I was chatting with my friend Linda about how depressing northeastern winters are due to the long stretches of gray gloomy days. I commented that, “Maybe one of those SAD (seasonal affected disorder) lights would help.” Linda, who is very fair complected responded, “I wonder how those lights even work, I would be reluctant to use one if they increased your risk of skin cancer.”
Funny she would think that because as I searched for information on SAD lights, another person posted in a forum that they had avoided using SAD lights because they were concerned about cancer. How do SAD lights work and is there a risk?
Seasonal affected disorder is a type of depression that occurs each year commonly during the fall/winter months. People experience depression with fatigue, lack of energy and an increased desire to consume carbohydrates. SAD is believed to affect over 14 million Americans, the majority being women. The cause is unknown but is thought that reduced sunlight affects the internal clock (circadian rhythm) in the body.
Light therapy is believed to work by altering the body’s circadian rhythm. Increased light acts to reduce melatonin levels that may contribute to feeling fatigued and de-energized. The increased light also acts to increase serotonin levels which reduce feelings of depression.
Current studies do show that light therapy successfully treats SAD symptoms and mental health professionals recommend using SAD light treatments for those believed to suffer from this condition. Light therapy can help people in as little as one week after starting therapy but SAD symptoms will return if the light is stopped for longer than a few days.
SAD lights are extremely bright lights. Their intensity is measured in “luxes”. A common treatment is 15 to 30 minutes from a 10,000 lux light box positioned approximately two feet from the person. What surprised me was that SAD lights work by stimulating the brain from light reaching our retinas through our eyes, not from exposure of the light to our skin. It is not recommended that a person look directly at the light but to just look at surfaces illuminated by it. Light therapy should not be used by those with certain eye conditions so check with your doctor before buying one.
Typically, SAD lights have filters that block most UV lights, so they are not considered to contribute to the risk of skin cancer. Check to make sure your SAD light has these filters in place. It is possible that a person with very sensitive skin might need to wear sunscreen due to some redness, but sunscreen is generally not needed for the majority of people.
Some have suggested tanning beds can combat SAD. Tanning beds increase the risk of skin cancer due to UV light exposure and are not recommended to be used for seasonal depression. It is the light reaching the retina, not the skin that combats SAD symptoms. Tanning bed goggles prevent light from reaching your retina while protecting your eyes from UV light.
If you think you may be suffering from SAD, talk to your doctor or mental health worker about whether SAD light therapy might help. Light therapy has very few side effects which usually resolve after a few weeks. There is little fear that using light therapy will cause skin cancer and may make the long winter seasons a bit more bearable.
sources:
www.columbia.edu/~mt12/blt.htm
www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195/DSECTION=causes
http://suicideandmentalhealthassociationinternational.org/SAD.html
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele can be read at http://www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles