Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is a non-invasive procedure that’s been gaining popularity because of the benefits it offers. It involves exposing your skin cells to daylight or to a specific spectrum of colors, such as blue, red, or green light, which induces the release of chemicals in the body.
This treatment is safe to undergo, though mild side effects may sometimes occur, such as headaches, eyestrain, and nausea. These usually subside within a few days.
Several studies have shown that light therapy can be effective in treating certain disorders and improving aspects of health and wellness. If this is something you’re curious about, you may be interested to learn seven ways light therapy can benefit you.
- It Can Treat Acne
Light therapy is one of the most popular acne treatment methods, as it helps stimulate collagen and elastin production. Collagen is the protein that keeps your skin firm and healthy, while elastin is responsible for maintaining your skin’s elasticity.
Exposing your skin to the proper wavelength of light could help lessen acne problems or prevent them from developing in the future. Light therapy can effectively kill the bacteria that causes acne. It can also diminish scars, rejuvenate your skin, and reduce inflammation.
If you’d like to know more about how light therapy helps prevent acne, you can find out here.
- It Helps Relieve Depression
Light therapy can help counteract depression by influencing the secretion of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit impulses between nerve cells. This helps regulate the levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which contribute to positive feelings or moods.
Light therapy has been used to treat conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bipolar disorder, and postpartum depression.
However, despite various studies showing light therapy’s effectiveness in treating depression, its use remains highly variable. So, it would be best to consult a medical practitioner before opting for light therapy to treat depression.
- It Alleviates Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual cramps are caused by the contraction of uterine muscles, and it usually occurs before or during menstruation. Dysmenorrhea, hormonal imbalance, and premenstrual syndrome are some of the other factors associated with it.
People suffering through menstrual cramps may experience a dull, throbbing ache in the abdomen, accompanied by nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and fatigue. Light therapy can help reduce the severity of these menstrual pains by relaxing uterine muscles and reducing spasms.
- It Helps Ease Migraines
Migraines can be excruciating, and they may last for hours or even days. This is due to changes in hormones and chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, which lead to swelling and inflammation around the nerves and blood vessels.
Light therapy may help reduce the intensity and frequency of migraines by stimulating nerve cells that produce endorphins. The endorphins interact with the body’s pain receptors and block off signals that transmit pain during a migraine attack.
- It Improves Quality Of Sleep
Some individuals may have difficulties falling asleep at night, which can affect their daily activities and overall well-being. You can remedy this by getting exposure to daylight or light similar to the sun’s rays for a certain amount of time each day. This can help you improve your sleep cycle and thus lead to a better night’s sleep.
The use of light therapy can also help you keep your circadian rhythm in check by preventing your body from producing too much melatonin, which could interfere with your sleeping pattern.
- It Promotes Hair Growth
Light therapy can also assist with hair loss problems. When your body is exposed to certain wavelengths of light, such as LEDs and infrared, the light stimulates blood flow in the scalp, which helps promote hair growth.
However, not all types of light have the same benefits. For instance, some wavelengths may actually damage your hair follicles, which will lead to further hair loss. It’s important to consult your doctor about the treatment and use light therapy only under their supervision.
- It Boosts The Immune System
Light therapy is believed to strengthen your immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells, which defend your body against bacteria and infections.
However, the effectiveness of light therapy in fighting off illness remains unproven. So, regardless of the benefits it may offer to your immune system, it’s crucial to combine a balanced lifestyle with a proper diet and adequate rest to have your best shot at staying healthy.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for alternative ways to improve your overall wellness and health, you may want to consider undergoing light therapy. You’ll have to do sufficient research beforehand though, as different kinds of light are used to treat different issues. It would be best to consult your doctor or a medical practitioner first to ensure that you get the best treatment for your individual needs and to determine whether the specific treatment you want is safe for you.
Also, you should remember that light therapy is not a natural replacement for other conventional treatments. While it might provide relief for certain conditions, it shouldn’t be considered a cure; at best, it’s a supplemental treatment for whatever issues you may be facing. Keeping these things in mind, you can consider the benefits listed above and see which ones you’d like to have light therapy for.
