Kusukela ekuqaleni kwesikhathi, izakhiwo zokwelapha zokukhanya ziye zaqashelwa futhi zasetshenziswa ekwelapheni. Abantu baseGibhithe lasendulo bakha ama-solarium afakwe ingilazi enemibala ukuze basebenzise imibala ethile ye-spectrum ebonakalayo ukuze baphulukise izifo. Kwaba abaseGibhithe abaqala ukuqaphela ukuthi uma ufaka imibala engilazini izohlunga wonke amanye amaza e-spectrum ebonakalayo yokukhanya futhi ikunike uhlobo olumsulwa lokukhanya okubomvu, okungukuthiImisebe ye-wavelength yama-nanometer angu-600-700.Ukusetshenziswa kwasekuqaleni kwamaGreki namaRoma kugcizelele imiphumela yokushisa yokukhanya.
Ngo-1903, uNeils Ryberg Finsen wanikezwa uMklomelo kaNobel kwezokwelapha ngokusebenzisa ngempumelelo ukukhanya kwe-ultraviolet ukwelapha abantu abanesifo sofuba ngempumelelo. Namuhla uFinsen uqashelwa njengoyise ka-ukwelashwa nge-phototherapy kwesimanje.
Ngifuna ukukukhombisa incwajana engiyitholile. Ivela ekuqaleni kwawo-1900 futhi ngaphambili ifundeka kanje 'Jabulela ilanga endlini ngelanga lasekhaya.' Ingumkhiqizo owenziwe eBrithani obizwa ngokuthi iyunithi yasekhaya ye-Vi-Tan ultraviolet futhi empeleni iyibhokisi lokugeza lokukhanya kwe-ultraviolet incandescent. Inebhalbhu ye-incandescent, isibani somusi we-mercury, esikhipha ukukhanya ku-ultraviolet spectrum, okuzohlinzeka nge-vitamin D.