If you’re struggling with fatigue and itching from primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), light therapy may help to relieve your symptoms. Light therapy is an umbrella term for treatments that use different wavelengths of light to treat medical conditions.
While not a first-line therapy for PBC, light therapy may be a helpful add-on if your current treatments aren’t adequately addressing all of your symptoms.
What is light therapy?
Light therapy involves exposure to light, usually in a controlled setting, to treat a variety of symptoms. While natural sunlight is considered a form of light therapy, doctors often recommend artificial therapy to ensure safety and consistency. For PBC, bright light therapy and phototherapy may both be used, depending on your specific symptoms.
Bright light therapy
Bright light therapy uses exposure to a full-spectrum light to shift a person’s sleep patterns. When used in the morning, bright light therapy may help improve sleep quality and reduce sleepiness throughout the day. Many different light therapy devices exist, including:
- Light therapy boxes: Light boxes produce intense light that mimics sunlight. Sitting near a light box for a few minutes every morning can help regulate your circadian rhythm.
- Light visors: While less commonly used, light visors are wearable devices that function similarly to light boxes, but allow you extra mobility.
- Dawn simulators: While not exactly a form of bright light therapy, dawn simulators are more gentle than your typical bright light devices. These lamps ease the sleep-wake transition by mimicking a sunrise that slowly brightens the room. Many dawn simulators also have built-in clocks and are designed to fit on your nightstand.
A study of patients with PBC demonstrated that morning bright light therapy can improve sleep quality, though the existing research is fairly limited.
Read more about PBC treatment and care
Phototherapy
Phototherapy can help treat uncontrollable itching, also known as pruritus, by exposing the skin to ultraviolet B (UVB) light. Generally, phototherapy is prescribed only if traditional treatments are ineffective. While phototherapy has been shown to ease itching in patients with PBC, the biochemical mechanism still isn’t fully understood.
Unlike bright light therapy, phototherapy sessions usually take place a few times per week rather than every day.
If you’re receiving phototherapy at a treatment center, you’ll stand in a device that looks like a tanning bed while wearing special goggles to protect your eyes. Then, your provider will turn on the UVB light for a set period of time.
If a specific area of your body is affected, your doctor may instead use a UVB wand that targets that portion of the skin.
Can you do light therapy at home?
Bright light therapy is almost always done at home. Still, you should make sure to consult your doctor so you can choose the best device and follow all safety procedures.
Phototherapy is often performed at a health care facility. However, some devices are approved for at-home use with a doctor’s prescription and under strict medical supervision.
Side effects of light therapy
The major side effects of bright light therapy include headaches and eyestrain. These can be avoided by not looking directly into the device and sitting a safe distance away from the light.
Phototherapy, when used incorrectly, carries more potential risks. These may include:
- Skin redness.
- Burns and blisters.
- Dryness.
- Premature skin aging.
Always make sure that you closely follow your doctor’s directions in order to prevent these adverse effects, especially if you’re administering the therapy at home.
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