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Environmental aspects of nature such as sunlight play a vital role in the functioning of our body. Light affects our sleeping cycle, vitamin D creation, and body rhythms. The lack of exposure to adequate levels of light may have adverse effects. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by the lack of exposure to light.
There are light therapy lamps created to provide the much-needed light. These are of particular importance to individuals who live in regions with inadequate sunlight exposure. The Best SAD Light reviews help you to choose the best product to prevent or deal with conditions caused by the lack of adequate light exposure.
Contents
- 1 Best SAD Light Benefits
- 2 Reviews of Products
- 2.1 1. Aura Day Light Therapy Lamp, 10,000 Lux of Bright Light White
- 2.2 2. Verilux HappyLight Deluxe 10,000 LUX Sunshine Simulator
- 2.3 3. Carex Health Brands Day-Light Sky
- 2.4 4. Carex Health Brands Day-Light Classic Plus Bright Light Therapy Lamp
- 2.5 5. Philips goLITE BLU Light Therapy Device
- 2.6 6. Verilux HappyLight Liberty 10,000 LUX Light Therapy Energy Lamp
- 3 Buying Guide
- 4 Conclusion
Best SAD Light Benefits
- Work fast to minimize many types of depression
Bright light corrects circulation imbalance that is connected to circadian disorders which cause depression. The types of depression that are treated by light therapy include clinical, non-seasonal depression and winter blues. The results of the light exposure often become evident after two weeks.
- Assist patients with bipolar disorder
Exposure to bright light treats the episodes of euphorbia. Also, the lights help the individuals sleep better.
- Bright light helps with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS is affected by circadian rhythms and the depletion of reproductive hormones. Being exposed to the light a few minutes daily balances the body rhythms. This results in the controlling of PMS in women.
- Suitable for dealing with major sleep disorders
SAD light helps to manage different types of sleep disorders. These include insomnia, late night and early morning insomnia. The sleep disorders are as a result of the alteration of circadian rhythm controls. The disorders often affect the rest of the day for the individual. By minimizing the disruption of the body rhythm, a person is able to sleep following a regular pattern.
- Manages shift work and jet lag
Any changes in work schedules or long hours of travel disrupt the circadian rhythm of our bodies. This may result in performance issues, health problems and sometimes accidents. Light therapy minimizes the impact of disruption enhancing sleep and work performance. In addition, it reduces off-shift scheduling problems and promotes health.
- Fatigue management
Therapy using SAD lights while combining with adequate sleep effectively combats fatigue. The combination helps the body relax and enhance physical health.
- Improves productivity
SAD light lamps produce a full spectrum of light that increases and stabilizes our nerves. This, in turn, improves academic achievement, productivity, alertness and minimizes the rate of absenteeism.
- Reduces bulimia symptoms
Bulimia is an eating disorder that happens a minimum of twice of week. It is where an individual eats and purges. A study shows that two weeks of 30 minutes of light therapy cuts bulimia symptoms by half.
- Helps with fertility in women
Light exposure every morning from SAD light from about 15 to 60 minutes relieves negative symptoms during the premenstrual period. These symptoms are responsible for affecting fertility in women. Individuals with more exposure to light are considered more fertile.
Reviews of Products
1. Aura Day Light Therapy Lamp, 10,000 Lux of Bright Light White
The Aura Daylight Lamp produces a clinical strength bright light of 10,000 Lux. Also, the light source of the lamp is fluorescent. The lamp is suitable to treat circadian sleep disorders, winter blues, jet lag, shift work adjustment and low energy.
It has a patented technology which is an adjusting dial. The adjusting light allows the user to control the therapy treatment. It adjusts to shifting the angle of the lamp from about 70 to 85 degrees. The settings of the daylight lamp range from 3,500 lux as the minimum to 10,000 lux being the maximum. Another important feature of the lamp is the timer. The built-in timer allows the user to set the time of exposure to the lamp.
The interval of the lamp exposure is a multiple of 10 minutes. It is the minimum with the maximum period being 60 minutes. When the time set elapses, the therapy lamp shuts off. The user is able to mount the lamp on the wall if the preference is to use the lamp at a specified location. Furthermore, the stand of the product folds up making it easy to store.
