What Else Do I Need To Know About Red Light Therapy
There are a lot of variables to consider when thinking about red light therapy:
- Is RLT covered by my health insurance? Red light therapy is typically not a covered treatment. You may want to call your health insurance company before seeking treatment.
- How many treatments will I need? Youll likely need ongoing treatments. This is not a one-time treatment for most skin conditions. Youll need to be seen one to three times a week for weeks or even months. Also, is there a need for additional touch-up treatments? This may add up to a lot of time and considerable out-of-pocket costs.
- Will I achieve the desired results? Everyones skin is different so results can vary. Also, the wavelength of the red light source ranges. The wavelength affects how deeply the light penetrates your skin. The wavelength of the red light device being used in a doctors office versus in your at-home device could affect your desired result.
- Do you trust the experience of the person providing the red light therapy? For example, is a tanning salon a place you feel comfortable receiving this treatment or might it be better to first be seen and possibly treated by a medical professional?
- Is red light therapy an appropriate treatment for my skin condition? Are other, more scientifically vetted approaches a better choice for my skin condition? See your healthcare provider to confirm a diagnosis and discuss appropriate treatment options.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
How Many Light Therapy Sessions Are Needed
One of the keys and challenges to light therapy is that it has to be done consistently, whether its at a doctors office, a clinic, or at home. For to be effective, for example, patients must come in two to three times per week, which can be onerous, says Dr. Friedman.
Studies, including one in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, suggest that using a device known as an excimer laser to administer light therapy can cut down on how many sessions are needed. Laser therapy delivers highly targeted beams of ultraviolet light to specific areas of affected skin. That means higher doses can be safely administered without affecting the surrounding skin.
How Light Therapy Reduces Psoriasis Symptoms
Psoriasis is a persistent skin condition that often responds well to gentle skincare products and topical medications. However, if you have moderate to severe psoriasis, these treatments may not be enough. If youre looking for an effective treatment option to complement your current skincare regimen, consider UV light therapy.
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What Is The Role Of Phototherapy In The Treatment Of Plaque Psoriasis
Initiate phototherapy only in the presence of extensive and widespread disease . Resistance to topical treatment is another indication for phototherapy.
The 2 main forms of phototherapy are ultraviolet B irradiation and psoralen plus ultraviolet A irradiation . Proper facilities are required for both UVB irradiation and PUVA photochemotherapy.
UVB irradiation uses light with wavelengths of 290-320 nm . Narrow-band UVB phototherapy uses a fluorescent bulb with a narrow emission spectrum that peaks at 311 nm. This selective and relatively longer wavelength is more effective than broadband UVB for the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis, and poses less risk of burning. Excimer laser UVB therapy can deliver high-dose light to limited plaques.
UVB therapy is usually combined with one or more topical treatments. The Goeckerman regimen uses coal tar followed by UVB exposure and has been shown to induce disease remission in more than 80% of patients. The Ingram method comprises anthralin application following a tar bath and UVB treatment. At present, UVB is more commonly combined with topical corticosteroids, calcipotriene, tazarotene, or simply bland emollients. Etanercept and narrow-band UVB combination therapy reportedly was successful.
Home ultraviolet therapy can overcome some of the logistical problems associated with phototherapy. Because of the expense of the home units, it is most suitable for patients who require long-term maintenance therapy.
References
Tablets Capsules And Injections
If your psoriasis is severe or other treatments have not worked, you may be prescribed systemic treatments by a specialist. Systemic treatments work throughout the entire body.
These medications can be very effective in treating psoriasis, but they all have potentially serious side effects. All the systemic treatments for psoriasis have benefits and risks. Before starting treatment, talk to your doctor about your treatment options and any risks associated with them.
If you’re planning for a baby, become pregnant or are thinking of breastfeeding, you should also speak to your doctor first before taking any new medicine to check it’s suitable for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
There are 2 main types of systemic treatment, called non-biological and biological .
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My Experience With Red Light Therapy
We originally purchased a Joovv when my husband had hernia surgery. Much of the research showed faster recovery and wound healing. He used the device twice a day during his recovery and healed faster than expected.
