Phototherapy: What It Is, What It Is For And How It Is Used
Although it may seem very mystical, light can cure, or at least reduce the symptoms of certain medical problems and psychological disorders.
Phototherapy is a set of treatments in which light is used to help increase mood in psychiatric patients and also reduce inflammation and other dermatological problems. Below we will see in more depth what this technique consists of, especially in the field of psychiatry.
Phototherapy, also called luminotherapy or light therapy, is a therapeutic tool in which Electromagnetic radiation, that is, light, is used for the treatment of medical diseases and psychopathological disorders The type of light applied can be visible, infrared or ultraviolet radiation.
In the medical field, phototherapy is used, above all, in the treatment of skin diseases, such as vitiligo or psoriasis. In the case of psychology and psychiatry, it has been found useful in treating mood disorders, especially seasonal affective disorder.
What does it consist of?
Basically, phototherapy involves exposing the patient to a device, such as a phototherapy lamp, or to sunbaths, so that the light hits the skin and activates biochemical processes. The light from the phototherapy lamp is very similar to natural light.
Phototherapy is believed to affects brain chemicals associated with mood and sleep For this reason it is used in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder, a mood disorder that occurs at a certain time of the year, especially associated with a lack of natural light. For this reason, most people who present it manifest it in autumn or winter.
Which has benefits?
When used in psychopathology, as it is not a pharmacological treatment, phototherapy is associated with a treatment that involves few side effects. If you are already taking drugs, especially antidepressants, or are undergoing psychological therapy, The use of this technique can help increase the effectiveness of these treatments allowing a lower dose of the drugs to be consumed.
It is also used in pregnant or breastfeeding women who cannot consume psychotropic drugs because, although not all of them, there is a risk that they will end up in the baby.
For what diseases and disorders is it used?
As we were already commenting, phototherapy It is used especially for dermatological diseases and mood disorders However, there are many more conditions where the technique has shown high effectiveness.
Among the mental disorders for which it is used we can find mood disorders such as:
But, in addition, they are used to treat disorders in which the person presents some type of imbalance in your sleep cycle whether for work reasons, long trips (jet-lag) or difficulties falling asleep.
As for skin diseases, we find psoriasis. In phototherapy applied to this type of problems, UV light needs to be filtered since this can damage both the eyes and the skin.
Possible side effects
In the case of phototherapy applied for mood disorders, despite being a safe technique, it does involves certain risks, which are mild and short-lived. Among these we can find:
Side effects can be controlled by reducing the treatment time, moving away from the lamp, taking breaks during long sessions, or changing the time of day it is used. It may also be that they appear immediately after starting therapy, but that they reduce as the therapy progresses.
Precautions
Although the use of phototherapy may seem harmless, we must not forget that it is a medical treatment, and therefore precautions must be taken when using it, in addition to trusting the professional judgment of the doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist who recommended it. .
Some of the considerations to take into account before starting light treatment are the Know if you have a skin disease that makes it especially sensitive to light and that could worsen if this technique is applied, as would be the case of systemic lupus erythematosus. It is of special consideration if you have an eye disease, which makes your eyes more vulnerable to light injuries.
If you are taking a drug, you must Ask your prescriber and look at the package insert to see if it increases sensitivity to sunlight Some of the medications that can have this side effect are certain antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or phytotherapeutic treatments, such as St. John’s wort.
In people who suffer from bipolar disorder, it is especially important to monitor that phototherapy is being applied, since one of its side effects is triggering mania.
Ultraviolet light
Phototherapy lamps must be designed to filter ultraviolet light, which is harmful to the skin and eyes. Although in most cases and, especially, for use with the skin, they are already designed to filter it, they do not always succeed completely.
It is for this reason that special care must be taken with this type of device because, and as we were already saying, although they may seem very harmless, if there is not good control, there is a risk of suffering from skin problems. , such as spots, melanoma and burns. Go to a dermatologist before and during the application of the technique even if it is being used for a mood disorder, it is always recommended.
Phototherapy prescribed for people suffering from seasonal affective disorder usually begins in early autumn, when the skies begin to cloud over in many regions of the world and the rains begin. Due to lack of sun, the disorder appears. It is because of that Phototherapy is applied to compensate for the lack of light stimulation in people who are most sensitive to it Generally, the treatment continues until spring, when there begins to be more light outside and this is enough to maintain a good mood and higher energy levels.
During phototherapy, the person sits or works near a specialized lamp. To be effective, the light from the lamp must enter the eyes indirectly, in addition to hitting the skin. One of the biological bases of depression is related to the lack of light and alterations in sleep cycles, for this reason, when this light enters through the eye, it allows the sleep cycles to be regulated, since it helps the brain regulate itself. and, when there is light, be clear that it is not time to sleep, it is day.
But, be careful! you should not look at the lamp directly, since it can damage your eyes. The recommendations of the health professional who recommended it should be followed, in addition to looking at the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is not a therapy that automatically induces improvement. It takes time and perseverance, like any other treatment. We should not expect that with a single session we will have a significant improvement in our mood.
One of the recommendations is to have this lamp on near a place that we frequently inhabit in the home such as the desk, the living room or some other place where we spend a lot of time.
How should it be applied to be effective?
There are three key elements to ensure that this therapy is effective.
1. Intensity
The intensity of the lamp is recorded in lux (“light” in Latin), which is the measure of the amount of light received. For seasonal affective disorder, their usual recommendation is to use a lamp of 10,000 lux intensity placed at a distance of half a meter from the face.
2. Duration
At an intensity of 10,000 lux, phototherapy usually requires sessions of between 20 and 30 minutes If the lamp intensity is lower, say 2,500 lux, longer sessions may be needed.
For most people, phototherapy is most effective when done early in the morning, first thing in the morning. However, there are people who may find it more useful to receive the sessions at other times of the day. To do this, the doctor must be consulted to establish a schedule that best adapts to the particular case.
Other types of lamps
Other similar products are these.
1. Infrared radiation lamp
It is used as thermal therapy, using the infrared camera It is not visible light, it simply gives heat and is not applied for mood disorders, but for skin problems.
2. Laser
It is a special artificial light, which consists of the amplification of light through a process of stimulated emission of radiation. It is considered a phototherapy technique, although it is not applied in the field of psychological disorders and its application in skin diseases is very specific.
It requires light and a chemical compound, which can be liquid, solid or gaseous The light stimulates the chemical substance, increasing its energy. When the energy hits the compound is when the laser itself appears, appearing in a single color and, sometimes, with the ability to cut tissue.
There are two types of lasers for medical purposes: the soft and the hard.
The soft one, with a radiation of 10 – 20 mW (milliwatts), is used by sweeping the skin and has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and tissue regeneration effects.
The hard one has a radiation greater than 10 W (watts), making its use quite powerful. It can cause cellular vaporization, photocoagulation, or even cellular explosions. It can be used to cut tissue (laser scalpel), photocoagulate in the case of retinal detachment or remove tattoos and stains. May have pathogenic effects is contraindicated in pregnant women and in people with oncological diseases.
About sunbeds
When talking about phototherapy lamps, one may think that they are similar to tanning beds, that is, they are used to get tan. Since the benefits of sunlight are already known in popular culture, There are many who can make the mistake of thinking that tanning beds serve as a good alternative to solar lamps, in addition to giving us a tan for the summer. This is not like this.
It has not been proven that they help relieve the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder; in addition, they release ultraviolet light which, as we were already commenting before, They can damage the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer
Golden, R.N., Gaynes, B.N., Ekstrom, B.D. (2015). Efficacy of phototherapy in mood disorders: review and meta-analysis of the evidence. Am J Psychiatry.
