Infrared light seems to have beneficial effects on skin. Is it already time to go for infrared lamps/heaters?
Long-term evaluation of collagen and elastin following infrared (1100 to 1800 nm) irradiation.
RESULTS: Infrared irradiation provided long-term increases in collagen and elastin levels on post-irradiation days 30, 60 and 90 compared to controls. Significant increases in type I collagen persisted until 30 and 60 days, and in sun-protected and exposed skin biopsies, respectively. Significant increases in type III collagen and elastin persisted until 90 days in both sun-protected and sun-exposed skin biopsies.
CONCLUSION: Infrared irradiation provides safe and effective long-term stimulation of collagen I and III and elastin, which is beneficial for improving skin laxity and wrinkles.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/19663107
Histological and clinical studies on the effects of low to medium level infrared light therapy on human and mouse skin.
RESULTS: Ten or 20 J/cm2 infrared light increased the amount of both collagen and elastin in all layers of the dermis without denaturing the collagen in human skin. A higher dose of 30 J/cm2 also increased the amount of collagen and elastin, but denatured the collagen in human skin.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/18380204
Effects of infrared radiation on skin photo-aging and pigmentation
These results suggest that infrared radiation may have beneficial effects on skin texture and wrinkles by increasing collagen and elastin contents from the stimulated fibroblasts. Therefore, skin treatment with infrared radiation may be an effective and safe non-ablative remodeling method, and may also be useful in the treatment of photo-aged skin.
http://www.ncbi.nlm..../ymj-47-485.pdf
Varying ratios of wavelengths in dual wavelength LED photomodulation alters gene expression profiles in human skin fibroblasts.
RESULTS: Different expression profiles were noticed for each of the ratios studied. Overall, there was an average (in an 80 gene array) of 6% expression difference in up or downregulation between the arrays. The greatest increase in collagen I and decrease in collagenase (MMP-1) was observed with 75/25% ratio of 590/870 nm. The addition of increasing proportions of IR wavelengths causes alteration in gene expression profile. The ratios of the wavelengths caused variation in magnitude of expression.
CONCLUSION: Cell metabolism and gene expression can be altered by simultaneous exposure to multiple wavelengths of low energy light. Varying the ratios of specific wavelength intensity in both visible and near infrared light therapy can strongly influence resulting fibroblast gene expression patterns.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/20662030
Improved microcirculation is also included:
biological effect of far-infrared therapy on increasing skin microcirculation in rats.
RESULTS: There was no significant change of skin blood flow during FIR treatment. Skin blood flow increased significantly soon after the removal of the FIR emitter. The stimulating effect on skin blood flow was more significant in the rats treated with FIR for 45 min and could be sustained as long as 60 min. These findings suggested a non-thermic biological effect of FIR on skin microcirculation.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/16606412
Infrared has also an effect on ATP:
Effect of low-intensity (3.75-25 J/cm2) near-infrared (810 nm) laser radiation on red blood cell ATPase activities and membrane structure.
RESULTS: It was found that near-infrared low-intensity laser radiation changes the ATPase activities of the membrane ion pumps in the dose- and fluence rate-dependent manner. At the same time no changes of such integral parameters as cell stability, membrane lipid peroxidation level, intracellular reduced glutathione or oxyhaemoglobin level were observed. At laser power of 10 mW, an increase of the ATPase activity was observed with maximal effect at 12-15 J/cm(2) of light dose (18-26% for the total ATPase activity). At laser power of 400 mW (fluence rate significantly increased), inhibition of ATPases activities mainly due to the inhibition of Na(+)-, K(+)-ATPase was observed with maximal effect at the same light dose of 12-15 J/cm(2) (18-23% for the total ATPase activity). Fractionation of the light dose significantly changed the membrane response to laser radiation. Changes in tryptophan fluorescent parameters of erythrocyte membrane proteins and the increase in lipid bilayer fluidity measured by pyrene monomer/excimer fluorescence ratio were observed.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/15165385
Ok, so far so good, but some beg the difference:
Effects of infrared radiation and heat on human skin aging in vivo.
Recent work demonstrates that IR and heat exposure each induces cutaneous angiogenesis and inflammatory cellular infiltration, disrupts the dermal extracellular matrix by inducing matrix metalloproteinases, and alters dermal structural proteins, thereby adding to premature skin aging. This review provides a summary of current research on the effects of IR radiation and heat on aging in human skin in vivo.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/19675547
