UV-B phototherapy. An overview

Abstract

The medical uses of nonionizing electromagnetic radiation have changed over time with light source technology and research in photobiology. Multiple UV light phototherapy protocols have been developed. A discussion of the relative importance of light sources with respect to the action spectrum for psoriasis phototherapy, as well as the need for tar and other adjuvants, is important to the understanding of a comparison between various regimens. A number of skin conditions other than psoriasis are also responsive to UV light phototherapy.

High Levels of Ultraviolet B Exposure Increase the Risk of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer in Psoralen and Ultraviolet A-Treated Patients

“…Our data should provide substantial reassurance to patients and their treating physicians that long-term treatment with UVB is reasonably safe. Therefore, this often highly effective treatment should continue to be considered a primary treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (Anderson et al, 1984;Dawe et al, 2002).…”

“…In mice, artificially administered UVB induces skin tumors (Wulf et al, 1994). Although UVB is widely used as a treatment for moderate-to-severe psoriasis and other skin conditions, the carcinogenicity of therapeutic UVB in humans is not well quantified (Boer et al, 1980;Anderson et al, 1984). Based on the emission spectra of broadband UVB lamps and the sun, Nachtwey and Rundel (1981) estimated that broadband UVB might be twice as carcinogenic per minimal erythemal dose as the sun.…”

The Effectiveness of Modified Ingram Therapy Compared with Severity of Psoriasis

“…Various modifications of the original method have been made to increase its effectiveness and minimize these problems (15). In this present modified Ingram method, anthralin was applied for about 12 hours followed by UVB phototherapy (18); adjunctively, patients were given a warm water bath, and emollien t was applied (19). The bath removes the UV absorbing substance, urocanic acid, increase the optical properties of the UV, removes excessive thick scales and anthralin, and reduces the staining caused by the anthralin.…”

Itch in Psoriasis: From Basic Mechanisms to Practical Treatments

“…Phototherapy Ultraviolet B phototherapy has been a mainstay in the treatment of psoriasis since the first quarter of the past century. 43 Narrow-band UVB phototherapy is an effective treatment for patients with psoriasis 43 and itch. 44 It is important to note that, in the beginning of phototherapy of both UVB and narrow-band UVB, many experience itch because of erythema from photo irradiation.…”