Ultraviolet light therapy

Ultraviolet light therapy or ultraviolet phototherapy is a treatment for psoriasis, atopic skin disorder, vitiligo and other skin diseases.

There are two main treatments: UVB that is the most common, and PUVA.

There are four UVB types of lamps: Fluorescnt Broad-Band UVB that emit 280-330 nanometer, Fluorescent Narrow-Band that emit 312 nanometer, Excimer that emit 308 nanometer and LED that emit 290-300 nanometer.

PUVA means UVA + psoralen. It consists of irradiation of the skin with the UVA ultraviolet light, from a fluorescent bulb or LED lamps.

Tanning beds are used both in dermatology practices for the treatment of cosmetic skin conditions (such as psoriasis, acne, eczema and vitiligo) and in indoor tanning salons for cosmetic tanning.

Typical treatment regimens involve short exposure to UVB rays 3 to 5 times a week at a hospital or clinic, and repeated sessions may be required before results are noticeable. Almost all of the conditions that respond to UVB light are chronic problems, so continuous treatment is required to keep those problems in check. Home UVB systems are common solutions for those whose conditions respond to treatment. Home systems permit patients to treat themselves every other day (the ideal treatment regimen for most) without the frequent, costly trips to the office/clinic and back, mainly when the area is small, and the price of the lamp is low.