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Phototherapy & Psoriasis: Information & Latest Research
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is characterized by patches of inflamed red skin.
Psoriasis develops because the outer layers of skin cells reproduce too fast.
Psoriasis causes pain and itching, limited motion, and stress. Recent studies
show that psoriasis may be an immune disorder in which T-cells behave
abnormally.
UV psoriasis light treatment
UV psoriasis light treatment, also known as UV phototherapy, exposes
the T-cells, causing them to die. In this way, the phototherapy light reduces inflammation, and slows the rate
of skin cell production. During the clearing phase, UV phototherapy treatments are 3 to 5 times
a week with increasing exposures. UV psoriasis light treatment helps clear or
improve psoriasis in most people. UV psoriasis phototherapy treatment is
generally
Before and after
well-tolorated in both adults and children.
phototherapy treatment
Phototherapy Equipment
 Our phototherapy equipment has been well-studied and has been proven to be
highly effective for treatment of psoriasis. Psoriasis treatments at home
or at your doctor's office is a decision between you and your doctor.
Home phototherapy units are
usually reimbursed by
insurance. The right phototherapy unit is
based on the size of the affected area. We carry 6-foot and 2-foot
Panosol-II light panels (6 lamps),
Panosol-3D® (10 lamps), and a full-sized folding
Foldalite-III® booth (16 lamps) when psoriasis covers much
of body. The
Dermalight-80® handheld model is ideal for smaller
areas of psoriasis and for scalp psoriasis
treatment.
Current research on UV Psoriasis Light Treatment
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#1 Quality of life in psoriasis improves after standardized administration of narrowband UVB phototherapy. Lim C. The Australasian Journal Of Dermatology [Australas J Dermatol], 2006 Feb; Vol. 47 (1), pp. 37-40; PMID: 16405481; |
| ABSTRACT: Psoriasis is a chronic fluctuating dermatosis with demonstrable impact on patients' quality of life. Our aim was to investigate if narrowband UVB phototherapy administered to psoriasis patients in a standardized manner leads to an improvement in patients' perceived quality of life. A total of 138 patients with psoriasis were recruited from referrals to the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Australia between January 1998 and September 2002. Patients had psoriasis inadequately controlled by topical therapies alone and no contraindications to the use of phototherapy
treatment. Patients completed a pre- and post-therapy questionnaire on quality of life parameters. The differences in mean and standard deviation of quality of life parameters were measured using a paired sample t-test based on pre- and post-phototherapy questionnaires. Ninety
psoriasis patients were included in the study. Forty-eight psoriasis patients were excluded as they had not completed post-phototherapy questionnaires. The course of narrowband UVB phototherapy was found to significantly improve quality of life in psoriasis patients (P <or= 0.005). We conclude that narrowband UVB phototherapy
light treatment improves quality of life in patients with psoriasis. |
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| #2 Cost-effectiveness of moderate-to-severe psoriasis treatment. Miller DW. Expert Opinion On Pharmacotherapy [Expert Opin Pharmacother], 2006 Feb; Vol. 7 (2), pp. 157-67; PMID: 16433581. |
| Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease that can cause as much disability as cancer, diabetes or other major medical illnesses. Traditional therapy for treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis include phototherapy, methotrexate, oral retinoids and ciclosporin. New biological treatment provide further therapeutic options, but add to the already considerable cost of managing psoriasis. Expert panels have published guidelines for the use of biological agents in managing moderate-to-severe psoriasis; however, few if any of these guidelines appropriately consider the cost-effectiveness of treatment options. When considering cost-effectiveness in addition to safety and efficacy, ultraviolet Type B
(UVB) phototherapy lights seem to be the best first-line treatment for the control of moderate-to-severe psoriasis, despite a small potential for cumulative toxicity. The biologics should be considered as second-line agents alongside the traditional systemic treatments when phototherapy proves to be ineffective or is otherwise contraindicated, such as in patients with psoriatic arthritis. |
Learn More
We have many more research articles on phototherapy treatment lights and on
phototherapy for treatment of psoriasis. <Links>
The National Psoriasis Foundation has more information as well. |
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