- Place the sun lamp on a table or desk 16 to 24 inches away from your face.
- Position the sun lamp 30 degrees overhead.
- Do not look directly at the light.
- Sit in front of the sun lamp for 20 to 30 minutes or the time recommended by the manufacturer or a doctor.
How long should you use a sun lamp?
How long should I use a light therapy lamp per day?
How far should you sit from a sun lamp?
What time of day should I use light therapy?
How long should you sit in front of a light therapy lamp?
Can you overdo light therapy?
Do sun lamps give you vitamin D?
Do sunlight lamps work for plants?
What are the side effects of light therapy?
Can I do light therapy in the evening?
Can I use light therapy twice a day?
Can SAD lamps damage your skin or eyes?
A 2017 review recommends that people who take medications that increase their sensitivity to sunlight or who have medical conditions that have the...
Do SAD lamps increase your vitamin D levels?
According to a 2017 study, lamps that produce UVB light may help a person's body produce vitamin D. However, future research is necessary to confir...
How long does it take for light therapy lamps to start working?
The exact amount of time it takes to see a reduction in SAD symptoms may vary, but research shows that most people begin to experience symptom reli...
Can sun lamps be used for vitamin D?
Cain.”Try to use the lamp daily while you eat breakfast or have coffee.”. Even though it’s a light-based therapy, sun lamps don’t impact vitamin D production.
How does the sun affect your mood?
Sun lamps positively impact your body’s regulation of melatonin, a hormone that helps control your sleep-wake cycle, as well as serotonin, which helps regulate your mood by relaying signals in your brain . One study reports that bright-light therapy is now considered to be the first line of treatment for SAD.
What is sunrise alarm clock?
Sunrise alarm clocks are similar to sun lamps. “These devices are basically alarm clocks that you set to mimic the sunrise,” says Dr. Cain. “They don’t emit UV rays and have equal efficacy to sun lamps. For maximum benefit, set the clock to resemble a sunrise in June or July.”.
How long does it take to see improvement in mood?
Never look directly into the light. It’s common to see improvement in your mood within two to four days if you use a 10,000 lux bulb for about 30 minutes every morning. “Light therapy via sun lamps is most effective in the mornings,” says Dr. Cain.”Try to use the lamp daily while you eat breakfast or have coffee.”.
Does light therapy work?
Light therapy will not work for everyone. People with light sensitivities, bipolar disorder, diabetes, or eye problems should avoid using it. Anyone who is thinking about using a sun lamp, especially those who suspect that they have a vitamin D deficiency, should speak to a doctor first.
Why do we need sunlight?
People need exposure to sunlight for many reasons. It affects the body’s natural daily cycles, or circadian rhythms. These govern how people feel, when they go to sleep, and when they wake up. Sunlight helps the brain make the hormones that the body needs to function.
Can vitamin D deficiency cause rickets?
However, individuals who do not get enough exposure to sunlight or have a health condition that stops their body from absorbing the vitamins in their food might develop a vitamin D deficiency. In children, this can lead to rickets. Adults can develop muscle weakness and pain in the bones.
How does sunlight help the body?
Sunlight helps the brain make the hormones that the body needs to function. Examples are serotonin, which plays a role in mood, and melatonin, which helps with sleep patterns. The skin also uses sunlight to make vitamin D. Sun lamps or light boxes work by imitating sunlight.
How do light boxes work?
Sun lamps or light boxes work by imitating sunlight. Doctors might recommend, for example, that people with SAD sit by a light box that provides 10,000 lux for 30 minutes a day as soon as possible after waking up.
Can UV light cause cancer?
UV light can damage the skin and lead to skin cancer. However, for people using a sun lamp to help their skin make vitamin D, UVB light is essential. Anyone considering using a sun lamp should speak to their doctor first.
How many lux does an aura day light have?
People can choose to set it anywhere from 3,500 to 10,000 lux, depending on their preference. A person can mount the lamp on a wall, and it automatically shuts off after use. The manufacturers designed it to boost mood and increase concentration, focus, and energy. Purchase the Aura Day Light Lamp here.
How far away should you be from a light therapy lamp?
If your lamp produces 10,000 LUX, you should consult your manufacturer’s guidelines for optimal distance from the lamp. This distance is usually between 16 to 24 inches from the screen. If this is too close to your face for comfort, you can sit further away with longer sessions. Each lamp will vary based on its specifications (you can see specs for our lights here).
How does light therapy work?
Light therapy is an effective and low impact means of treating SAD. Light therapy works by replacing missing natural sunshine with artificial light. In terms of how our brain functions and processes this treatment, artificial light works just like natural sunlight.
What is bright light therapy?
Bright light therapy is eye exposure to an artificial light source that emits strong light, mimicking sunlight. This aids our bodies in the production of melatonin and serotonin when we have limited sunlight exposure, such as in the fall and winter.
Is bright light therapy good for mood?
Many studies conducted since the 1990s have found bright light therapy to be an effective treatment for circadian rhythm disorders and mood disorders. Research conducted in 2005 found bright light therapy lamps can be used to help treat a wide range of issues and disorders.
Can light therapy help with dementia?
A common symptom and result of dementia is sleep disturbances. And because of light therapy's effectiveness in treating sleep disorders, its thought it can help those with dementia as well.
How does light therapy help jet lag?
One study found light therapy to be an effective method to prevent jet lag. The study found bright light therapy to be effective in creating a advance or delay in circadian rhythms, known as a "phase shift.".
What happens when you are exposed to light?
When you are exposed to light, body is signaled to release the hormone cortisol, which is necessary for fighting stress. It also alerts the brain, thereby determining your mood. This is how your body reacts during the early stages of stress.
How does bright light therapy work?
Over the course of research studies, involving thousands of people, three key facts emerged on bright light therapy : 1 For many people suffering the Winter Blues, symptoms can be reversed within days of appropriately implemented bright light therapy treatment – a positive result when compared to other options. 2 People with milder winter doldrums – who can cope, but still suffer – respond just as well to bright light therapy as those with the more severe Winter Blues. 3 People feeling down in the dumps at other times of year or even with continuous, chronic mood changes, may also respond favorably to bright light therapy.
Why is bright light important?
Recent studies have found that the proper use of bright light at the correct time of the day can help frequent travelers adjust their body’s sleeping patternS before and after travel.
How many people are affected by the winter blues?
Experts estimate that there may be over 44 million North Americans suffer from this milder “Winter Blues”.
How many lux does a fluorescent lamp have?
Specs. The lamp should generate 10,000 lux of cool-white fluorescent light. An output of 10,000 lux is approximately 20 times greater than the light output generated by most indoor lighting. Lamps with less lux may need to be used more often than brighter ones.
How many lux does a lamp produce?
The lamp should generate 10,000 lux of cool-white fluorescent light. An output of 10,000 lux is approximately 20 times greater than the light output generated by most indoor lighting. Lamps with less lux may need to be used more often than brighter ones.
How big is a lamp?
Size. Look for a lamp with a light surface area of around 12 by 15 inches. The larger the surface area, the higher the lux. Larger lamps also provide you with the option of moving around more — you can be farther away from the lamp without compromising its effectiveness.
How to sleep better?
going to bed early and waking up at or near dawn. going outside for extended periods of time, especially first thing in the morning. avoiding substances that can adversely affect your ability to sleep, such as alcohol. eating whole, nutrient-rich foods.
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, previously known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a condition caused by lowered exposure to sunlight or a change of seasons. Women and young adults are most affected by this condition.
What Is Light Therapy?
Bright light stimulates the cells in the retina that connect to the hypothalamus (part of the brain that helps control the body’s daily rhythms). 1
How Are Light Therapy Lamps Used to Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder?
SAD is a type of recurring major depression with a seasonal pattern. Some symptoms of SAD may include: 4
How to Choose a Light Therapy Lamp
Adjustable settings: Adjustable dimming and brightness settings allow for variety and versatility.
Frequently Asked Questions
The specified distance may vary depending on the device, but the typical distance is 12 to 24 inches. 5
A Word From Verywell
Light therapy is a recommended first-line treatment for SAD, with a documented history of helping improve symptoms.
Why don't you use a normal lamp?
Don't use a normal lamp because you are trying to mimic the full spectrum of light found in sunlight. Use light boxes made for Bright Light Therapy or "phototherapy.". This means the light box should emit 10,000 lux, which is 20 times the strength of typical indoor lighting.
How long does bright light therapy last?
One study found that six weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy twice a week was just as effective as daily bright light therapy for 30 minutes every morning .
What medications can cause a sunburn?
Photosensitive medications make your skin sensitive to light, leading to skin changes that can look like a sunburn or rash. Photosensitive medications include lithium, melatonin, certain antibiotics, and some acne medications like isotretinoin ( Accutane ).
What is the best treatment for seasonal depression?
People with SAD may also have issues with overproducing melatonin during winter, a hormone released in response to darkness that causes sleepiness. Bright Light Therapy, or "phototherapy," is an effective form of treatment for seasonal depression, as well as antidepressants, vitamin D, and psychotherapy. When I recommend light therapy ...
Can you use 10,000 Lux light therapy?
You should be able to satisfy your need for light by spending more time outdoors during the fall and winter days, as long as you can be outdoors regularly and for extended periods of time if conditions are cloudy. Most people find that difficult to do if they work indoors and have to keep an office schedule. The use of a 10,000 LUX bright light therapy system is therefore the most convenient way to get the light you need.
How does light therapy work?
Two main hypotheses are postulated: 1 Bright light therapy systems work because they reset the daily body clock (i.e., circadian rhythms) which tends to get out of balance during the winter; 2 Bright light therapy systems work because they help increase the level of the serotonin (a neurotransmitter that positively affects moods) which would otherwise decrease in the fall and winter.
What is bright light therapy?
Bright light therapy involves daily, scheduled exposure to intense doses of white light in order to regulate seasonal mood swings, improve sleeping patterns, and produce a general sense of well-being. According to medical researchers, bright light therapy systems with fluorescent light tubes are the preferred products for bright light therapy, ...
How long does it take for a person to respond to light therapy?
Response to bright light therapy is usually very quick, and most people will notice a marked improvement within one week. Most people similarly experience a rapid recurrence of symptoms if they stop using their bright light therapy system.
Is it safe to use bright light therapy?
Using a properly constructed bright light therapy system as recommended is considered very safe, and few people have to desist use because of side effects. A few temporary side effects, such as slight nausea, tend to pass quickly as you get used to the high intensity of light.
Can bright light therapy help with mood?
However, a bright light therapy system may help uplift your mood.
Does insurance cover bright light therapy?
Many private insurance companies recognize the benefits of bright light therapy, its cost advantages and will cover the purchase of a bright light therapy system with a prescription from your doctor. You should contact your insurance company before making the purchase to discuss coverage and determine their specific documentation requirements.
Determine Your Best Time of Day for SAD Light Treatment
Go online to the not-for-profit Center for Environmental Therapeutics (see link in the resources section.) Enter the site for consumers and patients and click on the "self-assessment" tab.
Set up Your SAD Light and Begin Treatment
Place the SAD light at a table with a comfortable chair and turn on the light. The treatment usually begins with 30 minutes of exposure to 10,000 lux in the morning.
Monitor for Side Effects and Improvement
Improvement should be seen within the first week of regular treatment. If no improvement occurs, consult a professional.
