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Also, wear eye protection, such as sunglasses or goggles, and carefully follow instructions to confirm youre using the device correctly. Many manufacturers of traditional light boxes sell full-spectrum light bulbs. You can also get them at lighting stores, home improvement stores, and art supply stores.
Guidelines for typical bright light therapy will usually suggest starting with 10,000 lux for 30 minutes every morning, but someone new to the method may require shorter initial treatments. The more powerful the light box, the shorter the treatment session may be. Per the previous 2016 study, blue light may only need about 5 days of morning exposure to be effective. However, this study only observed blue light’s effects on sub-syndromal SAD. This is a condition that has symptoms of SAD but was not severe enough for a clinical diagnosis.
Could the Pandemic Make Your Seasonal Depression Worse?
Adjust the brightness according to your personal preference. You can see the peak output of the light is 417 nm, but there is also considerable non-peak light output that stretches into the UVA, and even a little UVB is present. Amazingly, however, the amount of light we receive is closely linked with mood regulation. People who are suffering from depression are often eager to find relief. While therapy and medication play important roles, you may also be looking for additional ways to help your symptoms. When photosynthesizing drugs are added, photodynamic therapy can be an effective alternative therapy for cancer that’s found beneath the skin, too.
And according to our tester, the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light is worth the hype. She felt more positive and alert most of the days she woke up to this alarm clock, rating it a 4.5 out of 5 for both mood-boosting effect and energy-boosting effect. Our tester also found the lamp gentler than a traditional alarm clock or phone alarm. It’s especially effective when treating major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns, formerly known as seasonal affective disorder . This condition is often partially caused by dreary winter weather, darker days, and spending more time indoors. In addition to treating skin conditions and cancer, blue light therapy can also be used as a treatment for depression.
How to Use Light Therapy for Depression
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Light therapy also has potential uses beyond MDD with seasonal patterns, but it’s always important to discuss starting any new therapy with your doctor. Some people may also experience euphoria or irritability, which is a sign to stop using the device and speak with a doctor.
And these features make it the most transport-friendly lamp we tested. Our Best Overall pick, the Verilux HappyLight Light Therapy Lamp, is compact, user-friendly, and effective. Our Best Budget pick, the Carex Light Therapy Lamp, has a no-frills design and wallet-friendly price point. Lily is a writer specializing in health, wellness, and fitness. She covers fitness and health products for Verywell Health, Verywell Mind, and Verywell Fit. A good brand will always produce quality products, so a product with an established name should be good enough for your needs.
Health Benefits of Blue Light Therapy + Side Effects
When blue light interacts with porphyrins, it produces free radicals that damage bacteria. In other cases, it can activate mechanisms that make bacteria more virulent . Acne is a common inflammatory skin condition where fat production increases as a result of an increase in hormone levels.
Before you start light therapy, it’s a good idea to talk with a doctor or mental health professional. Light therapy may interact with other treatments you’re currently taking, such as medications. During a session, you sit near a light box or lamp, which emits bright light.
Depression and Light Therapy: How Blue Light Can Help Boost Your Mood
Usually, these can be dealt with by adjusting the duration, intensity, or timing of the sessions. The therapy primarily treats major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns . In other words, blue light may help regulate emotional responses in the brain.
When the subjects were contacted 6 months later via phone, those who continued to use red light therapy at home confided that they were feeling mentally strong. Those who did not continue therapy saw a return of their mental health issues within 2 weeks of ceasing red light therapy. As a previous fitness coach, long-time wellness enthusiast, and current health editor, Lily Moe understands the importance of products that meet your individual requirements. After moving from sunny Arizona to Brooklyn, New York, Lily experienced seasonal affective disorder firsthand and recognized the value of light therapy lamps.
This usually occurs during the winter months when people tend to spend more time indoors, and cloudy skies and shorter days prevent them from getting much sunlight. Seasonal affective disorder typically resolves with the arrival of warmer weather. Treat a whole host of medical conditions, from canker sores to sleep disorders. Depression is one of the most common mental health issues afflicting people today. Many medical treatments exist to help people suffering from clinical depression, and more are being discovered all the time. However, some people wish to try a combination of therapies, and others want to avoid pharmaceuticals entirely.
Users place the light on zones requiring treatment for 30 minutes daily. The use of the device is reportedly very time-consuming and requires dedication. Exposure to blue light at night has a negative effect on our health, due to the disruption of the circadian rhythm. By affecting the circadian rhythm, blue light can have different effects on our metabolism .
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