Do vitamin D lamps work?



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It's a tempting idea to think that we can just turn on a light switch and get all the vitamin D we need – but unfortunately, it does not work that way in real life.

"Vitamin D Lamp" is only a name for a type of light. Other general names used interchangeably include "solar lamp" or "light therapy box", which can be confusing – because there are at least three different types of sunlamps and light therapy devices and they all do different things .

Light therapy boxes can also help fight seasonal affective disorder – if you know what you need

While a light therapy box mimics outdoor light to help you fight seasonal affective disorder, it should primarily emit little or no UV radiation, according to the Mayo Clinic.

You want to find a light therapy box emitting 10,000 lux of light – lower amounts will not have the desired effect, according to Healthline.

The light therapy box does not have the risk of cancer.
Lumie

In addition, because of the risk of some side effects, including severe headaches, it is best to use light therapy boxes for SAD under the supervision of your doctor.

According to the Mayo Clinic, this may also not be a good option for you if you take certain medications, if you suffer from diseases that make you particularly sensitive to light or if you suffer from bipolar disorder.

Most experts do not recommend the use of solar lights to boost vitamin D production because of the risk of skin cancer

Your body can synthesize vitamin D through UV exposure, which is why many people call it "the sun's vitamin".

However, factors ranging from wearing clothes that protect you from head to toe at the application of sunscreen to high SPF all reduce the amount of vitamin D that your body can produce in this way.

But experts still do not recommend jumping into a "tanning bed" to increase vitamin D.

You can also call a sunlamp a "tanning bed".
Getty Images / Donald Miralle

Dr. JoAnn Manson clarified for INSIDER:

"We really do not recommend the use of solar lamps for the production of vitamin D. Yes, there will be vitamin D synthesis on unprotected skin, but the risk of skin cancer badociated with sunlamps increases. considerably and is not recommended, especially for young adults This would not be the way to do it. "

If you want to increase your vitamin D intake, Dr. Manson recommends you instead to take a vitamin D supplement that provides up to 2,000 IU per day – it's much safer and more effective than any other day. targeted UV exposure.

Patients with severe eczema or psoriasis may find relief through light therapy cells specifically targeting their uncomfortable conditions with the help of ultraviolet rays, but only under the close supervision of their doctors, according to Health.

More research is needed to know for sure if vitamin D lamps really help SAD

In December 2018, the FDA did not approve or regulate light therapy boxes for the treatment of ADD in the United States and there did not appear to be any large-scale studies of their effectiveness.

That being said, there is anecdotal evidence that they work – and they may not do it – and some doctors recommend them. If you are looking for an option to fight TAS, talk to your doctor. They can be worth it.

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