How many times a day should you do light therapy?

Treatment sessions can last from 15 minutes to three hours, once or twice a day, depending on individual needs and equipment used. The average length of a session for a system delivering 10,000 lux illumination is, for example, much shorter than for 2,500 lux (30 minutes vs. two hours).

How often should you do light therapy?

To see significant benefits, you typically need to have a series of in-office treatments. 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.

How many times a day can you use light therapy?

A 15-minute red light therapy session twice a day can help alleviate joint pain and arthritis. Depending on the level of your pain, you may continue with twice daily sessions to treat severe chronic pain or undergo shorter, less frequent sessions for minor pain.

Can you overdo light therapy?

Red light therapy is generally considered safe, even though researchers aren't exactly sure how and why it works. And there are no set rules on how much light to use. Too much light may damage skin tissue, but too little might not work as well.

How much light therapy per day?

The dose of light that has proved to be the most beneficial is 5000 lux hours per day, which could take the form of, for example, 10 000 lux for one half-hour each morning. Most studies indicate that early morning treatment (before 8 am) is optimal.

How to Use Light Therapy

What time of day is best for light therapy?

Start light therapy in the early morning, as soon as possible after awakening (between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.). Response usually starts in a few days, and by two weeks the symptoms should be definitely improving. Most people need to continue light therapy throughout the winter until the springtime.

How long does it take to see light therapy results?

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.

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?

When should you not use light therapy?

The major contraindications for the use of light therapy are diseases that involve the retina of the eye, such as diabetes, and the use of photosensitizing medications like lithium, melatonin, phenothiazine antipsychotics, and certain antibiotics.

Should you do light therapy in the morning or night?

Light therapy tends to be most effective when practiced daily in the morning, as many people experiencing circadian- or depression-related sleep issues are what researchers called “phase-delayed”.

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.

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.

Do your eyes have to be open for light therapy?

Light treatment usually consists of exposure to a light source from a 10,000-lux box for 10 to 15 minutes per day at first, gradually increasing to 45 minutes 1–2 times per day. Your eyes should remain open throughout the treatment session.

Is it OK to do light therapy at night?

Specialists often recommend using dim lights in the evening in conjunction with bright light exposure in the morning during the advancement of the sleep schedule. For maintenance, some patients continue the treatment indefinitely, while some reduce their daily treatment to 15 minutes.

How long does it take for light therapy to work for SAD?

This means it may help relieve your symptoms when they occur, but you might still be affected by SAD next winter. When light therapy has been found to help, most people noticed an improvement in their symptoms within a week or so.

Is there any downside to red light therapy?

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.

Does red light therapy help sagging skin?

Red light therapy also boosts the production of collagen and fibroblasts. These two superheroes are what makes you achieve the youthful appearance over time. Collagen (together with elastin) gives your skin the elasticity, firmness, and fullness that somehow disappears when people age.

How close do you sit to red light therapy?

For the most effective red light therapy sessions, follow these treatment guidelines: Position Yourself 6 Inches from Your Joovv: You can sit or stand, but clinical research and user experiences have demonstrated that 6-12 inches is the ideal distance during a treatment.

How can I tell if red light therapy is working?

Red light therapy has an immediate effect on the body, so you can expect to enjoy some of the benefits of PBMT right away. You might have less pain and swelling in an injured area, for example. You might also notice improvements in your mood after PBMT—you will probably sleep better too!

When is the best time to do red light therapy?

The most optimal time for a light therapy session is morning or evening around the time of sunrise or sunset. This mimics the time of day when we receive the most red and near-infrared light from the natural sun.

How do you get the best results from red light therapy?

An easy way to think about it is, the closer you are, the lower the treatment time, the farther you are, the higher the treatment time. One more key variable in getting the most effective dose for your red light therapy treatment is time. Ideally, you want your treatment times to be anywhere from 2-15 minutes.

Do you moisturise before light therapy?

Don't put on lotion or moisturizer for 24 hours before each treatment. For each treatment, you will need: Protective goggles. You will get these from the company that supplies your phototherapy machine.

Should I do red light therapy before or after shower?

It is best to shower right before to remove all traces of moisturizers. By removing that extra layer of lotion on the surface of the skin, the light can penetrate more evenly and efficiently. If you don't have time to shower, be sure to wash your face, chest and hands right before doing the red light therapy.

Where is the best place to put a light therapy lamp?

Place your light therapy lamp near you but not directly in front of you. The light should be in your field of vision but you should not look directly at it. For best results, position your light therapy lamp from 6 to 24 inches from your face at a 30 to 45 degree angle from your eyeline.