Who Should Get Light Therapy
If creams and lotions are not enough to manage psoriasis symptoms, a doctor or skin specialist, called a dermatologist, may prescribe light therapy.
Light-therapy can benefit people with moderate to severe psoriasis. The condition affects 310 percent of the body in mild psoriasis while extreme psoriasis affects more than 10 per cent of the body.
People who take drugs and supplements over- the-counter that make their skin more sensitive to UV rays should not undergo phototherapy.
These photosensitizing medications include:
Speak to a healthcare professional before deciding on phototherapy about any existing medicines or medications.
Pregnant women should avoid mild psoriasis treatment, as should those with:
- a history of skin cancers, both melanoma and non-melanoma
- a depressed immune system
- known photosensitivity issues
Can Anyone Who Has Psoriasis Use Phototherapy
While dermatologists prescribe phototherapy for many people, it is not recommended for anyone who has:
-
Had a melanoma or any other type of skin cancer
-
A medical condition that makes you more likely to develop skin cancer, such as Gorlin syndrome or xeroderma pigmentosum
-
A medical condition that makes you sensitive to UV light, such as lupus or porphyria
-
To take medicine that makes them more sensitive to UV light, such as some antibiotics, diuretics, and antifungals
Use In Conjunction With Other Treatments
While many people find some depression or other condition relief when using light therapy on its own, it not a cure for your condition and is unlikely to completely relieve all symptoms. Instead, think of it as a way to reduce symptoms, help you cope, and/or augment any other treatments or therapies suggested by your counselor or doctor.
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What Kinds Of Light Therapy Are There
Different forms of light therapy vary according to the type of light exposure and whether its combined with medication. Ultraviolet B can be delivered as broadband UVB or narrowband UVB . BB-UVB therapy was developed first, but NB-UVB is now more commonly used for its effectiveness and fewer side effects. A benefit of narrowband UVB is that patients are exposed to a more specific and therapeutic wavelength of light. UVB phototherapy is used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis.
For people with more advanced psoriasis, another form of light therapy combines ultraviolet A with a psoralen drug . In this combination therapy, known as PUVA, the patient takes the medication shortly before light treatment to boost the lights effect on the immune system.
A study published in April 2013 in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology found that PUVA therapy was most effective among adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. According to the study, between 60 and 75 percent of patients overall who received some type of light therapy achieved at least 75 percent improvement in their condition. The results were based on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, an assessment tool used to score a persons condition according to disease progression.
PUVA isnt without side effects, however, including a heightened risk of skin cancer, severe burn, and nausea.
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Which Type Of Light Is Best
There are two types of light therapy for psoriasis. UV light therapy can be accomplished with either UVA or UVB light waves. UVA lights penetrate deep under the skin, and it can be hard for the skin to absorb and utilize the light. When your doctor uses UVA light for therapy, you will also need to take a drug called psoralen, which helps your body to absorb the light and to experience its effects on the psoriatic plaques. UVB light can also be utilized for the treatment of psoriasis. The wavelength is well controlled and is usually applied in a measure of 311, 312 or 313 nanometers. The very specific wavelength only impacts the top layers of the skin and helps to target psoriasis while limiting the side effects of UV exposure.
The type of light treatment that your doctor recommends for you will be based on many factors. Because UVA light therapy is a more invasive treatment, it is typically reserved for individuals whose quality of life and health are most impacted by their psoriatic plaques. Additionally, your skin type and overall health will be considered. If you have fair skin that is easily susceptible to skin damage, or already have risk factors that would complicate your treatment with either of the ultraviolet lights or the psoralen, your doctor will use that information to inform your treatment plan.
How Red Light Therapy Helps Psoriasis
- Red light stimulates the production of new capillaries, which increases the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the skin.
- Red light stimulates the lymphatic system, which makes waste removal more efficient and results in healthier skin that is less prone to psoriasis flares.
- Psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders interfere with collagen production. Collagen is a protein that gives skin a firm, supple, and full appearance. Red light stimulates collagen production which can help soothe the skin and reduce flares.
