Phototherapy uses a very bright UV light on your exposed skin and is sometimes used to treat various skin conditions such as eczema, vitiligo, and psoriasis. It is also used to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of skin cancer.
Two Types of Ultraviolet Light Therapy
In phototherapy, there are two different types of UV light that each have a different effect:
UVB light: This light affects the top layer of your skin and is what causes sunburns. It works by suppressing DNA synthesis, which in turn can reduce inflammation. There are two types of UVB treatment – broadband and narrow band. The use of narrow band treatment is increasing as it involves a shorter treatment time and duration, and produces longer remissions. Lasers can also be a type of UVB treatment
UVA light: This is a longer wavelength light that penetrates deeper layers of the skin. UVA can also cause sunburns and wrinkles. It also decreases cell turnover rate and creates an immunosuppressive effect within the skin. Sometimes UVA light is given along with the medication Psoralen, which temporarily makes the skin more sensitive to UV light. This form of treatment is called PUVA for short.
If you are undergoing phototherapy, you can expect to have treatments several times per week, or even two per day, depending on the type of treatment chosen by your health provider.
The Case for Phototherapy
There is no shortage of anecdotal evidence for the effectiveness of phototherapy in cases of eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo, however, the scientific research is mixed. Some studies suggest more research is necessary, while other studies show improvement in symptoms after several weeks of treatments. Many studies combine phototherapy with other medications and treatments, to see whether phototherapy improves outcomes, but again, the results are mixed.
For other conditions, such as jaundice in infants and certain types of skin cancer, phototherapy is very effective and used in several major hospitals.
Although phototherapy has been around for years, and new red light therapies are a current health trend, clinical forms of phototherapy for eczema and psoriasis are actually in decline now due to the rise of immunosuppressant drugs.
When to Avoid Phototherapy
Phototherapy is not safe for those with a history of skin cancer, or who have very fair skin that burns easily. It should also not be used by those who are currently taking immunosuppressants, or taking medications that make them more sensitive to light. It should also be avoided by persons who are pregnant or nursing. It has the same skin aging and skin cancer risks as unprotected sunshine exposure and may not be a good choice for those with extensive sun exposure over their lifetime.
To help with the side effects of wrinkling and itchiness after phototherapy, be sure to moisturize and avoid hot showers or skin irritants like harsh soaps or chemicals after your treatments.
Our Conclusion
While phototherapy is generally considered a safe form of treatment, it still only treats the symptoms of your skin condition without getting to the root cause. Some forms of phototherapy, like lasers, are applied lesion by lesion and have no overall effect on the condition or on flareups as a whole.
Phototherapy does carry the risk of permanent long-term skin damage similar to sunlight exposure and can have side effects such as itching, burning, and wrinkling, not to mention increased risks of future skin cancer.
If you have a stubborn case of eczema, vitiligo, or psoriasis, we recommend exploring additional natural therapy, specifically traditional Chinese herbal medicine, to address and resolve the underlying internal imbalance causing your skin condition.
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About the Author
Olivia Hsu Friedman, LAc, Dipl.OM, DACM, Cert. TCMDerm, is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, and TSW. Olivia treats patients via video conferencing using only herbal medicine. Olivia is Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, and is a faculty member of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Group sponsored by the National Eczema Association.