Have you ever wondered why babies like to be placed under a heat lamp? Maybe your parents didn’t just brew you chamomile tea when you had a cold, but put you in front of an infrared lamp? How can infrared be used in physiotherapy? Here you can find out everything about the use of infrared. In this article, we look at how infrared helps your body and what effects infrared can have.
Cold, what to do?
Autumn is here and with it not only golden leaves, pumpkin soup and our new picture series, but unfortunately also cold and flu symptoms. But what can we do about it? Grandma wasn’t the only one who used to say: “Warmth is good for colds”. But is that actually true?
To say it up front: there is no scientific evidence to date as to whether infrared heat helps with colds.[1] But how does infrared heating actually work? Just think of the sun, which emits natural infrared rays. So it’s not surprising that the warmth of infrared heating is often perceived as being as pleasant as the sun’s rays. The infrared rays first warm the surface of the body and are then transported further in the body. Would you like to know more about how infrared heating works and about infrared in general? Then you will find a detailed article on the subject here.
You ask yourself: So if there’s no scientific evidence that it improves cold symptoms, why should I sit in front of an infrared lamp? We say: Just give it a try, because there are generally no disadvantages. Many people find heat beneficial for colds and can relax better as a result. Infrared can “… trigger the body’s own processes that improve the symptoms”[2].
Important: If you have a serious heart condition, thrombosis or middle ear infection, you should avoid using heat lamps. Ask your doctor whether heat treatment is suitable for you.
Use in physiotherapy – how infrared heat can help
You’re probably familiar with this too: sometimes your back twinges, your muscles are tense and you feel uncomfortable and achy. Medication is not always necessary, especially for tense muscles, and can often be relieved very well with heat. Heat and pain receptors are mainly located directly under the epidermis and in the upper layer of the dermis.
Heat therapy is often used in physiotherapy in preparation for other medical treatments. The relevant parts of the body are irradiated with infrared light before a massage or physiotherapy session begins. The heat increases blood circulation, more oxygen is transported to the affected area and toxins and harmful substances are removed. Pain is relieved and you can relax better.
Wavelengths and modes of action
Before we look at the different wavelengths and how they work, let’s first find out who discovered infrared rays in the first place. Around 1800, the German-British technician Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel measured the temperature of individual shades of sunlight. For his measurements, he allowed white sunlight to shine through a prism. In this way, he divided the white light into its rainbow-colored spectral colors. Herschel also measured the temperature beyond the red light and found that the temperature was highest here. Infrared light, which is invisible to humans, was discovered.
Did you know that every body that hasa body temperature above absolute zero of around -273 °C emits infrared radiation? At a skin temperature of around 32 degrees Celsius, the human body emits thermal radiation with a wavelength of around 10 micrometres[3]. The warmer a body is, the more energy it emits in the form of IR radiation and the shorter the wavelength of the radiation[4].
So let’s finally turn our attention to the wavelengths.
There are three different wavelengths. These reach different depths of your skin layer and can also reach deeper areas of the body due to the thermal conductivity.
IR-A radiation
The short-wave IR-A radiation has a wavelength range of 780 to 1400 nanometers.
It has a large penetration depth and can penetrate up to 5mm into your subcutis, or the retina in the eye.
IR-B radiation
Medium-wave IR-B radiation has a wavelength range of 1400 to 3000 nanometers. It penetrates as far as the dermis, but cannot achieve any depth effect.
IR-C radiation
The long-wave sub-range, IR-C radiation, has a wavelength range of 3000 nanometres to 1 millimetre. It remains close to the surface of your skin within the epidermis (epidermis) and develops its heat effect there.
The general rule for infrared radiation is: the shorter the wavelength, the greater the penetration depth.
Fun fact: Infrared rays are not only used for heating. Infrared reflectography is an examination method used in art history. For example, it is possible to go under the paint layers of a painting without destroying it and see drawings or signatures that were created before the final painting. This technique also provides information about the layers of paint in a painting, the different pigments and types of paint. It’s quite exciting what infrared rays can be used for, isn’t it?
Conclusion
Whether for heating, medicine or art – infrared rays can be used in a variety of ways. Especially in the medical field, an infrared lamp or heater can have a beneficial effect and provide relief from ailments. But of course the same applies here: don’t overdo it! Excessive heat exposure due to intensive infrared radiation can, in the worst case, lead to heat exhaustion. So always stay cool. ??
Want to know more?
We are delighted if we have been able to show you new aspects of infrared. There is a lot more exciting information to discover. Take a look at our articles on lignite. Or discover lots of interesting and helpful tips for the cold season on our autumn checklist . Just come back to our blog regularly – it’s worth it! If you have any further questions, our friendly customer service team will be happy to help you – by phone, email or chat. We look forward to hearing from you.
