Light Therapy Safety

Light therapy is used to treat a variety of disorders, including seasonal affective disorder, depression, manic depression, sleep disorders, skin conditions and the tremors associated with Parkison's disease, among other conditions. Also referred to as "phototherapy," the treatment consists of placing the patient under specialized lamps or lasers that emit a bright, full-spectrum light for a specified amount of time. Because ultraviolet light is known to damage skin cells, there are concerns about the safety of using full-spectrum light for therapeutic purposes.

Modern Phototherapy Lamps

• Because phototherapy lamps today are designed to filter out UV rays, they do not carry many of the risks of damage to the skin, including the destruction of vitamins A and C in the skin's cells, or risks to the eyes, due to premature macular degeneration. Patients who are not taking photosensitizing drugs and who do not have any eye conditions can safely use light therapy as prescribed by their doctor as a means of treatment for a variety of maladies.

Mania and Light Therapy

• Patients being treated for bipolar disorder, also known as "manic depression," should be carefully monitored while undergoing phototherapy, as the treatment is mood-altering and may potentially trigger manic episodes. Medications are available to counter the manic swings, so it's best to undergo the therapy treatments under the guidance of a licensed physician or clinician.

Contraindications

• Patients undergoing drug treatments involving methotrexate and chloroquine should not use phototherapy because of the risk of developing porphyria, a disorder of the nervous system and skin. Any patient suffering from a condition that causes phototoxicity of the eyes or photosensitivity of the skin should avoid using light therapy. People taking the herb St. John's wort should avoid phototherapy, due to the herb's photosensitizing effects, which can increase a patient's risk of phototoxicity.

Side Effects

• Possible side effects of phototherapy include jumpiness, extreme irritability, nausea or headache. There may be positive side effects as well, including skin-condition and vision improvement.