What is Phototherapy?
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
If you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, or several other skin irritations or diseases, then you may want to look into new treatment technology called "phototherapy."
This new treatment offers patients suffering from skin conditions a natural and more effective form of relief. Phototherapy often uses a narrow band of UV light to treat skin problems, but there are several different types of light treatment available. In phototherapy, this "narrow band" of UV light replicates natural sunlight without the harmful properties, and used in small doses, is quite helpful to several common skin diseases.
A Non-Invasive Type of Treatment
Most of the treatments for these skin diseases have been made up of injections that are often invasive and can even be dangerous for some. The injections can manipulate the patient's immune system, and have several side effects for many patients. Now, there is an alternative to these drugs, and it is based on light therapy from the sun that has been used for centuries to treat many types of skin disease.
What Does it Do?
Phototherapy, also sometimes called "light treatment," treats skin conditions by using special wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light. A dermatologist will prescribe phototherapy after a thorough evaluation of the patient's skin condition. It's very important that patients follow their dermatologist's recommendation, and never simply initiate a phototherapy treatment on their own, because this special treatment simply isn't right for every skin condition. Phototherapy carefully monitors the amount of UV light used, to make sure it is right for every patient and every skin condition.
Treatments Available
Phototherapy treatments are available in many dermatologists' offices. The patient simply enters a large "box-like" structure filled with fluorescent light tubes, and, wearing protective goggles, and exposes the infected skin areas to the light. The exposure is only seconds to a few minutes long, and the healing begins to be noticeable in as little as a few days. However, the exposure is carefully monitored based on the patient's skin type, age, skin condition and several other factors. This is why patients should never begin treatment on their own without a diagnosis.
Home Units are Available
Now phototherapy units are available for home use, too. You can install a unit in your home that is not any bigger than a shower stall, and most home units are covered by insurance. If the units sound a lot like tanning booths, that's exactly what they look like, but they give off special UV rays that are far different from tanning booths.
So if you suffer from psoriasis, eczema, or several other skin diseases, check out phototherapy with your dermatologist. It may be just the right treatment you've been waiting for.