Using specially designed phototherapy lamps, many people are experiencing relief from a host of medical ailments including the use of light therapy for depression. Ultraviolet radiation has been proven to provide many healthy benefits such as effective air purification. When used properly, UV light can treat many skin conditions and mood disorders.
Light therapy is used to treat acne, eczema, vitiligo, psoriasis, seasonal depression and is even being used to treat non-seasonal depression. Phototherapy should only be used under the care of a physician and is sometimes used in conjunction with other treatment methods such as antidepressants and counseling. Your physician will know which course of treatment is right for you and how to prescribe the right type of lamp with the most effective exposure.
Why You Might Consider Light Therapy for Depression
There are many reasons why you might want to try light therapy for depression, some of the most common reasons include:
- Pregnant or nursing women must avoid certain antidepressants
- Used in conjunction with antidepressants it may decrease the amount of prescription medication necessary
- Light therapy may increase the effectiveness of prescription antidepressants
- Phototherapy may elevate mood to improve the effectiveness of counseling
- Light therapy has very few side effects and is considered to be a very safe treatment
- Your doctor may recommend light therapy
Artificial light is proven to help treat seasonal mood disorders and non-seasonal depression as well. Light therapy emits the right amount of UV exposure to elevate mood much like natural sunlight. This helps people suffering from depression by triggering the brain to increase production of serotonin, a natural chemical in the brain that acts much like antidepressants. This increase in the level of serotonin is proven to help treat non-seasonal depression as well.
Light Therapy for Seasonal Depression
SAD usually affects people living in the Northern Hemisphere during the fall and winter months when exposure to sunlight and daylight hours is significantly reduced. You should speak with your doctor if you experience any symptoms of SAD which include:
- Losing interest in normal activities
- Food cravings especially foods high in carbs
- Withdrawing socially
- Gaining weight
- Fatigue
Light therapy is recognized by the American Psychological Association, as effective treatment for SAD, providing relief to approximately 50% of patients treated. This increases significantly to an improvement in about 80% of patients when the light therapy is customized to an individual’s sleep and wake cycle. The typical treatment includes about 30 minutes of exposure in the morning with a fluorescent white light. Most patients experience an improvement in one week of light therapy for seasonal depression.
Light Therapy for Nonseasonal Depression and Other Conditions
Light therapy is also used to treat nonseasonal depression and many other conditions such as:
- Depression not caused from changing seasons
- Dementia
- Jet Lag
- Adjusting to night work schedules
- Sleep Disorders
Light therapy is successful in treating many conditions including nonseasonal depression and various sleep disorders. People suffering from circadian rhythm disorders have difficulty with regulating regular wake and sleep patterns. This is common in people that work night shifts or people that experience jet lag. A person’s circadian rhythm is like the internal clock that tells the body to become more alert when daylight begins and more tired when daylight diminishes.
Light therapy is proven highly effective at treating a wide range of sleep disorders by helping to “re-set” the internal clock which promotes regular sleep patterns. Light therapy for sleep disorders should be conducted only under the care of a physician experienced in sleep disorders.
LightSources Offers Effective UV Lamps for Light Therapy for Depression
The LightSources Group is recognized as a leading global supplier of high quality, energy efficient and highly effective UV lamp solutions used in a wide range of applications. Our full spectrum UV lamps for depression are specially designed and manufactured with rare Earth phosphors which produce a clear and bright white light with a high coloring index (CRI) in the range of 90 to 100. We design, engineer and manufacture phototherapy lamps used in a wide range of medical uses.
Our lamps are used worldwide for many therapeutic purposes including skin conditions, sleep disorders and light therapy for depression. Our skilled and experienced lighting engineers understand the technology behind the UV radiation and offer in-depth expertise in designing UV lamps with the exact amount of bandwidth and UV exposure prescribed by physicians for many health conditions.
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UV Germicidal ApplicationsLightSources in the U.S. and our strategic European partner, LightTech, represent the leading high-tech lamp designers and manufactures in the lamp industry today. Our lamp and lighting products are used worldwide in a multitude of applications including phototherapy with proprietary technology and patented products. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about our wide selection of phototherapy lamps.
