Near-Infrared Light and Skin: Why Intensity Matters

Infrared light (760 nm–1 mm) constitutes approximately 40% of the solar radiation reaching the ground at sea level. Shortest wavelength near-infrared (NIR) photons (NIR or IR-A: 760–1,400 nm) can penetrate the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue with numerous biological effects. NIR used to have a bad reputation on the basis of past studies using high-intensity artificial light sources (above the solar IR-A irradiance threshold) at high doses leading to detrimental effects (i.e., upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1). However, when looking at the other side of the coin and what we can learn from the sun, NIR intensity matters. Hence, mimicking sunlight NIR intensity (30–35 mW/cm²) will rather trigger beneficial cutaneous effects. It is likely that intensity is more important than the fluence (dose) delivered. Moreover, the law of reciprocity (i.e., the biological effect is directly proportional to the total dose irrespective of intensity) does not always apply when considering tissue response in photobiology. In fact, the biphasic dose curve (Arndt-Schulz curve) of photobiomodulation establishes that if irradiance is lower than the physiological threshold value for a given target, it does not produce beneficial effects, even when ­irradiation duration is extended. Also, photo-inhibitory deleterious effects may occur at higher irradiances. Remarkably, the beneficial "sweet spot" in between corresponds to the irradiance of the sun. NIR might even precondition the skin from an evolutionary standpoint as exposure to early morning NIR wavelengths in sunlight may prepare the skin for upcoming mid-day harmful UVR. Consequently, NIR light appears to be the solution, not the problem.