Most noteworthy, the safety of the product have been highly considered. It is a product FCC certified and ETL safety tested. Also, it is certified to be 100% UV free. For safe and effective treatment, the lamp needs to be placed 16 to 24 inches from the user irrespective of the duration of exposure.
Our Rating: 
(4.3 / 5)
Pros
- The adjustable lux dial allows changing the angle of the lamp.
- One is able to mount the therapy lamp on the wall.
- It is easy to operate.
- The timer is convenient to manage exposure.
- It is safe to use since it has several certifications.
- The lamp is sturdy and well-sized.
- It is affordable.
Cons
- It may cause a headache when using high-intensity light.
2. Verilux HappyLight Deluxe 10,000 LUX Sunshine Simulator
The product from Verilux, which means the bright light is useful when treating depression related to light depression. It helps to enhance the mood and energy of individuals. The Natural Spectrum with 36 watts produces the white light.
Also, the light generated by the lamp is comfortable and natural since it is broad, clean and even. The product allows for setting the light into various flexible positions. The lamp produces UV blocked light with 10,000 lux. Also, the light is white recommended by medical professionals. Furthermore, the light has specular metal accents.
The product is extensively tested to meet the safety standards. It is also ETL listed. The 8.4-pound lamp has an off and off button at the top to control the usage. Furthermore, it has a three-prong plug which is grounded. For the session to be productive, the duration of exposure should be about 3o to 60 minutes.
Our Rating: 
(4.1 / 5)
Pros
- It has an effective range allowing multiple users use the lamp at the same time.
- The lamp is ETL listed.
- It works efficiently to counter depression.
- The lamp is durable.
Cons
- The price of the Verilux is higher than other lamps.
- The product is not eligible for return if defective.
3. Carex Health Brands Day-Light Sky
The Carex daylight sky is a therapy lamp which users use to counter winter blue, jet lag, and circadian sleep disorder. Furthermore, it helps to fight low energy and shift work adjustment. The product provides glare-free white light that is 99.3% UV-filtered. The UV filtration and balancing protect the eye while making the user safe and comfortable. Also, the projection of light is from above producing 10,000 lux for an optimum therapy.
Most noteworthy, the lamp has two flicker-free settings that allow using the lamp for therapy or task lighting. Also, the angle and height of the product are adjustable. The tubes for lighting are CFL producing 55 watts each. Furthermore, the color temperature is 4000k or 85 CRI with a Bright zone TM technology.
Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)
Pros
- The product comes with a limited warranty for five years.
- Height and angle of the lamp are adjustable.
- It is light therefore portable.
- The lamp does not flicker or glare.
Cons
- It is relatively expensive.
4. Carex Health Brands Day-Light Classic Plus Bright Light Therapy Lamp
The Carex day-light classic plus is a lamp for treating mild to severe symptoms. It produces white light that is glare free with 10,000 Lux. Most noteworthy, the lamp blocks 97.3% of UV light to ensure eye safety. Furthermore, it provides the light at 12 inches with adjustable height and angle. The adjustments enable the user to set the appropriate location depending on their needs.
The light tubes of the bright therapy lamp are CFL with three by 36 watts. Most importantly, the lamp has two light settings for use. It has a color temperature of 4000k or 85 CRI. The product is easy to operate. Also, changing the bulb in case of failure is stress-free. The stand of the lamp is a single pedestal. The manufacturer provides a 5-year limited warranty on the lamp.
Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)
Pros
- It functions efficiently to enhance depression.
- The lamp is light thus convenient to move around.
Cons
- The legs of the lamp are fragile and break easily.
5. Philips goLITE BLU Light Therapy Device
The Philips therapy device is a very light product weighing 1.1 pounds. The product is proven clinically to boost energy, mood, and fight winter blues. In addition, the device has a sleek and compact design that makes it sturdy. It produces a pure blue light occurring naturally that has a Bluewave technology. The technology ensures new diffusion optics is soft and even light. A therapy device comes with a rechargeable battery making it convenient when on the move. In addition, it comes with a travel case for storage when traveling.
