The best light therapy products can be great cures for acne, depression, or insomnia. These three conditions effect millions of people worldwide, and can have a huge negative effect on peoples lifestyles.
We are strong believes that more people suffering from any of these conditions should try light therapy.
Many of the more mainstream treatments for these conditions can have negative side effects. These can range from chronic fatigue, to complex skin conditions, to even worse depression.
And I wouldn’t wish this on anyone!
For this reason, we have complied a list of some of the best light therapy products of 2017 that you can use in your own home.
Light therapy is a reasonably new treatment. Despite being ne, these products have thousands of happy customers worldwide, and they sell like hot cakes on Amazon.
Light Therapy Lamps for Depression and Winter Fatigue
Many people get what we call the ‘winter blues’. I’m one of them! I hate winter with a passion, and having a week of gloomy weather will no doubt put me in a saddened mood.
Different people are affected in different want in regards to the winter blues. Some people don’t get it at all, some can withstand long bouts of gloomy weather, and others spiral into a depressed, lethargic state.
There is actually a formal name for the winter blues. It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Although the exact reason for people getting Seasonal Affective Disorder is unknown, there are studies which suggest it is die to changes in the brains internal chemical balance, which is caused as a result of the lack of bright light.
Apparently (I’m no doctor!) the bodies circadian rhythms are managed by the production of hormones, and light is a key player in triggering the production of these hormones.
Therefore it makes sense that the lack of good light over the winter months will disrupt the production of the hormones that control mood and sleep.
To remedy this, light therapy lamps can help trigger these feel-good hormones into being produces, and therefore help alleviate any mood or sleeping issues you could be facing.
If you suffer from SAD, take a look at our best light therapy lamps and pick out one that ticks all your requirements, at a reasonable price. If you spend just 30 minutes each morning exposed to the artifical light you should notice you are more energized throughout the day.
Results vary from person to person, but the tens of thousands of positive customer reviews available online, and my own brief experience, proves light therapy lamps to be beneficial for SAD.
We recommend choosing a light therapy lamp of at least 2,000 lux.
Editor’s Pick: Northern Light Technology Travelite 10,000 Lux
Our editor’s pick for light therapy devices for depression and winter fatigue has to be the Northern Light Technology Travelite 10,000 Lux. This device is lightweight, only 2.5 lbs., and is ideal for travelling since it fits easily into a backpack. The thick acrylic shield keeps the harmful UV from penetrating while the light filtration allows the helpful elements of sunshine to imbue your skin with all the vitamins and helpful rays that will boost moods and keep depression at bay.
Light therapy treatments can be administered in as little as thirty minutes a day. The experts at Northern Light recommended that users sit in front of the light for around thirty minutes, right after waking for the day, to reap the full benefits of the therapy throughout your waking hours. By doing so, this will lead to better general mood and enhanced well being. Best part? This light therapy is low risk and is better than most treatments on the market for dealing with depression and winter fatigue in a natural fashion.
The administration of this treatment can be made in a variety of ways. The eight foot cord and easy-mount system can either be used to light the entire room or can be propped in a area like a vanity where you can expose yourself in bursts while completing tasks. The light comes with a stand that supports it in a vertical or horizontal position but it can be modified to mount virtually anywhere. The ability to move the device seamlessly from one treatment to another is one of the reasons it makes it to the editor’s pick.
In addition, this unit is extremely energy efficient. With only 48 watts of power, this light can still light up a room with the soft glow of sunshine even in the dead of winter. Coupled with the seven year unlimited warranty, you can rest assured that Northern Light stands behind the validity of their product.
The flexibility of the product also adds to the reason it made it to the editor’s choice on our list. Because of its fairly innocuous presence and appearance, you can even light other areas where depression and winter fatigue might affect the general wellbeing of the people in the room. For example, it’s fairly common for these lights to be used in office settings to boost employee morale.
Overall, this light is a great resource and treatment option for those who need a little boost to push away those winter blues. We definitely recommend!
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Highly Recommended: Nature Bright Sun Bliss 2-in-1 Portable Light Therapy
One of the devices that made it onto our highly recommended list is the Nature Bright Sun Bliss 2-in-1 Portable Light Therapy device. This unit is a tiny device with a large amount of benefits. It has the 10,000 LUX bright light which mimics sunlight and filters out the UV light that makes sun exposure potentially harmful. All the benefits of sunlight without any of the harmful effects? Yes, please!
