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This suggests that light therapy may be an effective treatment for SAD. [34] Light therapy uses a lightbox , which emits far more lumens than a customary incandescent lamp. Bright white "full spectrum" light at 10,000 lux, blue light at a wavelength of 480 nm at 2,500 lux or green (actually cyan or blue-green [ 35 ] ) light at a wavelength of ...
Light therapy, also called phototherapy or bright light therapy is the exposure to direct sunlight or artificial light at controlled wavelengths in order to treat a variety of medical disorders, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD), circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, cancers, neonatal jaundice, and skin wound infections.
Light therapy has been shown in studies to have mixed results; in some studies, 20% to 50% of those diagnosed with SAD did not gain adequate relief from the use of light therapy. [22] Individuals may also explore alternative treatments if they are unable to commit to the time required and the recurrence of the treatment that is necessary. [23]
Photomedicine is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine that involves the study and application of light with respect to health and disease. [1] [2] Photomedicine may be related to the practice of various fields of medicine including dermatology, surgery, interventional radiology, optical diagnostics, cardiology, circadian rhythm sleep disorders and oncology.
Also known as photobiomodulation, red light therapy uses continuous beams of low-energy red light between 600 and 700 nanometers in wavelength, Dr. Huh says. The light doesn’t generate heat.
A meta-analysis of bright light therapy commissioned by the American Psychiatric Association found a significant reduction in depression symptom severity associated with bright light treatment. Benefit was found for both seasonal affective disorder and for nonseasonal depression, with effect sizes similar to those for conventional antidepressants.
Causes: Family history, previous diagnosis of a mood disorder, trauma, stress or major life changes in the case of depression, physical illness or use of certain medications. Depression has been linked to major diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and heart disease, Brain structure and function in the case of bipolar disorder. [1]
While blue light therapy has similar mechanisms for skin enhancement as red light therapy, its usage for photodynamic therapies in treating cancer are slightly different. Blue light therapy stimulates immune system defences, destroys blood vessels that help cancer cells grow, and causes cell death by reacting with oxygen. [ 16 ]