- Most notably, red light stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphate from the cells mitochondria. This is the cells energy source. A cell that has more energy has more capabilities to perform its normal functions, as well as regeneration and self-healing. Researchers found that ATP reduces inflammation that can lead to the main symptom of psoriasis: abnormally rapid replication of skin cells.
Psoriasis causes cells to replicate at 10x the normal rate, which outpaces the bodys ability to shed them this results in those unsightly red, scaly, painful and itchy areas.
Since light therapy helps to restore normal cell function, this means that the rate of growth will normalize and youll experience fewer and less intense flares.
All types of phototherapy require several treatments per week for several months , plus ongoing maintenance treatments.
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Treatments With Uvb And Uva
- Psoralen and UVA light therapy , which combines UVA exposure and a medicine that makes your skin more sensitive to light.
- The Ingram regimen, which combines dithranol, tar products, and UVB phototherapy.
- The Goeckerman treatment, a combination of tar products and UVB phototherapy.
Your body is exposed to UV light from banks of light tubes that give off either UVB or UVA light in a booth. Booths come in several designs. Some look like phone booths and you can stand in them. Others look like tanning beds and you can lie down during treatment. The booth will record the total amount of light you are exposed to.
In general, your entire body is exposed to the light. You will wear sunglasses that block UV light and goggles or a blindfold to protect your eyes from getting cataracts. Men may also need to shield their genitals to protect them from an increased risk of genital cancer.
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- Four and six lamp models have optional re ective doors. Eight, ten and twelvelamp devices feature doors with lamps that act to double the treatment area.
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What Is Home Phototherapy
is the use of light or other forms of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation in treatment. The light or radiation is produced by a medical device commonly referred to as a phototherapy unit.
The most commonly used medical lamps in phototherapy units emit a narrow band of ultraviolet radiation, which reduces or eliminates various skin diseases, at least temporarily.
Home phototherapy is a relatively safe and effective non-drug option for the self-treatment of skin disorders in the privacy and convenience of a patient’s home. Phototherapy should be controlled and supervised by an experienced physician. However, not all dermatologists agree to oversee home phototherapy because of the potential for adverse reactions.
Treatment can be delivered to the skin of the whole body or it can be precisely targeted to affected areas to minimise exposure of uninvolved skin.
Home phototherapy
Home therapy is not suitable for all patients with these skin conditions and results vary.
Narrowband Ultraviolet B Light Therapy
Narrowband ultraviolet B is the most common form of phototherapy. It can be used to treat plaque or guttate psoriasis.
NB-UVB lamps and light bulbs emit wavelengths of light between 311 and 313 nanometers , according to recent clinical guidelines on phototherapy.
Your starting dose will depend on your skin type and how easily you burn or tan.
However, NB-UVB light therapy is most effective when performed two or three times a week. An emollient such as petroleum jelly may be applied before each session.
According to a 2002 , people who had twice-weekly sessions saw their symptoms clear up in an average of 88 days. Those with sessions three times a week saw their symptoms clear up in an average of 58 days.
Once the skin is clear, maintenance sessions can be performed on a weekly basis.
A 2017study showed that around 75 percent of people receiving NB-UVB treatments found it cleared their psoriasis or led to minimal symptoms. They used fewer prescription creams for their condition, too.
NB-UVB treatments may prove more effective when combined with topical treatments, such as vitamin D analogues and corticosteroids.
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Types Of Light Therapy Devices
The specific lightbox or lamp you use can be recommended by a counselor or medical provider or you can select and buy one yourself. There are many options of light therapy boxes and lamps available.
As there are few worrisome side effects or contraindications and the devices are so easy to use, it may be safe to try out this therapy on your own, particularly if you have mild symptomsalthough it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor first.
Aim to get a specific recommendation from your doctor or mental health provider on the type of lightbox, including light intensity and how far to sit from it, that will be safest and most effective for your treatment. They may be able to recommend specific brands or models that they have experience with as well.
Lightboxes come in a range of sizes, shapes, and strengths. You can choose one that looks like a desk lamp, a standing tablet, or an orb, among other options. They are made in lots of different styles as well to fit in with whatever style appeals to youfrom those offering a more medical or practical look to those verging on design pieces.
