An infra-red lamp should never be used in the treatment of what type of skin?

The correct answer is couperose skin, which is characterized by a tendency to show visible capillaries and redness due to its delicate vascular system. When treating couperose skin, the use of an infrared lamp is contraindicated because the heat emitted can cause further dilation of blood vessels, exacerbating the redness and irritation associated with this skin type.

Infrared lamps produce heat, which usually promotes circulation and can be beneficial for various skin conditions; however, in the case of couperose skin, this added heat could lead to increased sensitivity and discomfort. Therefore, safer alternatives should be used for such delicate skin types, ensuring that the treatment does not aggravate the existing condition.

Normal, dry, and oily skin types do not carry the same risk of exacerbating redness or irritation when heated, which is why infrared treatments may be more appropriate for them, making them unsuitable comparisons to couperose skin.