Our personal favorite feature of this nifty device is the built-in wake-up light that acts as an alarm clock to gently rouse you from sleep. It does have a back up alarm if you are a particularly heavy sleeper but the light itself is definitely bright enough to do the trick if you sleep in a darkened room. In addition, this device is extremely portable, so taking it with you on trips is a breeze and fits into any handbag or carryon.
Overall, this is a really great device that will greatly add to your morning routine. With a fairly large range of options and features, a small size, and a portability that is unrivaled in light therapy devices, this unit is definitely a highly recommended one.
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Highly Recommended: Circadian Optics Lumos Light Therapy Lamp
Another excellent unit on our highly recommended list, the Circadian Optics Lumos lamp looks like something out of a sci-fi novel with all the benefits of cutting edge light therapy techniques. This cylindrical unit weighs in at only 1.3 lbs., making it one of the lightest on the market, and is 14 inches long and just shy of 4 inches wide. This makes is ideal for use on desks or tables where space is limited but the need for light therapy is not.
The Lumos lamp is small, making for easy portability, but that’s not what really makes this particular device stand out. The multiple hinge system that allows you to move and manipulate the light positions so that it achieves optimal diffusion is really what makes it rise from a good option to a great one. Add that to the fact that it is one of the only units on the market that offers a USB chargeable device, as opposed to either changeable battery or adapter, and you really have something interesting going on.
A great device with a lot of potential for travelers and those who aren’t big on bulky clutter, the Lumos makes it onto our highly recommended list.
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Highly Recommended: Aura Day Light Therapy Lamp
Last, but certainly not least, on our highly recommended list is the Aura Day Light Therapy Lamp. Uniquely shaped, this rectangular model is all about smooth edges and modern design. Coupled with the rotation element, which allows it to be manipulated to the desired angle, 75 or 80 degrees respectively, you have a wonderful option for light therapy users. In addition, this unit is wall mountable and has a timer option that will allow you go about your day without having to worry about making further adjustments to your device.
This small unit offers a variety of product features that make it a great candidate for our list but the one that stands out the most has to be the ability to personalize how much LUX you are getting at any given time. The dial gives you the option of cranking the device up to 10,000 LUX or setting it down to a minor 3,500 LUX, depending on your needs.
Overall, this device is a great addition to your light therapy needs and can add an interesting aesthetic to your room. Its interesting shape, convenient portability, timer option, and LUX dial pushed it up onto our highly recommended list.
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Light therapy for sleeplessness
There are some great products available these days to help with people who struggle to get to sleep. I’m personally a fan of white noise machines, or sound therapy machines. These machines are essentially smart speakers that play calming noises to help you get to sleep, and stop you getting stuck in your own thoughts.
However light therapy can also be helpful in ensuring you get a good night sleep.
Everyone who has been on a flight knows how it distrupts your sleeping patterns. Other people might have distrupted sleeps thanks to work shifts, or working late from home. It’s especially common for people in the hospitality industry to use light therapy products to help them sleep well.
No matter what your situation, an irregular sleeping cycle can cause havoc on your natural sleeping patterns. It leaves you feeling drained and without energy to be your normal self.
If your normal body clock is thrown out of alignment, light therapy could be used to backtrack or fast-forward your body clock to get it back on track.
If you are a late sleeper you will want to use your light therapy lamp in the morning. However,if you wake up too early you may want to push back your sleep by using your light therapy lamp in the evening.
It really is as easy as that. This is why we recommend anyone who is struggling with sleep tries either a light therapy lamp, or a white noise machine, to get them a good nights rest. Where do you buy a light therapy lamp from? They can be tough to find in retailers, but there are a few options online.
We’ve pulled together some of the best light therapy products for you to try below. If you are unsure, go with the Editors Picks. Otherwise read through our reviews and pick the one that best meets your needs and budget.
Editor’s Pick: NatureBright SunTouch Pluse Light and Ion Therapy Lamp
This light therapy device is one of our personal favorites, I even have one of these myself, and offers some great benefits for people suffering from insomnia, interrupted sleep patterns, and a plethora of sleeping disorders that seem to be prevalent in today’s world. Recommended by the Columbia Department of Psychiatry as well as the New York State psychiatry Institute, this device is one of the best on the market
Aesthetically, this unit isn’t much to write home about. It has a classic design with an angled lamp to ensure that it is angled toward the face of the therapy user. It looks almost like a vanity lamp on first inspection but it definitely performs a lot more tasks!
