereby stimulating the healing process. In addition, infrared therapy helps reduce infection. Dead or damaged cells are cleared away. Damage to the lymphatic system can cause fluid to accumulate under the skin. Infrared stimulates the lymphatic system without overloading it. It stimulates not only the lymphatic system but also fibroblast production. Fibroblast? Yes, a fibroblast is the most important cell in connective tissue and plays a key role in the final healing phase of a wound.

The section about wrinkles mentions collagen. Collagen is not only beneficial for reducing wrinkles. In fact, collagen is the main protein needed in the wound-healing process. In addition, infrared provides cellular energy. The heat stimulates skin cells. Cellular energy is needed to deliver energy to damaged and surrounding cells so they can do what they need to do… heal themselves.

Cellulitis

Cellulite, also known as orange-peel skin, is something almost every woman knows… Google is frequently used to search for all kinds of creams for this common condition. It can make us feel insecure and have a major impact on our daily lives. Cellulite involves gel-like pockets in the subcutaneous connective tissue. The fatty tissue essentially pushes against the connective tissue. The heat from infrared radiation causes these pockets to loosen. They are waste products that the skin wants to eliminate. Infrared therapy is a relatively inexpensive way to feel confident in your swimwear again or visit the sauna!

Acne

Acne is usually caused by hormonal changes during puberty. As a result, the sebaceous glands enlarge and produce more sebum. This excessive sebum production, combined with dead skin cells, can cause clogged glands. This results in a blackhead. Its wall can rupture, leading to inflammation of the skin. This inflammation is called a pimple. The skin at the site of the pimple stretches until it bursts, causing small wounds. If the acne is severe and persists for a long time, it can even leave scars.

Infrared therapy cleanses the pores through excessive sweating caused by the heat of the infrared lamp. Redness and swelling are also reduced during a session. This happens because blood circulation improves, speeding up the healing process. The body’s natural response to warmer temperatures increases the heart rate. As a result, oxygen-rich blood is delivered to all veins and blood vessels. Although infrared therapy is not recommended as the sole treatment for acne, adding infrared sessions can help support the treatment.

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Eczema

Eczema is the collective term for various skin conditions. Eczema involves inflammation of the skin. Symptoms include itching and red skin. Infrared therapy makes the body sweat, thoroughly cleansing the pores. Regular use of infrared therapy improves the immune system and helps remove toxins that can cause skin inflammation. Infrared stimulates the skin’s healing process and reduces the “fiery patches,” thereby also reducing the itching associated with eczema.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis cannot (yet) be cured. However, the disease can be treated increasingly effectively with medication. There are various types of therapy that can reduce the symptoms, such as infrared therapy. Infrared radiation is harmless radiation that penetrates deep into the muscles and joints. This warms them and stimulates blood circulation. The infrared radiation removes dead skin cells and reduces flaking, which has a beneficial effect on psoriasis.

Stress

When we expose our skin to infrared light, serotonin is released in our body. Serotonin, also known as the happiness hormone, is a substance that the body produces itself. Serotonin has a stimulating effect on our body. It affects our mood, self-confidence, sleep, orgasms, appetite, and much more. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison believe that the heat stimulating the skin activates the serotonin-producing cells. This causes a change in brain function.

In addition, infrared light stimulates the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus? It is the center that regulates your sleep, temperature, feelings of hunger and thirst, day-night rhythm, behavior, and memory. When the hypothalamus is dysregulated, balance is lost and people experience more stress. A prolonged feeling of stress can, in turn, develop into depression. People suffering from depression have stress-related dysregulation of the hypothalamus. It is therefore extremely important to take good care of this center!

Treatment with infrared lamps is relaxing. As we all know, relaxation is one of the most effective remedies for stress.

Please note! Do you have a medical condition or illness? Always consult your doctor before using infrared equipment.

We hope that what you wanted to know is a little clearer now! Do you still have questions or would you like to share your experience? You can always ask your questions via info@liroma.nl or share your experiences via the website!