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Articles are extensively reviewed by our team of clinical experts to ensure content is accurate and on par with current industry standards. Other benefits of light therapy are that it’s extremely accessible and convenient. It’s also noninvasive, non-pharmacological, and quite affordable. You can use a light therapy box while eating breakfast, reading a magazine, or even soaking in the bathtub. Exposure to bright light stimulates collagen production in the skin, which combats premature aging symptoms like wrinkles and fine lines. Stimulating collagen production in the scalp can also make your hair more lustrous.
You might see results after four weeks, with maximum results at 12 weeks. The LED devices used in salons or clinics come as an independent unit. Studiesshow that combining red and blue light reduces pimples after 4-12 weeks of therapy. According to research, there’s a 1000-plus year history of the use of light to treat conditions like lethargy and melancholia. Further, natural light has been an important consideration when building hospitals for centuries.
Carex Sunlite Bright Light Therapy Lamp
Being mindful of depression is key to successful symptom management. Some research suggests that light therapy can improve emotion regulation. Red light therapy is a simple, non-invasive treatment that delivers concentrated natural light to your skin and cells. Red light therapy has been clinically-proven to help significantly reduce the effects of seasonal affective disorder with just two 10-minute sessions each week over the course of 8 weeks. Light therapy offers modest though promising antidepressant efficacy.
Red light therapy has also been found to work wonders for the treatment of sleep disorders. In another study with 24 patients with SAD, daily morning blue light therapy for three weeks was more effective than red light for improving symptoms of depression . According to 2017 research, bright light therapy is effective for treating SAD and is seen as a first-line treatment.
More Mental Health
As for what treatment would look like, there have been some significant studies on this issue. According to studies cited by Theodore Henderson, MD, Ph.D. , a group of subjects who reported having mental/emotional issues like depression was given 20 red light treatments. All subjects reported significant improvement in their mental health issues.
All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. It’s important to consider all your options when fighting depression. Light therapy may have several side effects, but most of these are mild and can be prevented.
Pros and cons of blue light therapy
Someone who is experiencing seasonal depression may benefit from a doctors recommendation to get more of the suns rays. After exposure to the sun, the body is able to produce the vitamins D and E. During the fall and winter months when there isnt a lot of sunlight, its a good idea to supplement your diet with vitamins D and calcium. Some people experience insomnia due to an underlying circadian rhythm sleep disorder. These sleep disorders can develop naturally, as in the case of extreme night owls, or they can be brought on by working an overnight schedule.
Light therapy is the first-line treatment for improving symptoms of depression related to seasonal patterns. “Natural sunlight ranks best when it comes to emotional well-being. Professor George Brainard, Ph.D. of Jefferson Medical College and a team of researchers sought out to learn more about light therapy for depression. Light therapy, which mimics outdoor light, can help with seasonal affective disorder , a common form of depression.
There are no adverse side effects connected to the use of blue light therapy when it is used either short or long term. In study after study, no adverse side effects have been reported. Always consult your doctor before beginning blue light therapy. While it’s effective and safe for those with depression, it might not be the best choice for those who are bipolar.
However, other forms of depression may also benefit from it. If you wish to reapanti-agingbenefits, the two sessions of red light therapy for 20 minutes twice a week are apt for 12 weeks. If you want to purchase the light therapy equipment and be given light therapy at home, you are not required to obtain a prescription from a medical professional. However, due to its possible side effects, it’s still highly recommended that you consult with a professional first.
Fortunately, there is a very interesting treatment technology out there called red light therapy. One study showed bright light therapy to be effective and well-tolerated in adults with nonseasonal major depressive disorder. The most dramatic results occurred with the use of light therapy alone or in conjunction with the medication fluoxetine.
It’s fascinating to know that the photoreceptors in your eyes are connected to the regions of the brain that help control mood. When the brain is adequately stimulated by blue light , it is better able to maintain normal activity in terms of sleep, hormones, and several other brain-body processes. Blue light therapy on its own, without the photosensitivity drugs added, is safe and has very few risks. The biggest risk is for a potential skin infection if any post-treatment blisters occur and are popped or not cared for. Immediately following treatment, the area may be red, swollen, tender, and mildly bruised or blistered, especially when medication has been applied to the skin.
If you’re interested in using a light box, there are plenty of affordable options available. But Dr. Borland says to do your homework and look for one that gives an output of 2,500 to 10,000 lux . In addition to helping those with SAD and depression, blue light may help with sun damage and acne. Reduced sunlight can also cause your serotonin levels to drop and melatonin levels to become unbalanced, which can play a role in your sleep patterns and mood.
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