Phototherapy ¹⁷

Phototherapy or light therapy, involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light on a regular basis and under medical supervision. The key to success with light therapy is consistency.

There are several options:

• Ultraviolet B (UVB) Phototherapy: Present in natural sunlight, ultraviolet light B (UVB) is an effective treatment for psoriasis. UVB penetrates the skin and slows the rapid growth of skin cells associated with psoriasis. Treatment involves exposing the skin to an artificial UVB light source for a set length of time on a regular schedule.
• Psoralen & Ultraviolet A Phototherapy (PUVA): Like UVB, ultraviolet light A (UVA) is present in sunlight. Unlike UVB, UVA is relatively ineffective unless used with a light-sensitising medication such as psoralen. This process, called PUVA, slows down the excessive cell growth of psoriasis and can clear symptoms for varying periods of time.
• Lasers: They are used for treating chronic, localised plaque lesions. Individual response to the treatment varies.

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