What time of day is best for light therapy?

Typical recommendations include using the light box:
  • Within the first hour of waking up in the morning.
  • For about 20 to 30 minutes.
  • About 16 to 24 inches (41 to 61 centimeters) from your face, but follow the manufacturer's instructions about distance.
  • With eyes open, but not looking directly at the light.
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Is it better to do light therapy in the morning or at night?

Most studies indicate that early morning treatment (before 8 am) is optimal. It is now well established that the therapeutic effect of light is mediated through the eye, although patients should not stare at the units directly.
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Can I use light therapy in the evening?

Bright light administered in the evening has been shown to delay the cir- cadian rhythm. Therefore, using a regime of evening bright light therapy, indi- viduals experiencing early morning awakening insomnia may be able to delay their sleep/wake cycle resulting in a later wake up time.
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Is it okay to do light therapy in the afternoon?

Light therapy is generally most effective when done early in the morning after waking up. It can also be helpful to use your light again in the late afternoon, especially if you get sleepy between 6-8 PM.
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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.
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Best Time Of The Day To Do Red Light Therapy



What should I do before light therapy?

Guide to Preparing Your Skin for Red Light Therapy

Treat your skin nicely—avoid irritating your skin with aggressive exfoliant products or sun exposure. Clean your skin with a gentle, non-drying cleanser before treatment to remove any mineral-based sunscreen or makeup containing zinc.
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How many times a day should you do light therapy?

Many patients wonder how often they should use a red light therapy bed. The answer is – it depends. 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.
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Can you use light therapy twice a day?

Treatment sessions can last from 15 minutes to three hours, once or twice a day, depending on individual needs and equipment used.
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Do you moisturise before light therapy?

There are no scientific studies showing that applying lotion before or after red light therapy is beneficial or recommended. If the question is lotion or no lotion, the short answer is no—it's simply not necessary.
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How many times a week should I do light therapy?

Everyone reacts differently, depending on their age and the condition of their skin. In general, best results are achieved over an 8 – 12 week period. It is recommended to start with a commitment of 15 minutes, which is the maximum time in our Red Light Therapy bed, at least 3-5 times per week for the first 1-4 weeks.
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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.
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Do you wash your face before light therapy?

The first step in any effective skincare routine is to cleanse your face. Your face must be clean of sweat, makeup, and topical products for the LED light to properly penetrate and treat skin.
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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.
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What time of day is best for 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.
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How long does light therapy last?

BroadBand Light therapy (BBL) is a treatment that uses advanced light energy to target specific issues, like sun damage and discoloration. BBL results last 3 – 4 months at a time, but the longevity of your treatment may depend on several factors.
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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.
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How many sessions of light therapy does it take to see results?

You'll likely need ongoing treatments. This is not a one-time treatment for most skin conditions. You'll need to be seen one to three times a week for weeks or even months.
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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.
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What are the risks of light therapy?

More commonly reported side effects include:
  • Burning or stinging at the site of the photodynamic therapy treatment. This can be severe and may last 24-48 hours after your treatment.
  • Redness and swelling of the treated area which may last up to 1 week.
  • Scaling or crusting of the treated area which may last up to 4 weeks.
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What do you do after light therapy?

In terms of the order of using products following a PBMT session, the lighter anti-aging or healing serums and light eye creams go first. Next, apply your moisturizing cream or ointment. A face roller is an effective tool for helping these products penetrate more deeply.
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Can I use light therapy during the day?

If the symptoms are not improving after 10-14 days, try spending up to 60 minutes per day in front of lights each morning, or divided between the morning and evening. Do not use the light box too near bedtime, as the light exposure can disturb sleep. If this still does not help, contact your doctor.
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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.
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How many sessions of light therapy are there?

The length of treatment will depend on the type of phototherapy: Broad band therapy requires approximately 3-5 treatments each week. Narrow band therapy requires 2-3 treatments each week. PUVA treatments generally require about 25 treatments over a 2-3 month period.
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