Many of us love this time of the year, Christmas is done and we start looking forward to the lighter evenings, the feeling of spring not being too far away. But for many of us it can also leave us feeling a little SAD.

SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is a real thing and many of us develop it in the darker months; it is also referred to as winter depression.

SAD not only has an affect on your mood, it can affect your sleep and your confidence.

One of the bigger causes of this is the lack of sunshine and I certainly miss the feeling of the sunshine on my skin.

Of course, we are always being told to protect our skin from sunburn and tanning and to protect it from skin cancer is vital, but we also need the sun.

Sunlight and darkness trigger the release of hormones in the brain, sunlight is thought to release serotonin which is a hormone to boost your mood and keep you uplifted, whilst dark light triggers the release of melatonin which helps you sleep.

Without enough sunshine your serotonin levels can dip, leaving us feeling sad and there are also many other health benefits associated with catching a moderate amount of sunshine.

Here are my top 4 tips for combating seasonal affective disorder:

1 – Dermalux LED light therapy is a revolutionary non-invasive treatment that provides the positive effects you can get from sunlight without the skin ageing. The sensation of LED light therapy is an Incredibly relaxing and positive experience.

LED has many benefits: blue light reduces the amount of melatonin released. It also has anti-spasmodic properties that help relieve tension and headaches and is excellent for congested skin.

Red and near infrared light can boost your mood and rejuvenate your skin, who wouldn’t want that?

2 – Regular exercise will help to increase your energy levels and brighten your mood. I personally love motivational quotes that can really inspire you for the day ahead.

Relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation can also help to lift the spirits.

3 – Feed the skin from within and boost your immune system with advanced nutrition such as VIT C plus supplements containing 1000mg of vitamin C combined with bioflavonoids to help support natural immune defences and help to reduce fatigue, especially during the winter season.

4 – Look after your skin

The winter months can have a very drying effect on our skin, not only do we have to contend with the cold weather, but also central heating.

Keep the skin hydrated with a professional range of skin care.

Cleanse, moisturise, apply serums and sun protection 365 days of the year.