Blue Light Therapy-Light Therapy At Its Best

… or just photo therapy involves contact with sunlight or distinct wavelengths of light making use of , light-emitting boxes, fluorescent lights, as well as quite brilliant, full-spectrum light known as A lighting box. The actual light will be used to get a recommended amount of light and also, sometimes, with a particular time window. Blue light therapy aimed on the pores and skin is essential to take care of acne breakouts as well as jaundice.

Blue light therapy that has an effect on the retina in the eye is commonly employed to deal with circadian rhythm disorders like delayed sleep stage syndrome and also may be utilized to manage seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. In some more rare cases light therapy is used to treat some phychiatric disorders. Stay with me while we take a more detailed look at blue light therapy and light therapy in general.

When dealing with sleep or mood related issues, a little knowledge about brain chemistry is needed. Two particular chemicals that are important are melatonin and serotonin.

Your synthesis regarding the hormone melatonin, which plays a big part in regulating sleep, is actually inhibited as a result of light entering the eye. Darkness is sensed by photosensitive ganglion tissues within the retina, and promote the production of melatonin. To some extent, the exact opposite is actually correct with regard to unbalanced serotonin levels, which have recently been associated with mood conditions. For conditions such as these, light boxes offer distinct waves of light to your retina and have proven to be very effective.

Blue light therapy makes use of a light box that produces light. A light that is many times brighter than a normal incandescent bulbs and a reduced intensity. Wavelengths of light coming from the blue (470 nm) and the green (525 nm) parts involving the visible light range. Green light therapy triggers melatonin suppression , and blue light is used most often to treat depression and to treat circadian rhythm disorders, all though green or white light may be better for this.
In treatment, the patient’s eyes are to be at a prescribed distance from the light source with the light striking the retina. This does not require looking directly into the light.


Seasonal affective disorder is best treated by natural sunlight, but obviously good sunlight is not available all year in many places. In this case a light box, or a blue light therapy device can be quite effective. Non seasonal depression has also responded well to light therapy, although doctors warn not to go off prescribed medication without getting a doctors recommendation. Light therapy is often used in conjunction with other treatments.

Chronic circadian rhythm sleep disorders are also helped by employing a blue light therapy regimen. This may also include a light that simulates the sun rising as a way to reset your body clock. Shift workers and people with jet lag may also benefit. Other conditions treated by light therapy are neo-natal jaundice, and Parkinson’s disease by reducing tremors.

Always consult a qualified professional. Your doctor can help or at least recommend someone who specializes in light therapy. We know that too much blue light can lead to macular degeneration, but today’s modern lamps filter out, or don’t even produce any ultraviolet light.

Contradictions to light therapy include: photosensitive skin diseases, or taking photosynthesizing medications, even herbs like St. John’s wort. Also, many drugs interact with light therapy in a negative way so we can’t stress enough that you get a doctor involved before starting any blue light therapy regimen. I am not a doctor, and any perceived recommendations must be ok’ed by a licensed physician.