Light therapy, also known as phototherapy or heliotherapy, is a person’s exposure to light that’s not as bright as direct sunlight. It’s meant to help with health conditions. Some health conditions that this type of therapy might help with are sleep disorders, jet lag, and depression. Halogen lights, sunlight, fluorescent light bulbs, or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used in this treatment.
Though it’s becoming more popular now, people have already emphasized the significance of light in health before. The first written record of light therapy came from Hippocrates, who wrote about the importance of the sun in 400 B.C. Similarly, Norman Rosenthal already explained in 1984 how specialized light therapy effectively addresses Seasonal Affective Disorder in people.
Likewise, having light therapy first thing in the morning once you rise from sleep may be the most effective time to use it. However, you, your doctor, or your therapist are the ones who can still decide when it can work best. An individual can respond to this therapy after two to four days. On the other hand, using such treatment can take as long as up to three weeks before the symptoms of depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) are eased.
You can read this article if you want to know more about light therapy and its health benefits.
1. Help With Cold Sores
Cold sores or oral herpes are tiny fluid-filled lesions forming clusters around the mouth or lips. Herpes simplex virus type (HSV-1) is the cause of this viral infection. Having such an infection isn’t what worries many. The appearance visible to people who have it makes it concerning. Using lip balms or razors and sharing drinks are examples of how this type of herpes transfers to each person.
Likewise, there is no cure for the herpes virus, which is sad. The treatments that people use minimize their harmful effects on appearance and symptoms. There are two examples of cold sore treatments. The first is Abreva, and it’s an over-the-counter cream that can reduce the healing period to 2.5 days or 4.1 days in general. The other is called Luminance RED Lip Treatment Device, and this treatment is promising in speeding healing time and limiting pain based on lots of peer-reviewed clinical studies. There are many online sites that you can check regarding the treatment of cold sores. Still, you may also check the Luminance RED site for additional info concerning Abreva and Luminance RED as a source for addressing this infection.
2. Help With Sleep
Your body has a circadian rhythm, and it’s an internal clock where your sleep-wake cycle depends. When it’s dark, the circadian rhythm signals the human body to sleep automatically. On the other hand, your circadian rhythm can’t do its job correctly without you having the proper exposure to light during the day. And so, if you’re feeling that you are experiencing sleepless evenings or insomnia, the reason might be the lack of light exposure.
Light therapy can help you get back the sleep you deserve in such a scenario. During a light therapy session, your eyes’ retinal cells can perceive the light from the light therapy box, affecting particular chemicals in your brain. These chemicals are serotonin and melatonin, and they’re the ones in charge of the sleep-wake cycle. During the process, melatonin production is delayed by the perception of light, which can wake you from sleep and boost your mood. Altogether, your sleep specialist can help you plan a suitable period to use light in terms of your symptoms.
3. Help With Seasonal Affective Disorders
A kind of depression connected to specific seasons is called a seasonal affective disorder. It often starts in the fall and lasts throughout winter. This disorder might occur because the winter is cold and depressing for many people. The extreme cold and the snow buildup make moving difficult for many. Moreover, the lack of daylight during such a season can badly affect the mood. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see that depression is more rampant during the winter season.
However, the use of light therapy may help with such an issue. The treatment also uses a lightbox specially made to produce a soft and steady light. Light therapy is a good treatment choice because there are less severe and temporary side effects. The costs are also less costly compared to other types of therapies.
Wrapping Up
Light therapy is where an individual is exposed to light that’s not as bright as direct sunlight. It may treat many health conditions such as depression, sleep disorders, and jet lag. Though it has risen to fame in the past years, it’s not unknown to people regarding its treatment of health issues. One example is the record from Hippocrates, who already wrote about the significance of the sun to address health concerns.
Light therapy can be more effective first thing in the morning once you wake up from bed. On the other hand, you, your doctor, or your therapist are still the ones who can determine the time that light therapy can work as it should. Likewise, you can see how your body responds to light therapy after using it for 2 to 4 days. However, it can take longer when the health issues it will treat are related to SAD or depression. Some health benefits of light therapy are that it helps with sleep, seasonal affective disorders, and cold sores.