Phototherapy and Important facts

Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is the use of ultraviolet (UV) light for its healing effects. Phototherapy has been used worldwide for nearly a century to treat chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo and severe eczema.

While many treatments decrease the overall immune system, UV light can be used to decrease the local immune system in the skin. In conditions such as psoriasis, light therapy can also slow down the development of thick, scaly skin. UV light therapy is used in vitiligo for its additional ability to stimulate melanocytes, the skin's pigment-producing cells. This makes phototherapy a nice treatment option for just about anyone—especially those who don't like creams, those wanting a natural treatment, a steroid-free treatment, and those wanting additional control using a combination of therapies. Phototherapy is also a good option to consider for children and women during pregnancy.

How often is phototherapy needed?

Phototherapy treatments are typically administered three times a week. In psoriasis, significant improvement may be seen within two weeks. For people with vitiligo, phototherapy treatment is more complex. The length of time you have had vitiligo, the body locations you want to treat and the activity of your vitiligo all influence the rate of repigmentation. Potential for response is greatest in those who have initiated treatment within 2 years of diagnosis, treat the face and neck, and who have stable, unchanged vitiligo without signs of activity. Those with signs of active vitiligo warrant more aggressive treatment often including full body phototherapy and oral steroids.

Risks

Phototherapy treatments as a whole have a number of risks that should be known.

For one, ultraviolet rays can cause progressive and gradual damage to your skin on a molecular level. This premature aging of the skin is also known as photoaging.

Exposure to high amounts of artificial ultraviolet light also increases your risk of developing skin cancer. The more treatments you undergo and the fairer your skin, the higher your risk of getting skin cancers.

 Frequent phototherapy treatments can also lead to immunosuppression. Basically, light therapy can suppress your immune system, leaving your body open to diseases, infections, and skin cancers too.

Further, undergoing PUVA treatments for skin or photodynamic therapy for cancer also makes your eyes more sensitive to light. If your eyes aren't properly protected after such treatments, their sensitivity can lead to eye damage from exposure to sunlight or other bright lights, and the development of cataracts.

For more information related to phototherapy  you may contact Dr. Manju Keshari who is a renowned Dermatologist and skin care expert at KEMPS Skin Clinic Ghaziabad.

What is Phototherapy and what is its process?

Phototherapy, also called light therapy, means treatment with a special kind of light. It is prescribed to treat atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema.

The most common type of phototherapy used to treat eczema is narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) light. This uses a special machine to emit UVB light, which is the best part of natural sunlight for treating eczema.

Broadband UVB phototherapy, PUVA (Psoralen and UVA), and UVA1 are other forms of phototherapy that may be used in special circumstances to treat eczema.  

Phototherapy helps to:

• Reduce itch
• Calm inflammation
• Increase vitamin D production
• Ramp up bacteria-fighting systems in the skin

Phototherapy is used for eczema that is all over the body (widespread) or for localized eczema (such as hands and feet) that has not gotten better with topical treatments.

About 70% of people with eczema get better with phototherapy. Some people find that phototherapy puts their eczema in a “remittive” or “quiet” state long past the end of the treatment.

There are three main types of phototherapy used for skin disorders:

Broadband UVB: Also known as BBUVB, broadband UVB involves treating skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis with the full the spectrum of ultraviolet-B radiation.

Narrowband UVB: This involves using only a small portion/part of UVB radiation to treat the skin condition. It is more intense than broadband UVB and it’s the most common phototherapy option used by dermatologists.

PUVA: This stands for Psolaren ultraviolet-A. This involves combining UVA light with a certain kind of chemical called psoralen. Psolaren can be applied to your skin or you can take it as a pill. This chemical is found in plants and it makes your skin more sensitive to the light that’s to be applied. PUVA is more intensive and has more side effects than broadband or narrowband UVB, and is usually only resorted to when treatment with the others have been unsuccessful. It’s used for conditions like vitiligo, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, and psoriasis.

Process of Phototherapy:

Body Part or area that does not need treatment ought to be secured and ensured however much as could reasonably be expected and you will be requested that remove any garments that cover the skin being treated with UV. Some wellbeing steps include:

• Apply Sunscreen to protect your neck, lips and the backs of your hands
• Wear Special glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from UV light
• To be cover the genitals in men
• Apply Sunscreen for nipples and areola in women

KEMPS Skin Clinic is Delhi NCR premiere skin clinic, offering world-class skin treatment for its patients. Dr. Manju Keshri is one of the best dermatologists in Delhi NCR, having wide knowledge and professional experience in treating skin and laser hair removal. 

KEMPS SKIN clinic offers treatments related to  Face rejuvenation, laser hair removal, Skin tightening, anti-aging treatment, acne scar removal and pigmentation reduction etc.