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A form of treatment using ultraviolet light to treat skin conditions and reduce the appearance of psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema symptoms.
What is it?
Ultraviolet light therapy, sometimes referred to as phototherapy, uses a bright light to treat various skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and specific forms of dermatitis. There are different types of light therapy treatment; the most common is broadband UVB, which uses UV light, type B. Narrow band UVB uses a narrower range of UVB wavelengths and reaches more specific areas, even in skin folds. PUVA is a UVA light treatment that includes a medication called “psoralen” - a group of photosensitizing drugs made from plants. The last type of light therapy treatment is through the use of lasers, which emits a UV light directed at specific skin areas.
What to expect
When you come into Clarkston Dermatology’s offices located in Clarkston and Oxford, Michigan, we will bring you into a private patient room. You will be asked to remove any clothing that is covering the area(s) of the skin being treated. Areas that do not need treatment will be covered. Depending on the level of light therapy being used, we may use sunscreen to protect your neck, lips, and hands, and we will use goggles to protect your eyes from UV light. The length of the ultraviolet light therapy session depends on your skin type and the strength of the light we choose for your specific skin condition. Treatments will continue until your condition is in the clear and we’re satisfied we’ve eliminated the problem area(s).