What's the Difference between Red, Near Infrared, and Far Infrared Light Therapy Benefits?

If you own a red light therapy device or are interested in buying one, chances are, you’ve heard of the terms near infrared (NIR) and far infrared (FIR) light therapy before, often used interchangeably.

In our ROJO models, we only use red and NIR light in our devices, so, understandably, you might be curious about how they specifically benefit you.

In this article, we'll go over the difference between red, near infrared, and far infrared light, their infrared light therapy benefits, and how to choose the right type for your needs in order for you to make an informed decision about your therapy options.

Defining Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy or photobiomodulation, uses low levels of red and near-infrared light to promote various physiological processes associated with accelerating natural healing.

However, they're frequently marketed under the umbrella term "Red Light Therapy" even though they may also include far-infrared light, which may confuse some people.

What they do have in common is that they have the power to treat specific conditions, ranging from pain relief to helping with neurological issues like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Here’s how they differ in terms of their wavelengths and therapeutic applications:

• Red light is the visible part of the infrared spectrum, with its wavelengths measuring 630-660 nanometers (nm), and is primarily used to apply skin benefits and organ systems near the skin tissue, including the circulatory system, peripheral nervous system, and hair follicles. 

• Near-infrared (NIR) light has longer non-visible wavelengths typically between 700-1400 nm, which can penetrate deeper into your body, reaching joints, bones, muscles, and even nerve cells in the brain!

• Far-infrared (FIR) boasts the longest non-visible wavelength in the infrared spectrum, measuring 3000 nm to 0.1 millimeters, penetrating up to 1.5 inches deep into the skin. FIR light is commonly used in therapeutic applications such as infrared saunas, pain relief treatments, and detoxification therapies.

How Do They Differ in Terms of Benefits?

Red, near infrared, and far infrared light therapy benefits are very similar – often, too similar. These similarities may extend to the skin, brain, and wound healing, which might make it harder for people to gauge what they should choose as the optimal wavelength for them.

Distinguishing between these three light therapy options can be even more difficult as we still lack conclusive evidence on how they differ in interacting with the body. However, we can still observe some differences.

In terms of thermal effects, the most powerful one would be FIR light. However, their devices take up a lot of room and usually come with a heftier price tag. A good example of these would be infrared saunas, which take fifteen minutes to warm up.

On the other hand, red and NIR light therapy devices are very practical, economically viable, and more convenient than their FIR counterparts. You can use these devices instantly and reap the health benefits by investing as little as five to ten minutes per session.

These features make it easy for first-time infrared users to form a consistent routine and maintain their health. With that said, we recommend either red light, NIR light, or a combination of the two if you are after treating chronic skin disorders or reaping skin benefits.

However, we also highly recommend testing them yourself. Whether you’re a first-time red light user or a seasoned user looking for better options, we suggest trying out our Refine 180 model and see if it works best for you.

We particularly recommend this one as not only does it have incredible value for money for first-time users, but experienced users may also find our low-EMF/ELF, flicker-free technology helps keep you even safer from any unwanted side effects.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and let us help you make an informed decision in choosing the right light therapy for your needs.