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Sun Lamp Treatments

Sun lamps or light therapy is exposure to various sources of light such as LED, fluorescent or full-spectrum light. It tends to be prescribed for a predetermined amount of time depending on your condition.

  1. History

    • Sun lamps were first invented in 1903 by Heraeus, a German company who were developing lighting for home and industrial use. In the1920s Heraeus started marketing single lamps -- a self-standing tanning device. In 1984, Dr. Norman Rosenthal published a paper defining seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and the treatment of it through sun lamps.

    Possible Treatments

    • Sunlamps are electric discharge lamps that emit wavelengths of light often present in sunlight. Not only are they used for tanning but they can also be effective in treating skin disorders, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and delayed sleep phase syndrome.

    Warnings

    • The FDA warns consumers the UV radiation in sun lamps can pose serious health risks such as skin cancer, burns, premature skin aging and possible eye damage.

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