Phototherapy treatment: How does it work?
Light
is a form of energy and everything we’re made of contains light. Did you know
that a human body emits light? It is also called as biophotons or ultraweak
photon emissions (UPE) and its visibility is 1,000 times lower than the
sensitivity of the naked eye. Humans
mostly give off infrared radiation with frequency lower than the visible light.
Light has many effects on body. In ancient times, the
Egyptians have been using the sunlight for the treatment of skin diseases.
Unfortunately, since sunlight is unpredictable, it was difficult to get the
correct amount. Too little would be ineffective and too much may cause skin
burn.
Phototherapy,
also called light therapy, is a treatment that uses specific wavelengths of
light for the treatment of various skin disorders mainly psoriasis, eczema,
dermatitis, vitiligo, acne vulgaris and others. The treatments involve exposing
the skin to ultraviolet light.
Phototherapy can either be mid wave light energy
(Ultraviolet-B light or UVB) or long wave light (Ultraviolet-A light or UVA).
UVB is available as narrowband or broadband. And there is also PUVA which is a
combination of treatment which consists of Psoralens (P) and exposing the skin
to UVA.
Treatment of
different skin conditions
Eczema or Dermatitis
A common condition that usually appears as flakes on the
skin, including chest, face, groin, legs, arms and scalp. It can be really
itchy and can cause discomfort when it develops on the noticeable parts of the
body. Ultraviolet B (UVB), ultraviolet A (UVA), or a combination of UVB and UVA
may be used during therapy. PUVA has been used in the treatment of chronic
eczema for the past years while UVB is less effective. This treatment helps in
the reduction of skin inflammation.
Psoriasis
This is a chronic skin condition and a common inherited
skin disorder. UVB phototherapy is usually used and has been shown to be
effective, though either UVA or UVB light can be used. The course of treatment
is given in many weeks and the time of exposure is gradually increased until it
allows the skin to adapt to the treatment. However, neither phototherapy nor
any available treatment affects a permanent cure.
Vitiligo
Patients with this condition have areas of completely white skin. PUVA
can help with the repigmentation particularly with dark-skinned patients.
Risks
However, every treatment has risks to be taken into
consideration. For phototherapy, it may result to nausea, headache, skin burning,
and skin damage due to long term exposure that can also cause cancer due to
effects of PUVA and UVB therapy.
What to expect
The treatment generally requires frequent visits and time
for treatment. The equipment used is also quite expensive. If successful, the
frequency of visits can be reduced to see further improvements. Also make sure
that you aren’t being exposed to sunlight as your skin will be more sensitive,
so avoid going out for a walk without sunscreen. Opt also to have regular skin
exams to check for signs of skin cancer. Always consider consulting with a
professional prior choosing into treatments as wrong prescription may make the
conditions worst.
Interested to learn more about phototherapy? Our dermatology clinics in Australia can help you
with your skin conditions! Feel free to consult with us or search for our dermatology clinics near you!
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