The lamp has a relatively wide field of illumination and treatment. The vast field enables the user to engage in other activities while undergoing the therapy. Furthermore, the device is programmable with a built-in timer to control the exposure time. Also, different brightness settings are making it easy to choose the light exposure suitable depending on the needs.
The light produced is UV free and very safe to use. Although the lamp is east to use, an instruction guide comes with the product to guide the user on using the product. It is not suitable for individuals with bipolar disorder.
Our Rating: (4.1 / 5)
Pros
- The device is light thus suitable for travel.
- It has a sleek and compact design.
- The field of treatment and illumination is wide.
- Provided batteries are rechargeable.
- It is safe and durable.
Cons
- The lamp batteries are not replaceable and may die if not used often.
6. Verilux HappyLight Liberty 10,000 LUX Light Therapy Energy Lamp
The Verilux therapy energy lamp addresses seasonal change, jet lag, winter blue, malaise, effects of shift of work or fatigue. In addition, the product enables the body to recalibrate, stabilize while improving concentration and focus. It provides natural soothing spectrum with 10,000 LUX.
The lamp has a compact design that makes it convenient portable without interfering with the performance. Also, it uses 36-watt bulbs that are natural spectrum fluorescent. Since the life of the bulb is up to 10,000 hours, the product is durable. The switch allows the user to toggle between high, low or off. In addition, it has a surface area that is broad to emit light per square inch and enhance the therapy sessions.
Customizing the lamp is simple as there are several features to set the illumination according to one’s needs. Firstly, it has a high-low intensity controls to control four of the settings. Also, it has interchangeable lenses to select an intensity that reduces eye fatigue and glare. Furthermore, the tilt feature allows one to set the angle they require either 15 inches forward or backward.
The product has undergone testing to ensure safety. It is proposition compliant and ULC/UL listed. Also, the manufacturers provide a one-year limited warranty.
Our Rating: 
(4.5 / 5)
Pros
- The lamp is light and compact.
- It is durable.
- The product has several features that allow for customization.
- It is safe and ULC listed.
Cons
- It does not have a timer.
Buying Guide
Before buying a product for SAD light, it is important to consider the aspects below;
- Budget
The SAD lights are many to choose from. It is advisable to buy a product that is within your budget. High-cost products have better features such as a timer and adjustable lenses.
- Brand
It is advisable to use products that are produced by trusted brands. If possible choose a product made by a company that has been in the industry for years. You can quickly identify great brands by reading the reviews by users.
- Bulb type
The kind of bulb determines the amount of energy that the lamp will use. The bulb needs to bright enough and at the same time utilize a reasonable amount of power. Conventionally, LED lights use less energy when in operation.
- The use of the light
The primary use of the SAD light is therapy. However, there are some that can be utilized for multiple applications. Some lamps may be used for illuminating the area.
- Size
Size is an important aspect when choosing a light lamp. In addition to the magnitude, the field of illumination should also be considered. A full field enables the use of the lamp by more than one person. Also, it creates room for the user to move around and handle other tasks while undergoing the therapy.
- Light intensity
For the therapy to be effective in dealing with the different types of depression, the lamp should have the right energy. Choose a SAD lamp with the recommended intensity. The minimum lux recommended by medical practitioners is 3500 lux. The maximum, on the other hand, is 10,000 lux.
- Filtration system
When looking at the features, select the product with the highest ability to filter out UV light. UV light is dangerous to our skin and eyes. The product chosen should emit the lowest UV light possible. Furthermore, give preference to products that are certified based on the standards set when dealing with the SAD products.
Conclusion
Finding the right light therapy device is crucial to ensure that it performs adequately to treat the types of disorders. Many benefits come up as a result of exposure to the bright light for a given time every single day. Some of the factors to consider before buying a product is the budget, light intensity, and size. Also, consider the filtration system and bulb type.
From the list of products reviewed on the best SAD light reviews, I would recommend the use of the Aura® Day Light Therapy Lamp. It stands out as the clear winner because it is easy to operate and is safe. Furthermore, it can be mounted on the wall and be adjusted using the lux dial. A most noteworthy feature is the timer which is not common in many of the products. Finally, it is sturdy with a great size and the brand producing it is a well-known brand.
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