{"id":48476,"date":"2016-08-05T09:44:03","date_gmt":"2016-08-05T09:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eczemafreeme.com\/?p=48476"},"modified":"2023-12-26T19:53:47","modified_gmt":"2023-12-26T19:53:47","slug":"uv-phototherapy-for-eczema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eczemafreeme.com\/index.php\/2016\/08\/05\/uv-phototherapy-for-eczema\/","title":{"rendered":"UV Phototherapy for Eczema"},"content":{"rendered":"

One factor which I\u2019m convinced helps with my eczema is the sun, the old fashion UV radiation from the burning ball in the sky. It turns out that my hunch was not wrong, in fact there is a medical treatment which replicates this marvellous phenomenon. It\u2019s called phototherapy. In truth phototherapy refers to any light treatment but for the duration of this article, and in the case of eczema, let\u2019s just assume we are talking about UV light.<\/p>\n

Phototherapy (or UV therapy in our case) is available in three variations: UVA, narrow band UVB and broad band UVB. All three, as their names suggest, utilize UV rays but different wavelengths within the UV spectrum (UVC also exist but let\u2019s just ignore that). Just like how visible light can be split into the colours of the rainbow, UV light can be split into band A (UVA) and band B (UVB). Each band represents a different range of wavelengths with UVA being the longer and UVB the shorter. The sun emits both but eczema treatments tend to focus on one or the other.<\/p>\n

\"visible_light_and_uv_wavelengths_diagram\"
Image Source: http:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/prevention\/uva-and-uvb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The shorter the band of light the more its ability to pass though objects diminishes, consequently UVB tends to only affect the upper layers of skin and narrow-band UVB is most commonly used in eczema (and psoriasis) treatments.<\/p>\n

Interesting fact:<\/strong> UVC is even shorter than UVB and consequently mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.<\/em> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How UV Phototherapy Helps Eczema (and psoriasis)<\/h2>\n

UV phototherapy reduces the inflammation of the skin and this in turn reduces the itchiness, redness and hardening that is associated with eczema. I don\u2019t really want to go into details but it is suspected that it exerts this anti-inflammatory action by affecting the cells proliferation (slowing down the growth and replication of affected cells) and to a lesser extent increasing vitamin D production. This treatment is best suited to treat widespread eczema but smaller lesions can also be treated in the same way by limiting exposure to those areas only.<\/p>\n

The Experiment<\/h2>\n

That all being said, I don\u2019t have access to a narrowband UVB exclusive source but there is a tanning shop up my road. Tanning shops use UV tubes that mostly emit UVA (96%+) and to a far smaller extent UVB. In general UVA (responsible for tanning) treatments are reserved for those not responding to UVB as it is considered more potent or more damaging (penetrates deeper, beyond the skin) but still requires Psoralen for best results. Psoralen is a light sensitizing medication that as its name suggests makes the skin more sensitive to UV light. Without psoralen UVA is considered relatively ineffective nevertheless, I do not<\/u> have access to psoralen (a prescription only medicine) but will book a course with my local tanning shop anyway.<\/p>\n

At the end of this experiment I may just find that my eczema has not improved at all, however, at the very least I\u2019d have a pretty sexy looking tan and I\u2019d be happy with that :D.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0If your eczema lesions are not responding to topical skin care therapy with steroids or\u00a0moisturisers, phototherapy could be an suitable option. With a success rate of around of 70% (i.e.it helps 70% of those who try it) it has a good chance in helping you.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Length of Treatment<\/h3>\n

The general course of phototherapy is initially around 2-3 treatments per week in short bursts of only a few minutes. Once the treatment clears up the lesions exposure is reduced to once weekly or fortnightly to maintain its effects. I aim to follow the same treatment plan with my far inferior tools and hope for the best. Obviously this isn\u2019t the sort of treatment that works in a single session so I expect to post and update at a later date (link will be somewhere below or here\u2026.or here, if those words aren\u2019t blue then I haven\u2019t done it yet)<\/p>\n

Safety Notice \/ Warning<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n