How Do You Buy The Best Uvb Light For Psoriasis
- Is it worth buying an uvb light for psoriasis?
- What benefits are there with buying an uvb light for psoriasis?
- What factors deserve consideration when shopping for an effective uvb light for psoriasis?
- Why is it crucial to invest in any uvb light for psoriasis, much less the best one?
- Which uvb light for psoriasis are good in the current market?
- Where can you find information like this about uvb light for psoriasis?
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What Is Puva And How Does It Work To Treat Plaque Psoriasis
Ultraviolet light A is another type of light that occurs naturally in sunlight. PUVA is a type of treatment that combines exposure to UVA with a type of medicine that makes the skin more sensitive to light. Patients usually take psoralen in the form of a pill around two hours before the UVA treatment. Psoralen can also be administered topically in a paint or by soaking in water that contains the medicine. Some patients have side effects from oral psoralen , but topical psoralen is stronger and can make the skin more likely to burn1.
PUVA is usually prescribed for adults with moderate to severe psoriasis. It can help to slow down the rate at which skin cells grow and reduce symptoms. It can help lengthen the period of symptom remission for many patients2.
PUVA treatments are usually administered two or three times per week, and it can take up to 25 sessions for maximum results. Some patients benefit from combined treatment with both UVB and PUVA phototherapy.
PUVA is not used as commonly as UVB phototherapy, because it can increase the risk of developing certain types of skin cancers and cataracts, and it can cause aging of the skin when used over a longer period of time. Less serious side effects linked to PUVA treatment include itching, burns, and blisters. It is also common for white spots to develop on the affected skin once plaques have cleared3.
What Is Puva Treatment
PUVA is a combination of UVA light and a chemical called psoralen . UVA is not beneficial in treating psoriasis on its own instead it must be combined with psoralen which makes the skin more sensitive to the UVA light. Psoralen can be taken as a tablet, applied to the areas of the skin being treated as a gel or cream, or added to bath water to soak the whole body. It will depend on what areas of the body are being treated as to which method is used.
PUVA is used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis that has not responded to topical treatments, or UVB therapy. PUVA can be more successful on thicker plaques of psoriasis than UVB, as the UVA is absorbed deeper in the skin. For the same reason, hand and foot psoriasis is often treated with PUVA therapy.
Like UVB, PUVA is given in a phototherapy unit and administered by a team of health professionals. A Dermatologist calculates precisely how much UVB light each persons skin should be subjected to, and will increase the exposure as appropriate over the course of the sessions. Treatment is usually given twice a week, for a period of five to eight weeks. The individual stands in the PUVA cabinet for a period of a few seconds to several minutes at a time.
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Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A Therapy
This approach uses ultraviolet A light with psoralen, a medication that increases your sensitivity to light. Psoralen can be:
- taken orally
- applied topically
In general, PUVA is highly effective but not widely used or available.
Oral PUVA comes with the highest risk of drug interactions and side effects . Its most effective when combined with an oral retinoid.
Bath PUVA works best for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Its performed more often in Europe than in the United States. This is primarily because it uses trimethylpsoralen, a form of psoralen that the Food and Drug Administration hasnt approved.
Topical PUVA may be of particular benefit to adults with palmoplantar psoriasis or palmoplantar pustular psoriasis. It can also be used for localized psoriasis.
Other types of phototherapy that either arent as effective, widely recommended, or widely used are described below.
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Light Therapy For Psoriasis: Soothing Skin With Red Light
If youre among the 8 million Americans that are affected by psoriasis , you may be wondering if light therapy actually works for your condition or is just another hyped upyet ineffectivetreatment.
The truth is, theres no one-size-fits-all medication or modality for psoriasis, but red light therapy for psoriasis just might be as close as we can get.
Thats because it works not just to reduce symptoms, but also to improve cellular function, so your skin can fight redness, and become blemish-free naturally.
In a moment, well discuss photo-, and red light therapy in-depth, but first, lets review standard, conventional treatments, so we have an accurate basis for comparison.