Infrared heat is everywhere around you.
The warmth you feel when standing in the sun is because of infrared heat. Fireplaces and certain heaters also produce this type of heat. Even your body gives off infrared heat.
Infrared heat has several benefits for your body, and especially for your skin.
Several studies have shown that it promotes faster healing of rashes and wounds, it increases the amount of collagen in the skin (making the skin firmer and smoother) and it improves blood circulation.
It can also help relieve pain arising from joint inflammation, sports injuries, muscle strain and nerve problems.
Infrared Heat Therapy at Home
You may have seen spas advertising infrared light therapy. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money at a spa to enjoy the benefits of infrared heat.
You can buy an affordable infrared lamp for use at home.
Don’t worry, it’s pretty safe.
Unlike UV light, infrared light does not cause cancer. The worst you might experience is mild eye strain, a slight headache and some insomnia. But even these are uncommon as long as you use the lamp properly.
If you are interested in infrared heat therapy, we have picked the 5 best infrared lamps you can buy for home therapy.
To pick the best ones, we considered several factors including:
- UV Protection: Because infrared lamps also emit UV radiation, it is essential that the lamp incorporate UV protection.
- Treatment area: We picked wide lamps that treat a larger area. This saves you time and enhances the benefits of infrared heat.
- Versatile settings: We picked lamps that provide a wide range of configurations including multiple lamp positions (angles) and a timer with automatic switch-off.
- Easily-replaceable bulb: Most of the lamps use bulbs that are easy to replace when they malfunction or reach the end of their life.
The Best Infrared Lamps Reviews [UK Market]
1. Beurer IL50 Infrared heat lamp 300W
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This is a certified grade II medical product so you can be sure it is safe. For added safety, it includes ceramic glass that blocks 100% of the UV emitted by the lamp.
The Beurer IL50 uses a 300W infrared bulb to stimulate the skin into producing more collagen, increasing blood flow and speeding up healing of scars, acne and wounds.
It also relieves pain on the targeted area.
Thanks to the lamp’s wide treatment area – 30cm by 40cm – you can target a large area without having to constantly move the lamp.
For more precise targeting, you can adjust the angle of the lamp up to 50 degrees.
An adjustable timer lets you select your preferred treatment time between 1 and 15 minutes. It will automatically switch off after the selected time elapses.
What we like about it:
- Adjustable positioning.
- Wide treatment area.
- Includes auto switch-off timer.
- Long cord with a convenient winder.
2. Beurer IL35 Infrared Heat Lamp 150w with Timer
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This is a cheaper alternative to the Beurer IL 50. It has less power and a smaller treatment area but the other features are similar.
Like the IL50, it is a certified grade II medical product. You can use it safely at home.
The integrated switch-off timer ensures you don’t expose your skin for too long. You can select a treatment period of 5, 10 or 15 minutes.
The adjustable shade lets you precisely target a specific area. You can position it in five different angles depending on which part of the body you are targeting.
What we like about it:
- Safe for home use.
- Includes switch-off timer.
- Adjustable lamp positioning.
- Easily replaceable bulb.
3. Infrared IR Heating Floor Lamp
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If a desk infrared lamp doesn’t work nearly as well for you, try this floor lamp. You place it on the floor, plug it in and then sit or lie beneath it.
You can adjust the arm up or down to get the perfect height (manufacturer recommends a distance of 10-20cm from the target area).
You have the choice of a clamped base or a wheeled base. The latter is more expensive but is easier to move around.
If you are a senior or you are buying this lamp for someone elderly, I recommend the wheeled version.
The lamp is rated at 275W. It’s quite powerful for the price.
One advantage of having a higher wattage is that it heats up the target area faster, meaning you enjoy the therapeutic effects quicker.
What we like about it:
- A great alternative for those who find desk infrared lamps difficult to use.
- Wheeled version is easy to move around.
- Adjustable arm for precise targeting.
4. Efbe-Schott Infrared Light Lamp
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This lamp comes in three power options: 100W and 150W.
It uses Philips infrared bulbs so it should be easy to find replacements.
The lamp consists of a large base for stability and a spotlight-style lamp whose angle you can adjust to target different parts of the body.
The compact design is great for those who would love an IR lamp they can use while travelling. The lamp even includes a convenient compartment in the base for cord storage.
What we like about it:
- Compact design – great for frequent travellers.
- Affordable.
- Adjustable lamp for targeting different areas.
5. Medisana Intensive Infrared Lamp, 100 W
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Another good option if you are looking for an affordable infrared lamp.
At 100W, it’s not the most powerful lamp on the list but it’s still effective against aches, stiffness, acne and fine lines.
Like the Efbe-Schott lamp, this one also uses Phillips bulbs, so replacement is easy. The bulbs are easy to find and they are not too expensive.
The Medisana lamp is just as compact, making it great for travelling. It fits easily in a backpack or suitcase.
Thanks to its compact base, you can place it virtually anywhere.
The head is adjustable, allowing to choose exactly where the infrared light hits.
What we like about it:
- Affordable.
- Easily replaceable bulb.
- Compact and portable.
- Adjustable positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are infrared lamps used for?
Infrared light is a part of the light spectrum that, unlike UV light, will not damage the skin – in fact, quite the opposite. Infrared light has many uses; from communication to reducing inflammation, to pain relief and wound healing.
Infrared is the light that causes the heat you feel when you catch the sun – it doesn’t penetrate down into the layer of skin and cause damage, like UV does, but it does cause warmth. You can’t actually SEE infrared light,
2. How can infrared lamp help the skin?
Infrared light works by encouraging the cells in your skin to soak up the light and warmth, making them produce more energy. This may encourage the cells to repair themselves, and can help with muscle tissue and skin healing.
This type of therapy can also benefit your skin, by smoothing it down from the outside and improving the health of it from the inside. It can help to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improve the look of acne scars and previous damage from the sun.
3. How long does it take for red light therapy to work?
Red Light Therapy is a type of Infrared light; the difference between the two is that you can actually see red light. Red light therapy will not burn the skin, as it uses incredibly small amounts of heat, and as it doesn’t contain any UV rays, it will not cause your skin any damage.
The time it takes to show any results will vary from person to person; some people start to notice a difference after just a few uses, while others will take longer to show any noticeable changes. The best thing you can do is to give it a go for yourself!