With 5 minutes a day in front of the light, Ive noticed that my skin is firmer. I seem to have fewer wrinkles and I love that my c-section scar and stretch marks are fading. It also seemed to really help reduce hair loss post-baby after I had my daughter.
Most exciting for me is that it has also been helping my thyroid and Im working to reduce my thyroid medication dosage over time.
Cost Effectiveness Of Home Ultraviolet B Phototherapy For Psoriasis: Economic Evaluation Of A Randomised Controlled Trial
- Accepted 5 January 2010
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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.
Research Shows Promise For Red Light As A Psoriasis Treatment
A 2010 study treated patients with chronic psoriasis, which in most cases had proved resistant to conventional treatments. Researchers treated patients for a 4-5 week period, with follow-ups, and found significant improvements in psoriasis symptoms. Red light therapy improved psoriasis symptoms:Psoriasis Cleared: Patients had a 60% to 100% clearance rate with recalcitrant psoriasis.Reduced Inflammation: Red light therapy reduced the skin inflammation of psoriasis patients.Patient Satisfaction: Researchers concluded that satisfaction was universally very high among the psoriasis patients treated with red light. Another double-blind, randomized study assessed 20 patients with psoriasis. By monitoring two psoriatic plaques on each patient, one treated and one untreated, researchers were able to determine that red light therapy improved psoriasis by reducing redness, hardening, and scaling of the skin.
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What Light Therapy Does For You
Light has a biological effect on the human body. The sun, which is full-spectrum light, makes us feel happy, regulates our sleep-wake cycle, and synthesizes Vitamin D. Sunlight also has lesser-known effects, such as suppression of local autoimmune responses, which is why ultraviolet light is sometimes used to treat chronic skin conditions.
Today, it is widely known that UV light is both beneficial and dangerous. This has led to research into how specific wavelengths of visible and invisible light affect the body.
The most common wavelengths used in skincare are blue, red, and near-infrared . Red light therapy is a term that encompasses both red and NIR light.
Red and blue light therapy using LED devices are commonly used to improve skin health, although the two wavelength groups have very different effects.
Lets dive into blue light first, and then explore the ways that red LED light therapy devices will give you much better results.
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What Is Excimer Laser Therapy And How Does It Work To Treat Plaque Psoriasis
Another type of phototherapy treatment is delivered using an excimer laser. The excimer laser delivers a high-intensity beam of ultraviolet light. This type of phototherapy is similar to narrow-band UVB in that it specifically targets the areas of skin that are affected by psoriasis symptoms. This can help to reduce side effects because only the affected skin is exposed to the ultraviolet light1.
Excimer laser treatment is usually recommended for adults and children with mild or moderate psoriasis. It can also be effective in treating psoriasis that is difficult to reach with other types of treatment, such as symptoms on the scalp, palms, and soles of the feet. Patients generally receive treatment twice per week and generally see an effect after 4-10 treatment sessions2.
Excimer laser treatment can cause side effects including blisters, burning, and reddened skin. Because it is a relatively new type of treatment, the long-term effects of excimer laser treatment are not yet fully known 3.
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Light Therapy For Psoriasis: Can It Help
Light therapy, also called phototherapy, is a treatment for psoriasis that consists of exposure to specific wavelengths of light. Light therapy is an effective treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. Between 50 percent and 90 percent of people with psoriasis who undergo light therapy experience noticeable improvement to their symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms go away entirely.
I’m already in my second month of light therapy. I’ve got a cabin at home so that’s great! wrote a MyPsoriasisTeam member. This therapy really helps me and I’m almost completely clean… 🙂
Unlike tanning beds, phototherapy delivers certain wavelengths measured in nanometers that are therapeutic for psoriasis, while reducing the emission of wavelengths that cause melanomas and other forms of skin cancer. Full-body light therapy can be used to treat psoriasis that affects the whole body. Targeted phototherapy such as excimer laser therapy can help treat plaque psoriasis on specific areas in the body. And unlike traditional or biologic systemic therapies, light therapy does not suppress the body’s immune system.
