History of Light Therapy

Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is a relatively recent development that has been used to treat acne, seasonal affective disorder, infant jaundice and skin conditions such as psoriasis, among other maladies.

Function

• Over the years, light therapy used lasers, lamps, full-spectrum light, daylight and various light wavelengths for certain amounts of time to treat various illnesses. Once exposed to light, patients suffering from depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) experience a higher release of melatonin and serotonin from the brain, chemicals that create a sense of well-being.

Time Frame

• In 1978, phototherapy technology was first marketed as a cure for acne. Three years later, Dr. A.J. Lewy treated the first documented case of SAD using light waves. In the 1990s, Lewy and other doctors used various forms of light therapy to treat SAD, depression and skin problems. Those treatments have continued to evolve.

Types

• Doses of high-intensity light treatment, developed in the 1980s, may be prescribed for SAD or nonseasonal depression, with two to three sessions of treatment per day. Treatment for seasonal depression and skin conditions using a light-box was introduced in the early 1990s. Light-wave treatments for depression and sleep problems using blue wave technology were introduced in 2001.

Expert Insight

• In 1998, UCSD doctor Daniel Kripke presented findings of a study that showed light therapy to produce the same results as certain anti-depressant medication. He also found that light treatment works more quickly than serotonin-boosting drugs in counteracting depression

Fun Fact

• Ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates was known to advise patients to expose themselves to sunlight to treat their various health problems