Light therapy—or phototherapy, classically referred to as heliotherapy—is a method recognized by scientific medicine for the treatment of various diseases.
| FactSnippet No. 734,755 |
19 Facts About Light therapy
2.
Full body photoLight therapy can be delivered at a doctor's office or at home using a large high-power UVB booth.
| FactSnippet No. 734,756 |
3.
Light therapy is considered one of the best monotherapy treatments for atopic dermatitis when applied to patients who have not responded to traditional topical treatments.
| FactSnippet No. 734,757 |
4.
The Light therapy offers a wide range of options: UVA1 for acute AD, NB-UVB for chronic AD, and balneophotoLight therapy have proven their efficacy.
| FactSnippet No. 734,758 |
5.
Low level laser Light therapy has been studied as a potential treatment for chronic wounds, and higher-power lasers have sometimes been successfully used to close acute wounds as an alternative to stitching.
| FactSnippet No. 734,759 |
6.
Studies show that light therapy helps reduce the debilitating and depressive behaviors of SAD, such as excessive sleepiness and fatigue, with results lasting for at least 1 month.
| FactSnippet No. 734,760 |
7.
Light therapy is preferred over antidepressants in the treatment of SAD because it is a relatively safe and easy therapy.
| FactSnippet No. 734,761 |
8.
Morning therapy has provided the best results because light in the early morning aids in regulating the circadian rhythm.
| FactSnippet No. 734,762 |
9.
Therefore, the decision to use light therapy should be based on a person's preference of treatment.
| FactSnippet No. 734,763 |
10.
Light therapy has been suggested in the treatment of non-seasonal depression and other psychiatric mood disturbances, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and postpartum depression.
| FactSnippet No. 734,764 |
11.
Light therapy exposure administered to the eyes before or after the nadir of the core body temperature rhythm can affect the phase response curve.
| FactSnippet No. 734,765 |
12.
Light therapy has been tested for individuals with shift work sleep disorder and for jet lag.
| FactSnippet No. 734,766 |
13.
Light therapy has been trialed in treating sleep disorders experienced by patients with Parkinson's disease.
| FactSnippet No. 734,767 |
14.
Light therapy is a mood altering treatment, and just as with drug treatments, there is a possibility of triggering a manic state from a depressive state, causing anxiety and other side effects.
| FactSnippet No. 734,768 |
15.
Patients on certain drugs such as methotrexate or chloroquine should use caution with light therapy as there is a chance that these drugs could cause porphyria.
| FactSnippet No. 734,769 |
16.
Many ancient cultures practiced various forms of helioLight therapy, including people of Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Rome.
| FactSnippet No. 734,770 |
17.
Light therapy developed the first artificial light source for this purpose.
| FactSnippet No. 734,771 |
18.
Light therapy thought that the beneficial effect was due to ultraviolet light killing the bacteria, but recent studies showed that his lens and filter system did not allow such short wavelengths to pass through, leading instead to the conclusion that light of approximately 400 nanometers generated reactive oxygen that would kill the bacteria.
| FactSnippet No. 734,772 |
19.
Light therapy received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1903.
| FactSnippet No. 734,773 |