PHOTOTHERAPY
This information is in regards to treating psoriasis (one of the diseases specified in the news release).
From nih.gov :
Phototherapy
UV light from the sun stimulates production of vitamin D by the skin, which slows the overproduction of skin cells that causes scaling. Daily, short, nonburning exposure to sunlight clears or improves psoriasis in some people. Therefore, sunlight may be included among initial treatments for the disease. A more controlled artificial light treatment may be used in mild psoriasis (UVB phototherapy) or in more severe or extensive psoriasis (psoralen and ultraviolet A [PUVA] therapy).
UVB Phototherapy - Artificial sources of UVB light are similar to sunlight. Some physicians will start with UVB treatments instead of topical agents. UVB phototherapy also is used to treat widespread psoriasis and lesions that resist topical treatment. This type of phototherapy is normally administered in a doctor's office by using a light panel or light box, although with a doctor's guidance, some patients can use UVB light boxes at home. UVB phototherapy also may be combined with other treatments..........
PUVA - This treatment combines oral or topical administration of a medicine called psoralen with exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) light........PUVA is normally used when more than 10 percent of the body's skin is affected or when rapid clearing is required because the disease interferes with a person's occupation.......Compared with daily UVB treatment, PUVA treatment taken two to three times per week clears psoriasis more consistently but less quickly. However, it is associated with more side effects, including nausea, headache, fatigue, burning, and itching. Long-term treatment is associated with irregular skin pigmentation. Researchers have found that PUVA is effective and relatively safe when combined with some oral medications (retinoids and hydroxyurea) but appears to be associated with skin cancer when combined with other oral medications (for example, methotrexate or cyclosporine)......
From cam.org :
UVB PHOTOTHERAPY
Phototherapy: means the treatment of skin diseases, by ultraviolet rays coming either from the sun or artificial sources. Many diseases spontaneously improve or disappear during the summer months. Solar radiation reaching the earth contains 48% of visible light, 42% of infrared and 6% of ultraviolet rays, mainly UVA's & UVB's. The UVA's are 10 to 100 times more than the UVB's. This is mainly due to seasonal variations, the condition of the ozone layer, the latitude, the altitude, the clouds, the fog, the pollution and so on...
Some diseases that would benefit from UVB phototherapy:
Psoriasis vulgaris, eczema, folliculitis, furunculosis, pityriasis rosea, pityriasis licheno‹des chronica, parapsoriasis en plaques, mycosis fungoides, idiopathic pruritus, pruritus of renal failure, acne. UVB phototherapy could also be combined with other treatment modalities like: anthralin, steroid creams, calcipotriol, PUVA, retinoid, methotrexate and cyclosporin when indicated to control more severe types of psoriasis.
Side effects of sunlight and UVB rays:
-on the short run: redness, itching, dryness of the skin and inflammation of the cornea.
-on the long run: the risk of photoaging, skin cancers and cataracts becomes elevated specially in skin types I & II.
However, therapeutically effective doses of UVB radiation, given under careful supervision to treat psoriasis, are relatively safe and very effective. |
