Light therapy, also called phototherapy or bright light therapy, is exposure to direct sunlight or artificial light at controlled wavelengths in order to treat a variety of medical disorders, including seasonal affective disorder, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, certain cancers, neonatal jaundice and skin wound infections. Treating skin conditions such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris and eczema with ultraviolet light on its own is called ultraviolet light therapy, distinct from PUVA therapy, which pairs ultraviolet light with a sensitizing drug rather than using light alone.
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Light Therapy
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FAQs
Is light therapy for seasonal affective disorder available on the NHS?
Not usually on the NHS because evidence of effectiveness is thin; the NHS advises speaking to a GP first.
The NHS says light therapy uses a bright light, sometimes called a SAD lamp or light box, to simulate daylight in winter. It says the therapy is not usually available on the NHS because there is not enough evidence to tell whether it is effective, although many people find it helps their symptoms. The NHS advises speaking to a GP before trying it, since it might not be suitable with certain eye conditions or with some medicines that increase sensitivity to light. For anyone buying a light box, it advises one that is bright enough (10,000 lux is standard), UV-free and carries a UKCA or CE mark.
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Source Light Therapy (Wikipedia)
Source Light Therapy (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Light Therapy (Wikipedia)
- Indian medical literature dating to 1500 BCE describes a treatment combining herbs with natural sunlight
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_therapy, lead section
Light therapy, also called phototherapy or bright light therapy, is the exposure to direct sunlight or artificial light at controlled wavelengths in order to treat a variety of medical disorders, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD), circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders,
Treats: Psoriasis, Lead: treats Psoriasis
Treating skin conditions such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris, and eczema with ultraviolet light is called ultraviolet light therapy.
Treats: Eczema, Lead: treats Eczema
Treating skin conditions such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris, and eczema with ultraviolet light is called ultraviolet light therapy.
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