Light therapy
Light therapy or phototherapy is a type of treatment that involves exposure to daylight or to specific wavelengths of light using polychromatic polarised light, lasers, light-emitting diodes, fluorescent lamps, dichroic lamps or very bright, full-spectrum light. The light is administered for a prescribed amount of time and, in some cases, at a specific time of day.
History[edit | edit source]
The use of light therapy dates back to ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, who worshipped the sun god Ra. They believed that exposure to sunlight could cure a variety of physical and mental ailments. In the modern era, light therapy was first used in the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in the 1980s.
Types of Light Therapy[edit | edit source]
There are several types of light therapy, including:
- Bright light therapy: This is the most common type of light therapy used to treat SAD, certain other types of depression, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
- Blue light therapy: This type of therapy is often used to treat acne and pre-cancerous skin growths.
- Red light therapy: This therapy is used to treat skin issues, such as wrinkles and scars, and other health issues.
- Green light therapy: This is a newer type of light therapy that is being studied for its potential to relieve pain.
Uses[edit | edit source]
Light therapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Non-seasonal depression
- Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders
- Jet Lag
- Dementia
- Skin Disorders
Risks and Side Effects[edit | edit source]
While light therapy is generally safe, it can have side effects, including:
- Eyestrain
- Headache
- Nausea
- Irritability or agitation
- Mania, in people with bipolar disorder
See Also[edit | edit source]
Light therapy Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD