►What is a wavelength?



When electromagnetic radiation, like radio waves, light waves or far infrared waves travel through space they are said to make their own characteristic repeating patterns. The wavelength is simply the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. For example, red light has a shorter wavelength than near infrared, and far infrared has an even larger wavelength.

►What's the difference between a far infrared sauna and red/infrared light therapy?

The benefits of a far infrared sauna are not based on the same mechanism as the benefits of light therapy. While light therapy is photoabsorbed by the respiratory enzyme cytochrome c oxidase and has its effects through the action of increased mitochondrial activity and ATP production, the thermal effects of far infrared saunas are what is responsible for its benefits.

The most relevant wavelengths of red and infrared radiation for healing range from 600 to about 1100nm. And even the shortest-wavelenth of far infrared sauna's today don't generally fall below 1400nm.

►What is the difference between a far infrared sauna and near infrared sauna?

The main difference between a far infrared sauna and near infrared light is the type of radiation delivered. Both are comprised of radiation that's invisible to the human eye and near infrared has a much shorter wavelength than far infrared.

Unline near infrared radiation, radiation at the far infrared wavelength produces harmful electromagnetic fields, making metal shielding surrounding far infrared heating elements essential to protect the people inside. The result is a higher-cost, reduced efficiency sauna compared to it's near-infrared counterpart.

►What are the wavelengths of near, middle and far infrared?

The infrared spectrum (comprised of near, middle and far infrared) ranges from 700 nm – 1 mm. A search online for the exact wavelengths of near, mid and far infrared has rendered an assortment of different numbers - it appears nobody agrees. The wavelengths below are from a paper called The Fundamentals of Far-Infrared by Cheah Kok Wai from the Department of Physics at Hong Kong Baptist University(S):

Near Infrared (also called Infrared-A or IR-A) = 700nm - 1400nm

(also called Infrared-A or IR-A) = 700nm - 1400nm Mid Infrared (also called Infrared-B or IR-B) = 1,400nm - 3,000nm

(also called Infrared-B or IR-B) = 1,400nm - 3,000nm Far-Infrared (also called Infrared-C or IR-C) = 3,000nm - 1mm



►Can incandescent, halogen, heat lamps and fluorescent lights be used therapeutically?

Incandescent, halogen and heat lamps do in fact produce a significant amount of red and infrared light. In addition to using my red light therapy LED device therapeutically almost daily, I have 5 infrared heat lamps setup in my home above the couch and above my bed to make my environment healthier and more relaxing.

A large portion of the 250Watts emitted by heat lamps is in the form of IR-B radiation which has a soothing, warming effect. About 12% of their power is used to emit the therapeutic wavelengths (600-1100nm). But since 250Watts is a significant amount of power, that 12% of red and near-infrared wavelengths has noticable positive health effects in my experience. Incandescent and halogen lights emit as much as 35% of their total power output within the therapeutic range.

Fluorescent bulbs are another story. Fluorescent bulbs emit some ultraviolet light but a very small amount of the protective red and infrared radiation, which is likely why many people experience harmful effects from these lights.

►Is infrared-red light therapy safe?

I've read hundreds of study abstracts and have never seen an adverse reaction reported in the scientific literature. This is because the energy intensity of the red and near infrared wavelengths is very low. The amount of energy exposure during red light therapy treatment is so low that tissue temperatures don't increase more than a few tenth's of a degree and thus pose no risk of thermal injury.(S)

Red light therapy's nearly non-thermal effects make it particularly attractive for use on fresh injuries when heat would likely worsen swelling and inflammation. Harvard professor Dr. Hamblin has said that some people have reported headaches and eye strain from the treatment, although research shows the eyes are benefitting from the treatment despite the strain from bright lights.

For what it's worth, Red light therapy is an FDA approved treatment and is considered safe by the US Government.

►Can I get a tan (or burn) from infrared or red light therapy?



A sun tan is a result of the body producing pigmentation in the skin in response to and to protect from future UV exposure. Neither red nor infrared light therapies include any ultraviolet radiation and thus will not cause tanning or burning of the skin.

►How long do the LEDs on a red light device last?



The rating on RedLightMan and many other light therapy products is 50,000+ hours. If you kept your device on 24 hours a day, that's almost 6 years! I've had mine for over 3 years and it's still going strong.