How long is too long for light therapy?

Depending on the individual, treatment might last 20 minutes up to three hours, and a person might have light therapy once or more per day for consecutive days until symptoms improve. Your doctor can provide guidance on how long you should use light therapy.

Can you have too much light therapy?

It is possible to get too much light, which can produce discomfort including feeling “wired,” such as after consuming too much caffeine. Working with an experienced clinician, and starting with general guidelines, many SAD patients arrive at a “dose” that works well for them.

When should I stop light therapy?

Treatment is typically continued through the fall and winter period and discontinued at the time of natural remission in the spring and summer. Light therapy should not be used in patients taking photosensitizing medications or with significant retinal pathology.

What happens if you overuse light therapy?

Even though this type of treatment is generally very safe, negative effects may occur. As a consequence of light therapy, patients can complain of irritability, headaches, eye strain, sleep disturbances, and insomnia.

How long should you use light therapy daily?

You may need a treatment each week for about a month. Then you might need maintenance treatments every month or every few months. Some at-home devices may also require a substantial time commitment. You might need to use your device twice a day for 30 to 60 minutes for four to five weeks.

How to Use Light Therapy

How long should I use my light therapy at home?

Some people with SAD find that light therapy can help improve their mood considerably. This involves sitting by a special lamp called a light box, usually for around 30 minutes to an hour each morning.

Can you do LED light therapy every day?

The answer is yes. As long as you are following the manufacturers instructions, you can use red light therapy everyday. If you have chronic pain, it's recommended to start a daily routine with using red light therapy.

What are the risks of light therapy?

Can light therapy damage your skin?

Is red light therapy safe? Red light therapy appears to be safe and is not associated with any side effects, at least if used short-term and as directed. This therapy is not toxic, not invasive and not as harsh as some topical skin treatments.

How long is too long for red light therapy?

Very Important Warning

The maximum amount of time you should expose your body to this concentrated red light is 15-20 minutes a day. MORE IS NOT BETTER!

What is the success rate of light therapy?

Light therapy has been around since the 1980s and several studies have shown that it's effective in treating SAD. “As a treatment for a psychiatric problem, light therapy has a remarkably high success rate of 60–80%,” says Brainard.

How long should you use bright light therapy?

Longer properly timed light exposure is better, with recommended exposure duration of 30-90 minutes. The ideal timing of the light exposure depends on the best approximation available of the persons circadian clock.

What does light therapy do to the brain?

Research on red light therapy and brain health shows that natural light improves reaction time, attention, memory, and executive function. Some of the benefits that show the most potential are as follows: Improved cognitive function. Improved recovery from stroke.

Can you do light therapy on your face everyday?

It is non-invasive and is safe for daily use. Studies have found that visible red light can boost the skin's ability to heal itself by up to 200%. The skin absorbs the red light which can power up the skin cells to heal itself.

How many times a week should I do light therapy?

Some people require frequent sessions, while others can get by with a treatment now and then. Most get good results with a 15-minute session, 3-5 times each week for several months.

Can you get too much red light therapy?

Studies have shown that spending too much time with red light therapy begins to cancel out some of its benefits. While red light therapy is proven to be safe and effective, too much of anything can be overwhelming for your body (your cells can only absorb so much light at once).

How often should you do LED light therapy?

A course of 6-8 treatments are recommended for LED light therapy to improve your cellular function and be effective long term. A one off treatment will give you an instant glow and supercharge your skin treatment however results are accumulative and need to be performed once or ideally twice a week for optimal results.

How do I get the best results of LED light therapy?

Contrary to other skincare treatments, light therapy responds well to daily, multiple uses, and using it more than once a day will provide faster results. For each treatment area, you should use your device for the length of time that the instructions recommend, which varies based on device.

Should you wear goggles in red light therapy?

Eye protection isn't necessary, but it can make your experience more comfortable. Exposure to red light does not hurt the eyes. We don't recommend looking directly at the light, but we recommend wearing protective eyewear or closing your eyes during the session. How long does red light therapy take?

How long does it take to see results from LED light?

Every individual may respond differently to specific treatments and results will also depend on the goal you want to achieve. However, with daily use, you should be able to see improvements in 4 to 6 weeks.

Can I use light therapy all year?

Year-round treatment with medication for SAD may be recommended in some cases. But research has shown that for many people with a history of SAD, treatment with a light box beginning in early fall can be useful in preventing SAD. Medication starting at that time may be helpful, too.

How long does it take for light therapy to decrease SAD symptoms?

Light therapy

It generally starts working in a few days to a few weeks and causes very few side effects. Research on light therapy is limited, but it appears to be effective for most people in relieving SAD symptoms.

Can Lighttherapy increase anxiety?

Can Light Therapy Cause Anxiety? Bright light therapy does not cause anxiety. However, the use of bright light may cause an individual to feel irritated. This sense of irritability can come from sessions that are too intense or too long.

Does light therapy affect eyes?

Several studies show that red light therapy increases ATP production in eyes. Reduced inflammation and increased ATP energy production is an impactful combination for eye health and vision, warding off the gradual fading of cells and function that leads to vision loss as you get older.