Light Therapy

Narrowband Ultraviolet B Light Therapy

Ultraviolet light occurs naturally in sunlight and is the part of sunlight which causes suburn. The use of light as a treatment is known as phototherapy and has been available since the 1980’s. The wavelength used is 311nm and is known as UVB. Psoriasis, eczema and generalised itching are the most common conditions treated with phototherapy.

Most patients have treatments 3x/week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for approximately 6 to 8 weeks. The treatment time is dependent on your skin type. Patients with fair or sensitive skin will have shorter treatment times than those with darker skin. The initial doses are low, usually a few seconds and are slowly increased. You should not expect a response in the first 3-4 weeks. Once your skin condition has cleared, there is always a possibility it may return, as the UV treatment is not a cure but a form of treatment to gain remission. A small number of patients will notice the ultraviolet light burns, irritates and/or worsens their skin condition. If any of these occur, UVB is ceased and an appointment with the dermatologist is made to discuss other treatments.