What are the side effects of bright light therapy?

The most common side effects of light therapy include headache, eye strain, and nausea. You may be tired during the first week because of changes in your sleep-wake patterns, but this will usually go away after about a week.

What are the risks of bright 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. Mild visual side effects are not unusual but remit promptly.

Can bright light therapy damage eyes?

Some light therapy lamps are designed for skin disorders — not for SAD . Lamps used for skin disorders mainly produce ultraviolet (UV) light and could damage your eyes if used incorrectly.

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.

Can you overuse 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.

What is Light Therapy? Does it Help?

Can light therapy make you sick?

The most common side effects of light therapy include headache, eye strain, and nausea. You may be tired during the first week because of changes in your sleep-wake patterns, but this will usually go away after about a week.

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.

What are the benefits of bright light therapy?

Summary. Sun lamp therapy involves exposure to bright light. It may improve the symptoms of SAD, depression, and circadian rhythm problems. UV lamps may offer additional benefits, such as increased vitamin D levels.

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”.

Should eyes be open or closed during light therapy?

You can read or eat while sitting under the lights, but your eyes must be open for the effect to occur. You cannot sleep during your light exposure! You should NOT stare directly at the lights.

How does bright light affect the brain?

Bright light exposure activates regions of the brain that promote alertness, and improves cognitive performance [3]. Light activates factors that are essential for memory formation [4], as well as factors that are important for the regulation of mood and overall brain health [1].

How does light therapy affect 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.

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.

Can bright light cause vision problems?

Exposure to high-intensity visible light (such as staring directly at the sun) damages the retina, causing a disease called solar retinopathy. This also occurs when people stare at an eclipse without specially designed glasses. Similarly, in laboratory mice, bright light, especially blue, causes retinal damage.

Can bright light cause depression?

Scientists think nighttime exposure to blue light throws off your circadian rhythm, or sleep/wake cycle. This could lead to symptoms of depression. That's because your circadian rhythm plays a role in several brain and behavioral processes, like neurotransmission and hormone secretion.

Does bright light increase blood pressure?

Bright Light Therapy Increases Blood Pressure and Changes the Structure of Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin Secretion in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats | SpringerLink.

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.

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

It usually takes a few days for symptoms to improve, but it could take a couple of weeks. Once your symptoms improve, you can stop or reduce light therapy.

Does light therapy work for anti aging?

Red light therapy (RLT) is an emerging treatment that's showing promise in treating wrinkles, redness, acne, scars and other signs of aging. Many researchers say more clinical trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness as a treatment.

Does bright light therapy work?

Many people use the time to read a newspaper, book, or magazine, or catch up on work. Although light therapy is at least as effective as antidepressant medications for treating seasonal affective disorder, it doesn't work or isn't appropriate for everyone. Some people need more light, or brighter light.

How long does light treatment last?

It is important to be treated by a skin specialist (dermatologist) who knows how to carry out light therapy. The treatment can last between four weeks and three months.

Do you need goggles for 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?

Can light therapy cause 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.

How many times a day can you use light therapy?

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.