Home phototherapy for psoriasis is effective to reduce the symptoms of this skin disease. Long term and repeated therapy are needed to make the treatment are effective, yet it can raise the risk of skin cancer.
Types of Phototherapy
Phototherapy UV light has several types to treat psoriasis. The common phototherapy used for Psoriasis treatment is called narrow-band UVB phototherapy. The skin is exposed to UVB light. The wavelengths are between 311 and 313 nanometers, and the light spectrum is limited to reduce the side effects.
Another option is called PUVA or Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A therapy. In this therapy, UV A light exposes to the skin, besides it uses a medication called psoralen. By having this treatment, your skin will be more responsive to UV A light also its effect is increasing. Psoralen itself comes in forms of gel or cream that are applied directly to the skin, tables, or added for bathing.
The last home phototherapy for psoriasis we have today is balneophototherapy. In this therapy, people will bath in warm water that contains specific substances for around 20 minutes. Balneophototherapy uses artificial UV light when the patients bathing. Dead Sea salt or common salt added to the bath for this cure.
Other Medications and Its Risks
In sunlight, UV A and UV B are found. And the light that is effective for psoriasis is UVB only. UVB in phototherapy has the same effect that we have from sunlight. People sometimes choose to sunbathe as a way to treat psoriasis. Yet, this is not recommended because both UV A and UV B are exposed to the skin directly. You can visit your healthcare advisor to check the right light treatment for your problem.
Topical medications are sometimes used but it can increase your risk of sunburn. If you want to use this product, see your healthcare provider. If you took PUVA as treatment, your doctor may ask you to avoid direct sunlight.
As one alternative to natural sunlight, some patients choose to go to tanning salons. But, you need to know that tanning beds in-salon only produce mostly UVA light. However, what you need is UVB to treat psoriasis. Health care providers do not recommend the use of tanning beds because it raises your risk of melanoma to 59%. Besides tanning lamps in tanning both classified as low to moderate risk products.
The radiation comes from the lamps will cause skin damage, premature aging, and also skin cancer. Consult with your health-care provider to see the best home phototherapy for psoriasis.