What Needs To Be Considered If You Have Light Therapy
Before the treatment starts, the wavelength and dose of the light used have to be determined, as well as the duration of treatment. Many different factors play a role here, including what kind of skin you have, whether you have had other medical conditions such as skin cancer, and whether you are taking medication that makes your skin more sensitive to light. It is important to be treated by a skin specialist who knows how to carry out light therapy.
The treatment can last between four weeks and three months. In order to allow the skin to get used to the radiation, the initial dose is determined based on the patient’s skin type and then gradually increased.
During the treatment the patient’s eyes are protected with special sunglasses. Sensitive parts of the body that aren’t affected by psoriasis, such as the face or genitals, are covered up to protect them. Alternatively, the healthy skin can be protected by applying SPF 50+ sunscreen.
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What Are The Possible Side Effects
UV light therapy can have various side effects. For instance, the radiation can dry out your skin and cause itching. So people are advised to thoroughly moisturize their skin with a lipid-replenishing skin care product immediately after the treatment. Light therapy also often causes sunburn-like skin reactions. In rare cases, blistering burns may occur.
In people who tend to get cold sores on their lips, light therapy might make cold sores more likely. Applying sunscreen to your lips before the treatment can help prevent cold sores. Taking psoralen for PUVA therapy can cause nausea and vomiting. These side effects don’t occur when psoralen is used as a bath solution.
Other, less common, side effects include raised red patches that go away again after a few days and hair follicle infections.
In order to limit side effects as much as possible, it’s important to avoid natural sunlight on the day of treatment, or protect yourself when outdoors by wearing appropriate clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen. It is particularly important to avoid further exposure to sunlight after PUVA therapy.
Another disadvantage of UV light therapy is that it involves a lot of doctors’ appointments and takes up a lot of time overall. So people who are busy, for instance with their work and family, might find it hard to stick to this treatment in everyday life.
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Does Light Therapy Increase The Risk Of Skin Cancer
Regular exposure to UV light increases the risk of skin cancer. There is some that PUVA therapy with psoralen tablets in particular increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. The higher the dose of radiation used and the more light therapy sessions you have, the greater the risk. The risk is also higher in people who have a fair complexion, people who have had skin cancer in the past, and people who are taking medication to suppress their immune system such as azathioprine, ciclosporin or methotrexate.
Narrow band UVB phototherapy is probably associated with a lower risk of skin cancer than PUVA therapy using psoralen tablets. But this isn’t yet known for sure because there are hardly any studies on the risk of skin cancer caused by UVB radiation. There is also a lack of good research on the risk of skin cancer associated with PUVA therapy using psoralen that is added to a bath or applied directly to the skin.
To limit the risk of skin cancer, people are advised not to have more than 150 sessions of PUVA therapy using psoralen tablets in their lifetime. A “UV diary” can help you keep track of the number of sessions and type of light therapy you have had, as well as the radiation dose used.
Preparing For Light Therapy
Your phototherapist is likely to ask you to follow certain rules during light therapy treatment. These may include the following.
- Limit your exposure to any additional ultraviolet light cover your skin when out in sunlight, and dont use sunbeds.
- Dont eat a lot of foods that contain natural psoralen, as these can make you more sensitive to ultraviolet light. These include celery, carrots, figs, citrus fruits, parsnips and parsley. Avoid these foods for at least two hours before a session.
- Dont use perfumed products, creams, ointments and lotions on treatment days, unless told to by your phototherapist.
- Dont cut your hair during your course of treatment as you may expose skin that was previously covered by hair.
Before a treatment session, let your phototherapist know about any new medicines youve started taking . This is because some medicines can make your skin more sensitive to light.
The psoralen you take for Psoralen ultraviolet A light therapy can interact with medicines for other conditions, such as warfarin and antipsychotics. These may need to be monitored during your therapy. Psoralen can also increase your response to caffeine and give you headaches or make you jittery. Your phototherapist may advise cutting down on drinks containing caffeine on the days you have light therapy treatment.
Medications and Treatments9 Jul 2018 Michael M. Hall
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