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If you typically have fall
and winter depression or even notice signs of depression during prolonged periods of cloudy
or rainy weather during other seasons
can a small tabletop box be the solution to your problem?
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[heart thumping]
Lightbox therapy is a way to treat seasonal affective disorder
SAD and certain other conditions by exposure to artificial light.
SAD is a type of depression that occurs at certain times each year,
usually in the fall or the winter.
You see a colleague at work with a lightbox station at their desk.
Chances are they're not making TikTok videos.
Hey everyone, I'm Dr. Jordan Wagner.
I'm a board-certified emergency medicine physician and on my show
I answer your urgent medical questions
and clear up myths about certain deadly diseases.
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What is light therapy?
Light therapy is also known as bright light therapy or phototherapy.
This lightbox gives off bright light that mimics natural light.
Light therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked to mood, sleep, and easing SAD symptoms.
How does light therapy work?
Typically light therapy is meant to compensate
for the lack of exposure to sunlight that is thought to be linked to major depressive
disorder with seasonal patterns.
During light therapy sessions you sit
or work near a lightbox.
To be effective light from the lightbox must enter your eyes indirectly.
You can't get the same effect merely by exposing your skin to light.
The light usually mimics natural sunlight,
but there can be some variations.
A unit of measure called a lux
Just the amount of light used in treatment.
The standard output of a lightbox is between 2,500 and 10,000 lux.
Using a light therapy box may also help with other types of depression, sleep disorders,
and other conditions.
Now don't get these two mixed up.
There is another type of light therapy that you've probably heard
of and that is used to treat skin conditions.
Light therapy for skin disorders uses a lamp that emits UV light or ultraviolet light.
This type of light should be filtered out in light therapy boxes used
for SAD and other conditions because it can damage your eyes and your skin.
Now Doctor Wagner can I just get into a tanning bed?
isn't it the same thing?
Some people claim that tanning beds help
ease seasonal affective disorder symptoms,
but this hasn't actually been proven to work.
The UV light released by tanning beds can damage your skin
and greatly increase your risk of skin cancer aka
the light I just talked about that is filtered out from lightboxes.
So why would someone want to use light therapy?
Light therapy used as a treatment for several conditions including
seasonal affective disorder, jet lag, sleep disorders, and sometimes dementia.
You may want to try light therapy for a number of reasons.
One, your doctor recommends it for seasonal affective disorder or another condition.
Maybe you want to try a treatment that is safe and has few side effects.
You want to increase the effectiveness of your current antidepressant medications
or mental health counseling or psychotherapy.
You need to avoid antidepressant medications during pregnancy
or while breastfeeding or it may also be that you want to take a lower dose of
your antidepressant medication.
Three key elements for effectiveness when using light therapy.
Light therapy is the most effective when you have the proper combination of light intensity, duration, and timing.
Number one: The intensity of the lightbox is recorded in lux which is a measure of the amount of light you receive.
For seasonal affective disorder the typical recommendation is to use
10,000 lux lightbox at a distance about 16 to 24 inches
or 41 to 61 centimeters from your face.
Number two: With a 10,000 lux lightbox light therapy typically
involves daily sessions of about 20 to 30 minutes.
But again, check the manufacturer’s guidelines
and follow your doctor's instructions
for a recommendation of the exact duration that you need.
Number three: Timing.
For most people light therapy is most effective when is done early in the morning after you first wake up.
Your doctor can help you determine the light therapy schedule that works best for you and your schedule.
Stick to your therapy schedule and don't overdo it.
There are some risks to light therapy.
Light therapy is generally safe.
If side effects occur they're usually mild and short lasting such as eye strain, headache, or nausea.
You may also be able to manage the side effects by
reducing treatment time, moving further away from the lightbox, taking breaks during long sessions,
or changing the time of day you use the light therapy.
Talk to your doctor for advice if side effects are a problem.
Although it is best to be under the care of a health professional while using the light box therapy.
Now, it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting light therapy,
but especially important if you have a condition that makes
your skin especially sensitive to light such
as lupus, you take medications that increase your sensitivity to sunlight, you have an eye
condition that makes your eyes vulnerable to light damage.
Light therapy boxes should be designed to filter out harmful ultraviolet light,
but some may not filter it all out.
UV light can cause skin and eye damage.
Look for a lightbox that emits as little UV light as possible.
If you have any concerns about light therapy and your skin
talk to your dermatologist.
Light therapy probably won't cure seasonal affective disorder, non-seasonal depression or other conditions,
but it may ease your symptoms, increase your energy levels,
and help you feel a lot better about yourself and life.
Although you don't need a prescription to buy a light therapy box,
it is best to ask your doctor or mental health provider if light therapy is a good option for you.
Wsk whether you need to take any special precautions
and also discuss which type of light therapy box would best meet your needs,
so you get the most benefit and minimize possible side effects.
I'm Dr. Jordan Wagner as always sound off in the comments,
if you have any other medical questions that you'd like me to answer
or let me know if you currently use or have used a lightbox in the past.
I'd love to hear about it.
As always make sure you subscribe and turn your bell notifications on.
Thank you so much for watching and stay healthy my friends.