How does the SAD lamp work?

Light is the biggest external factor that controls our body clock. It influences our mood and energy throughout the day. Human bodies are programmed to run in sync with natural light of the sun.

Our sad lamps mimic the color and brightness of the sun. They are an easy and effective way to getting exposure to bright light indoors. The light therapy is a way to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and certain other conditions by exposure to artificial light. SAD is a type of depression that occurs at a certain time each year, usually in the fall or winter.

During light therapy, you sit or work near a device called a light therapy box. The box gives off bright light that mimics natural outdoor light.
Light therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep, easing SAD symptoms. Using a light therapy box may also help with other types of depression, sleep disorders and other conditions. Light therapy is also known as bright light therapy or phototherapy.

Why it's done

You may want to try light therapy for a number of reasons:

• Your doctor recommends it for seasonal affective disorder or another condition.
• You want to try treatment that is safe and has few side effects.
• You want to increase the effectiveness of antidepressant medication or mental health counseling (psychotherapy).
• You need to avoid antidepressant medications during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
• It may allow you to take a lower dose of antidepressant medication.

Conditions it's used for

Light therapy is used as a treatment for several conditions, including:

• SAD
• Types of depression that don't occur seasonally
• Jet lag
• Sleep disorders
• Adjusting to a nighttime work schedule
• Dementia

Light therapy used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis is different from the type of light therapy used for the conditions listed above. Light therapy for skin disorders uses a lamp that emits ultraviolet (UV) light. This type of light should be filtered out in light therapy boxes used for SAD and other conditions because it can damage your eyes and skin.