Phototherapy light is a form of treatment that uses light to treat certain conditions. It has been used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and sleep problems, but also helps people with depression. People use it because it’s safer than many other forms of alternative medicine and doesn’t have any serious side effects.
Phototherapy Light AKA Phototherapy
Light therapy is also called phototherapy. It’s a type of treatment that uses light to treat a medical condition. It’s used to treat seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which is depression brought on by the change in seasons.
In addition to SAD, light therapy can be used to treat other conditions, including:
- Non-Seasonal Depression: Studies have suggested that light therapy may be effective in treating non-seasonal depression as well.
- Sleep Disorders: It can help regulate your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm), improving sleep patterns in individuals with insomnia or other sleep disorders.
- Jet Lag: Exposure to light therapy can help reset your biological clock and minimize the effects of jet lag.
- Dementia: Some studies have shown light therapy can improve sleep, and reduce agitation and depressive symptoms in people with dementia.
- Skin Conditions: Certain skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, and vitiligo, may be treated with specific types of light therapy.
- Bipolar Disorder: Light therapy may help manage depressive episodes in people with bipolar disorder.
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Some research suggests that light therapy can help relieve symptoms of PMDD.
- Postpartum Depression: Light therapy could be beneficial for women suffering from postpartum depression.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Some studies suggest that light therapy might help to reduce symptoms of ADHD.
Phototherapy Light is Similar to Daylight
A phototherapy light works on the same principle as daylight. It helps you produce more serotonin and melatonin, hormones that can lift your mood. In addition to these mental benefits, light therapy also helps to improve your sleep cycle and reduce symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
The type of light you use in your home has an effect on its effectiveness. Studies show that natural sunlight is more effective than artificial lights when treating SAD because it contains all wavelengths of visible light—including blue and red—which are known to help regulate circadian rhythm.
Bright light therapy has been used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, and general depression.
Light therapy has been used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, and general depression. It has also been shown to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Bright Light for Seasonal Affective Disorder
A phototherapy light is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and can also be helpful for nonseasonal depression.
For SAD, 2 to 3 hours of bright light exposure per day is recommended; the length of each session may vary depending on how long it takes your eyes to adjust to the brightness of the room you are in after leaving them closed for 15 minutes or more while lying down or sitting up (or both).
If you want to get started using bright light therapy at home without buying any expensive equipment from a doctor’s office or clinic that provides this type of treatment, try buying one or more LED bulbs specifically intended for use as mood lighting.
These are often labeled “mood lights” by manufacturers and some retailers include them as part of their standard product lineup alongside other types like incandescent bulbs or CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps).
How Long to Use Light Therapy
Brain chemicals are activated by light therapy, including serotonin and melatonin.
Light therapy is a way to use light exposure as part of your daily routine to help treat certain disorders. It’s been shown to help with sleep problems, depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Light therapy involves sitting in front of a special kind of lamp that provides bright white light. The light is directed at your eyes without burning them. A typical session lasts 30 minutes per day and can be used on its own, or along with other treatments such as antidepressants or talk therapy.
Light therapy is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and sleep problems. Light therapy can also be used to treat depression, although other treatments are generally more effective for this condition.
In fact, some studies suggest that light therapy alone may only have limited effects on depression and isn’t a substitute for antidepressant medications or counseling.
Light therapy has been shown to help with SAD by mimicking the effect of natural sunlight on your mood by increasing your exposure to bright light during the day.
It doesn’t cure SAD but does help alleviate symptoms like fatigue, irritability, apathy, and loss of interest in normal activities for people who are affected by it
Light Therapy is Safe and Effective
Light therapy may be used for a short time each day or for longer periods. Some people use light therapy for 20 minutes per day, while others use it as part of their daily routine.
Light therapy is usually safe and effective when used properly. Most people don’t have any side effects from light therapy unless they are being treated with certain drugs that make them sensitive to light or if they have a rare condition called porphyria, which causes sensitivity to sunlight and other light sources.
Where to Use Light Therapy
Light therapy is available in many different forms, including:
- At home. You can buy a light box at your local pharmacy or online and do light therapy on your own. For example, the Philips goLITE BLU has a GE-branded version called the Energy Light Box. Both are designed to be used as part of a morning routine that also includes other steps like exercise and eating breakfast.
- Doctor’s office. At the doctor’s office or clinic (also called “office-based phototherapy”) where you’ll typically see a dermatologist who specializes in skin problems like wrinkles, discolorations and acne caused by sun damage—all of which are improved by bright light exposure!
- Hospital: In hospitals where patients undergoing cancer treatment may receive intravenous vitamin B12 injections followed by exposure to UV light from fluorescent lamps mounted over beds so it reaches all parts of their bodies without having them move around much!
- Laboratories: In labs where scientists study circadian rhythms using specially designed “laboratory” animals like mice whose sleep/wake cycles have been measured over hundreds if not thousands of days before being euthanized so body tissues can be analyzed for signs of depression…
No Serious Effects With Phototherapy Light
Light therapy is a safe and effective treatment for sleep problems and depression. There are no serious side effects associated with light therapy, and most people tolerate it well.
If you are considering light therapy for your sleep problem or depression, talk with your doctor about how this treatment might work for you.
Light Therapy For Sleep and Depression
Light therapy involves exposure to bright light. This can be done in two ways:
- Sun lamp: The first is by sitting near a special type of lamp called a phototherapy light. You will sit near the lamp for about 20 minutes every morning for at least two weeks.
- Goggles: The second is through light therapy glasses or goggles that you wear while going about your normal activities outside. This type of light therapy is not as effective as using the phototherapy light, but it’s easier to do because you don’t need to sit still while doing it.
- NOTE: Light therapy can help people with depression and sleep problems, but it’s not a cure for either one—it’s usually just used in conjunction with other treatment options like medication and therapy
Using Light Therapy to Improve Your Quality of Life
Light therapy is a safe and effective treatment for people with SAD, sleep disorders, and depression. It can help bring your mood up and give you a boost in energy during the winter months or when you’re feeling down. You should always consult your doctor before starting any new treatment plan to ensure that it’s right for your specific needs.