The light it exudes is 10,000 LUX UV-free light, one of the higher models on the market at present. It also includes additional ion therapy that you can turn on or off at will. All therapies can be put on a timer, a handy feature that we’re starting to see in more and more units as light therapy becomes more prevalent. It also uses fairly low wattage at 43 watts, so it also won’t suck your electricity during daily use.
The add-ons for the NatureBright system go well with the other therapies and include some very helpful essential oil disbursement kits to add to the fan part of this unit. Those we need to alleviate sleep will find that adding a bit of lavender oil to this will greatly help sooth you if you use it right before bed. NatureBright also offers some interesting literature for free on the website if you’ve purchased one of their products. This will be particularly helpful if you need to further research some of the therapies you’re engaging in and the science behind NatureBright’s products.
There is no battery required on this unit and will plug into any standard outlet without an issue. Recommended us states that you need to sit in front of the light for at least 15 minutes to reap the benefits of the unit, though it is fairly standard to require 30. With multiple therapies to choose from, it’s easy to see that this unit can offer multiple functions within your therapeutic routines. An excellent product that offers multiple forms of therapy, a good customer service center, and a few add-ons, the NatureBright lamp is definitely our editor’s pick.
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Highly Recommended: Verilux HappyLight Liberty
This compact sized light therapy device is unique in that it offers two lens options depending on how much light intensity you want as a personal preference and includes two no-glare lenses for high energy or comfort. This is another small device that packs a big therapeutic punch and offers 10,000 LUX options for prescription level light exposure.
In addition, for being so small it throws a light at a broad surface area, emitting more light per square foot than other models of a similar size.
This enables users to have a more efficient therapy session without the light being so close that it is blinding in its intensity. It’s small size allows for maximum portability, a definite plus if you want to use the device during your lunch hour or in your cubicle in the morning.
The adjustability of the device is a plus because it personalizes the way people engage in light therapy. The intensity controls allows you to pick whether you want high or low exposure and coupled with the interchangeable lenses and tilting featuring, you can customize every aspect of your program.
Once you’ve got your therapy settings in sync, it’ll be time to start using it. The manufacturer recommends roughly 30 to 60 minutes a day.
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Highly Recommended: Sphere Gadget Technologies Lightphoria
This small device is perfect for the consummate travel thanks to its ability to either be battery operated or plugged into an outlet via an adapter. Like most of the therapy devices on our list, this one also mimics the full spectrum of sunlight and like the previous models, it has an adjustable intensity level. The timer options on this model are set at 15, 30, and 45 minutes, which is a comparatively broader range compared to the normal settings which come in fifteen minute increments that must be reset every time it turns off.
The best part about this particular unit is its extreme portability. It’s designed to go wherever you do and it shows in its compact size, light weight, and adaptability. It even comes with a handy little nylon travel pouch for safe storage in your luggage. The Lightphoria also has the added benefit of having a relatively small lens, making it optimal for use in a setting where space is at a premium, like during air travel.
Overall, this is a handy little gadget that will keep your sleep regular even while traveling. Lightphoria’s high power light and small storage capability land it easily in the mid-range of our highly recommended list.
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Highly Recommended: Carex Health Brands Day-Light Classic
Design wise, the Carex Health Brands Day-Light Classic is a fairly unique model that has a modern design aesthetic mixed with the efficiency of a medical device. The long stand with adjustable height and angle provides the user the ability to use the most highly recommended downward angle during their light therapy session. Like all the units on our list, it provides 10,000 LUX with the additional guarantee of being glare-free, a problem found in some lesser units. It also comes in two different styles of varying width so the user is able to customize their experience even further.
In addition, the two light settings enable you to amp up the intensity if you feel like you need an added boost to start your day. The only downside to this very personable lamp is that it is heavy. At 9.4 pounds, you could feasibly carry five of another type of light therapy device, but this model definitely makes up for it with its adjustability and its aesthetic value.
A beautifully crafted device that will add a little something extra to your home and wellbeing, the Day-Light Classic Plus will leave you feeling well rested and completely satisfied.
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What is a Light Therapy Product?
Essentially a light therapy lamp is a fluorescent lamp, which is contained within a box.
Most light therapy lamps are portable and can be used in any room of your house, and moved whenever you would like. They are often lightweight, so moving them is no huge task. The video below from Dr Tracey Marks explains a little more…
Different light lamps are designed to emit different intensities of light. Some of the lower intensity lamps (for example, 2,500 lux) will require a bit more exposure than the high intensity lamps (for example, the stronger 10,000 lux models).
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