With the help of light therapy, various diseases can be treated. For example, the light shower is used in the therapy of depression. In addition, however, skin diseases such as acne, neurodermatitis or psoriasis can also be alleviated by light. While white light is used for depression, UV rays are used for skin diseases. Read here how light therapy works and what risks and side effects are associated with the treatment.
Light therapy helps with depression
Light therapy is used primarily to treat seasonal depression (winter depression). Ideally, light exposure is done immediately in the morning after getting up. This is because it slows down the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, which is only produced in the dark. The hormone, which plays a key role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle, is said to have a depression-triggering effect. The effectiveness of light therapy has been well proven for mild to moderate winter depression. According to statistics, the symptoms improve in six to nine out of ten patients. It is possible, however, that the treatment not only helps with seasonal depression, but is also effective for other forms of depression. Here, it is usually used as a supplement to treatment methods such as taking antidepressants.
Here’s how the treatment works
In light therapy, patients are exposed to white light, which is bright artificial light. This process is also called a light shower. White light, which is similar in spectrum to sunlight, is used as part of the treatment. Ideally, the therapy is carried out daily for at least 20 to 30 minutes. The patient sits about one meter away from the light source. The patient does not have to look directly into the light source during treatment. However, it is important that the light falls on the retina. Therefore, you can read the newspaper or have breakfast during the irradiation. It is quite sufficient if you look in the direction of the light therapy lamp from time to time.
High illuminance is important
How long the irradiation should last every day depends on the strength of the light source. In any case, a very bright light source must be used. Normal light bulbs that make it to about 300 to 500 lux are not enough. Ideally, use a light source with 10,000 lux. Here, half an hour of irradiation is enough to achieve a demonstrable effect. As part of the treatment, a light therapy device and thus artificial light is used. However, natural sunlight is also suitable for therapy. In fact, studies indicate that more and more people spend too little time outdoors. Therefore, go outside regularly and soak up the sun and light. When the sky is clear, 10,000 lux also prevails outside shortly after sunrise.
Alleviate skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis.
Those suffering from skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis, acne or a sun allergy can also benefit from light therapy. However, unlike the treatment of depression, UV light rather than white light is used here. The two forms of light therapy should therefore be strictly separated. UV light has an anti-inflammatory effect, so that many sufferers experience an improvement in their symptoms as a result of light therapy. Among other things, the treatment ensures that itching is relieved and that fewer skin cells are formed in psoriasis.
Side effects of light therapy
Light therapy with white light is usually well tolerated. Side effects occur only in rare cases. Then, symptoms may occur such as:
- Headache
- Skin redness
- Dry mucous membranes
- Burning eyes
If you experience side effects during treatment, be sure to talk to your doctor about it. He will decide, depending on the symptoms, whether you can continue the therapy or not.
When is light therapy not suitable?
People who have glaucoma or have already had a retinal detachment should consult with their ophthalmologist before starting light therapy. The same applies to people suffering from skin diseases or internal diseases such as lupus erythematosus. Caution is also advised with medications that increase the skin’s sensitivity to light.In addition to St. John’s wort, these include certain antibiotics and psychotropic drugs.
Side effects in skin diseases
If light therapy with UV light is carried out, you should definitely ask your doctor about possible risks beforehand. This is because the treatment can attack the skin and cause it to age more quickly. If UV-B rays are used, pigments are also increasingly formed, which causes the skin to turn brown. In general, it should be noted that UV rays can damage the genetic material in the cells. Smaller damages can be repaired by the cells themselves, but in case of larger damages this is no longer possible. Such damage to the genetic material can then promote the development of cancer – for example, malignant melanoma.
Costs of light therapy
Depending on the purpose for which light therapy is used, it varies whether the costs are covered by health insurance or not. For example, patients usually have to pay for the cost of a light therapy lamp or radiation at the doctor’s office if it is used to treat winter depression. However, the treatment is usually not expensive, with one session costing between 8 and 15 euros. Significantly more expensive, however, is a light therapy, as it is used for skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or psoriasis. However, you should definitely talk to your health insurance here, because in some cases the costs for the therapy are covered.
