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Applications of optical radiation in medicine and wellness

Optical radiation has a wide range of uses not only in medicine but also increasingly in the wellness sector. For example, UV radiation is used in the treatment of skin conditions, and infrared radiation is used as a source of heat.

Today, many areas of medicine and cosmetics use powerful sources of optical radiation for various purposes. These sources include not only laser devices, which have been used for a long time, but also the more-recently adopted "IPL systems". Common to all of these radiation sources is their ability to irradiate a relatively small area with a large quantity of energy in a short time.

Infrared lamp

Applications of infrared radiation

The most powerful natural source of infrared radiation is the sun. Even in antiquity, the sun's "thermal radiation" was used to relieve a variety of complaints. By virtue of its beneficial effects, artificially generated infrared radiation therefore enjoys widespread applications in medicine and the wellness sector. Too much is unhealthy her as well.

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Epilation with IPL deviceSource: Yakobchuk Olena/stock.adobe.com

Permanent hair removal (epilation)

Lasers or intense pulsed light sources are used to reduce unwanted hair growth permanently or at least for a long time. In these procedures, the structures in the hair follicle responsible for hair growth are impaired in their function or destroyed by strong heating. However, the techniques involve risks. Users should therefore obtain detailed information before using the technology and proceed with extreme caution.

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Blue light therapy

Blue light therapy is primarily used for the treatment or prevention of neonatal jaundice (icterus neonatorum). It is sometimes – incorrectly – referred to as "UVA1 cold-light phototherapy". However, the radiation used is not UV-A but rather visible light with wavelengths of approx. 430–490 nanometres – that is, blue light.

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woman on a sunbed

Sunbeds

Sunbeds emit UV radiation. UV radiation causes sunburn, actinic dermatitis, skin ageing even at younger ages and in the worst case skin cancer. A careless use of sunbeds can therefore have severe health consequences. If you want to avoid these consequences you can abstain from using sunbeds - or at least try to reduce the health risks. Legal regulations have been enacted for that.

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Laser applications

The use of lasers for medical and increasingly also cosmetic purposes is primarily based on the strong collimation (focusing) and high power density of the laser beam. In addition, medical applications take advantage of the ability to guide the beam directly to the treatment site using flexible optical fibres. As a result, lasers can be used to perform endoscopic procedures – that is, surgical procedures that are performed inside the body by inserting the instruments through small holes without the need to make large surgical incisions. Among other things, the type of laser used depends on the required power density, the desired penetration depth into the tissue and which wavelengths the target tissue absorbs best.

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A tattoo is removed with a laserSource: damiangretka iStock/Getty Images Plus

Removal of tattoos

The popularity of tattoos has steadily increased in recent decades. This also increases the number of those who want to have the tattoo removed for various reasons. However, this is easier said than done and not without risks.

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Woman in front of a day light lamp.Source: Rocky89 via Getty Images

Light therapy with daylight lamps

Light not only allows us to see but also influences the level of endogenous messenger substances such as melatonin or serotonin in the blood. Light acts as a “timekeeper”, setting our body clock, synchronising the human body with its environment, and influencing our mood. Light therapy using artificial sources is intended to compensate for a lack of natural sunlight.

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