In recent years, light treatments have proven to be a good medical alternative for a variety of ailments ranging from sleep disturbances, pain, acne attacks, SAD (seasonal affective disorder), and mild depression. A very good point for the alternative is the effectiveness compared to the other forms of treatment in terms of ease of use, costs, time and effort.
The other factors considered are the fact that phototherapy is non-invasive and, at best, does not contain drugs. For SAD and mild depression, it is no longer necessary to purchase antidepressant medications that are sometimes contraindicated for patients with otherwise unknown conditions that can cause complications. There is no longer a need for actions such as injections and the like to medicate these afflictions like the old ways of treating acne, for example.
Advantages of phototherapy
The light used for therapy is five to twenty times brighter than normal lights, and averages 10,000 (lux). This can be advantageous if you want faster results from your treatments. It is natural for patients to show improvement when exposed to natural light. However, in severe cases, a device is needed to produce higher light levels to be effective.
Lately, LED technology is now used for bright light treatments for the comfort of patients. Again, patients show improvement when exposed to natural light sources such as the sun. However, studies have shown that these procedures (performed according to dermatologists’ specifications) produce better results than natural healing. One consideration is how intense the delivery of the treatment itself is.
Some precautions about phototherapy
As with any other treatment, it is always best to consult your physician or a competent healthcare professional before embarking on self-medication with lights. For example, not all types of acne can be effectively treated with this medical procedure. If your dermatologist recommends this form of therapy, by all means, follow his advice to the letter.
Skin sensitivity should also be tested prior to any treatment. It is advisable to remove makeup and other skin products before a phototherapy medication. Light boxes can also vary in effectiveness. While it may be good for some people, others get little or no effect. Your dermatologist or doctor can help you assess the situation rather than embarking on decisions of your own. There are theories in this regard regarding the correct light spectrum to use, the duration of the treatment or the intensity (or not) of the treatments during the sessions.
You should see your doctor after about a month of light therapy to check the effectiveness. If there are significant improvements, you can proceed to purchase the home light therapy device (s) you need. Increasing the duration, frequency of treatments or intensity of treatment sessions should be clarified with your doctor or a healthcare professional after assessing your current progress or lack.
Treatments should be done with caution for people who have other active skin problems in the treated areas. The same goes for people who are very sensitive to bright lights. Necessary precautions are always the best policy.