Phototherapy, light therapy for skin diseases with uv light

Treating skin diseases usually requires different methods. The treatment given will depend on the severity of symptoms, age, health conditions, and other factors.

Often times, skin diseases are treated by taking medication or using topical drugs such as ointments. However, if the drug is not successful enough, another way that can be taken is to do therapy, one of which is phototherapy.

What is phototherapy?

Phototherapy or light therapy is a skin care procedure that involves the use of ultraviolet (UV) light through a fluorescent, halogen, or LED lamp. This procedure works in the treatment of certain medical conditions.

In fact, phototherapy is more commonly used to treat newborns with jaundice. However, this treatment method has also been trusted for skin care because of the properties of UV rays which can reduce inflammation of the skin.

In fact, phototherapy for the skin has been used for thousands of years by utilizing sun exposure as a natural source of ultraviolet.

Although it can reduce the severity of symptoms, the effects of phototherapy are only temporary. This means that the patient has to undergo several treatments on a regular basis to really get the results.

Apart from being used for the treatment of skin diseases, phototherapy is also applied to various other conditions such as sleep disorders and some types of cancer.

Types of phototherapy

This treatment consists of several different types. The type of phototherapy you choose depends on the severity of your condition. Sometimes, phototherapy is done in conjunction with the use of topical drugs (topical) or systemic drugs (drinking or injecting).

Here are some types that are often done.

UVB Phototherapy

UVB phototherapy is a treatment that uses shortwave ultraviolet radiation. This type is divided into two, namely broadband UVB or those that use full spectrum waves (300 nanometers - 320 nanometers) and narrowband UVB or that uses a more specific wavelength (311 nm).

The treatment procedure, the patient will enter into a special cabinet containing a fluorescent lamp that emits UVB rays. The extent of the skin that must be exposed to UVB exposure will be adjusted to the condition of the skin affected by the disease.

Most patients undergo this treatment for the whole body, except for the eyes and genitals which will be covered with protective glasses and underpants.

The duration of exposure that a patient has may vary. Usually at the beginning of treatment the patient will only stay in the UVB cupboard for less than five minutes. Later the duration will be increased along with the patient's body response to UVB exposure to a maximum of 30 minutes per session.

Skin diseases treated with UVB treatment include psoriasis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), cutaneous T cell lymphoma, and vitiligo.

PUVA

PUVA is a combination of UVA radiation with psoralen, a drug that works to increase the effect of UVA on the skin. This treatment is usually given to patients when treatment with UVB phototherapy is unsuccessful.

The procedure is similar to UVB phototherapy, except that the patient must first use the psoralen drug before entering the light-emitting cabinet.

The drug psoralen can be found in different forms. For oral psoralen, patients should take a methoxsalen capsule two hours before treatment. As for external use drugs, patients must apply psoralen cream or soak in a tub that has been given psoralen solution.

Given the effect that makes you more sensitive to light, you should wear sunglasses to prevent your eyes from sun exposure for 24 hours after using the drug.

PUVA is usually performed on patients with more severe plaque psoriasis, but it can also be given for the treatment of vitiligo and skin T cell lymphoma.

Laser excimer

This type of phototherapy also uses UVB radiation. Similar to narrowband UVB, the wavelength given from this treatment is more specific (308 nm). However, excimer lasers are technically administered in a different way.

The treatment is carried out by illuminating the affected area of ​​the skin with an excimer light emitted from a special handheld device. Compared to conventional UVB light treatments, the excimer laser will only hit problem areas so that healthy skin is not exposed to radiation.

The excimer laser can reach areas that are difficult to reach with conventional phototherapy, such as the skin on the ear. In addition, the duration of treatment is relatively shorter.

What you need to know before undergoing phototherapy

Of course, phototherapy is not without side effects. There are some patients who experience skin problems after undergoing phototherapy. What is often felt is redness like burning, dry skin, and itching.

This treatment is also not suitable for everyone, especially if your skin condition is caused or worsened by the sun, or if you are taking medications that suppress your immune system, you may not want to have phototherapy.

It should also be noted that the PUVA procedure is not recommended for pregnant women because the safety of the drug psoralen has not been confirmed for both mother and fetus.

Consult a dermatologist before deciding to undergo treatment and treatment with phototherapy.