It may seem too good to be true, but scientists have discovered that SAD lamps really do work.
According to Boston University, 10 million Americans are affected by seasonal affective disorder, which is a type of depression that begins and ends at the same time every year.
Light lamp therapy is one of several ways to treat seasonal affective disorder in those who must remain housebound or indoors for both work- and COVID-19-related reasons.
Studies show that therapy lamps are an effective treatment for SAD—and, at the opposite end of the spectrum, that blue-light usage after dark through LED screens can cause depression.
The presence of sunlight during the day helps to produce melatonin at night. A therapy lamp must deliver 5,000 to 10,000 lux, compared to the 800/900 lux provided by an early evening sky, or the 100/400 offered from indoor lighting.
Be careful when using a SAD lamp. If used too early in the day, you might become exhausted before your usual bedtime, and using the lamp too late in the afternoon may cause insomnia. Overall, therapy lamps are still a reliable treatment option for those affected by SAD, especially with a reasonable price point as low as $30.