The Best Light Therapy Lamps

Do you happen to fall in a strange state of melancholy each time winter approaches? It’s not just that you miss summer but it could be that seasonal affective disorder is catching up on you. We’ve assembled a list of the best light therapy lamps to help you fight seasonal blues, so let’s take a look at them.

Best Light Therapy Lamps

Check out these options and what they have to offer, to see which is best for you.

What Is a Light Therapy Lamp?

Bright lamps known as light therapy lamps are typically utilized in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (also known as SAD), depression, and sleep disturbances. 

You may find these lamps almost anywhere, and you can even use them in your own home. Simply switch on your light therapy lamp and position yourself close to it for a predetermined amount of time (usually anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes).

How Do Light Therapy Lamps Work?

During the winter season, people get less vitamin D, which has been associated with depression. The sunlight changes also alter our circadian rhythm, which is the body’s internal biological clock that regulates various brain activities and hormone production. 

Vitamin D shortages have been connected to depression. Alterations in the levels of mood-related substances can bring on symptoms of SAD, often known as the winter blues or seasonal sadness, in certain individuals.

A person must have experienced at least three episodes of mood abnormalities over three distinct winter seasons, with at least two of those episodes occurring consecutively, for an episode of significant depression to be categorized as seasonal affective disorder. 

In addition, there should not be any link between the episode and a substantial situational stressor, such as a recent death in the family, a divorce, or a loss of employment.

There is good news for people who suffer from the winter blues or perhaps even just a minor case of seasonal sadness: there are several bright light treatments that can assist regulate melatonin and other hormones that are influenced by the circadian rhythm changes. SAD lamps are designed to replicate sunlight, which helps activate the brain to release serotonin.

Light therapy is not something that should be used by those who suffer from bipolar disorder unless they are under the direct care and supervision of a medical professional. 

Types of Light Therapy Lamps

— Light Box

Clinical research on SAD typically employs light boxes as the primary method of light therapy. Flat screens that emit full-spectrum fluorescent light, often at an intensity of 10,000 lux, are what you’ll find in this category. It is essential to position a light box by the guidelines provided by the manufacturer and to make use of it at the same time every day.

The recommended daily use time for a light box is anywhere between thirty and sixty minutes. If you don’t have the money to buy a light box, you can go to a health club that has a room specifically designed with light boxes and sit in front of them.

— Dawn Simulator

Dawn simulators are computer programs that recreate the steady ascent of the sun. There are two distinct varieties:

• Those that provide an illusion of natural dawn that is representative of a sunrise in the springtime.
• Those that create an illusion of sigmoid-shaped daybreak, which can last anywhere from half an hour to two hours.

In a normal situation, you would stay asleep through dawn and awaken during the simulated daybreak. These lights are particularly efficient because the light signals sent out in the early morning are far more potent than the light signals sent out at any other time of the day. 

Dawn simulators can take the form of standalone alarm clock gadgets or compact computer systems that are designed to be plugged into a table light.

— Bright Light Sun Visors

These are meant to be worn as hats and each one acts as a personal light box for the wearer. Because of the close closeness of intense light to your eyes, medical professionals are less likely to recommend using visors. Therefore, you should use them with extreme caution. In addition, the price is typically over $200.

— Natural Spectrum Bulbs

People who have seasonal affective disorder and have used full-spectrum light bulbs report that they have had success with them when they use full-spectrum bulbs with a minimum of 10,000 lux in intensity. However, the scientific research on the advantages of full-spectrum light bulbs is conflicting. There is evidence that they can help regulate your circadian cycle and improve your mood.

Natural spectrum light bulbs mimic the color temperature of natural daylight and are versatile enough to be used in both table and floor lamps. They are not as awkward to carry around as light boxes are.

— Bluewave Technology

According to several studies, BlueWave technology, also known as blue light, is superior to other types of light in terms of its ability to alter circadian cycles, reduce melatonin levels, and control the circadian response. 

They discovered that blue light reduced melatonin production for approximately twice as long as green light did and that it also disrupted circadian rhythms by approximately twice as much.

At night, however, the intensity of blue light, particularly the blue light emitted by electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, can constitute a significant safety hazard. 

Not only did researchers at Harvard discover that it disrupted sleep, but they also found that exposure to blue light at night was associated with an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and several different types of cancer.

What to Consider When Buying a Light Therapy Lamp

Type

Light therapy lamps are available in a wide variety of styles, ranging from alarm clocks to floor lamps. Think about when you want to use the lamp, the amount of space you have available for it, and where you plan on placing it you have before deciding on the type of light therapy lamp that will work best for you.

Size

There is a wide range of sizes and weights available for light therapy lamps. Therefore, before making a purchase, you should think about where you intend to put your lamp. More compact lamps can be stored on packed bookcases or nightstands. 

Greater areas of a room can be illuminated by using larger lamps. Lamps that aren’t too heavy are a breeze to lug back and forth from the office. In addition, it is recommended to store heavy lamps in a stable location.

Intensity

The unit of measurement for brightness is called a lux. Therefore, a greater lux rating indicates a brighter lamp. The use of a light therapy lamp that provides 10,000 lux of light exposure is recommended by industry professionals as the optimal level of light intensity for optimal results.  

According to research, the average amount of light provided by indoor lighting is 100 lux, while the amount of light provided by natural sunlight is 50,000 lux. Therefore, the ideal setting for your light treatment lamp is somewhere in the middle.

Settings

Different light therapy lamps come with a range of brightness levels, allowing you to adjust the level of illumination provided by the lamp to suit your preferences. This may make it simpler for you to use your lamp at various times of the day, and it may also assist you in becoming accustomed to the lamp if you are just starting to make use of it. 

However, light therapy lamps that do not have settings that can be adjusted can still be beneficial: They are typically simple to operate because their designs do not include any unnecessary frills.

The Final Verdict

Thankfully, there are plenty of decent light therapy lamps to choose from. In fact, with all these options, the choice might feel overwhelming, which is why you should remember the most important things to look out for in a therapy lamp: intensity, type, and size. That way, you can filter even the best light therapy lamps to find one that stands out for your needs. Now peruse our list of the best weighted blankets to go with your therapy light!

Frequently Asked Questions