Eczema Treatment – The Use of UV Light
Phototherapy involves the use of two kinds of UV light: UVA and UVB. Sometimes only one kind of UV light is used; other times, a combination of both is employed, of course depending on the recommendation of a specialist. It is prescribed by some doctors for patients with eczema, particularly those with atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. So when does a doctor advise a patient to undergo phototherapy? When the eczema is widespread and does not respond to any medications applied onto the affected areas.
How long does the treatment last before significant results are evident?
Treatment by exposure to UVB light is considered to be the safer form of phototherapy. It is recommended for a person afflicted with eczema to undergo 3-5 treatments per week. The amount of UVB light used is gradually increased depending on the disease’s response and the type of skin of the patient. Usually, a noticeable improvement on the affected skin is observed within 1-3 months of therapy.
Are there any side effects when I undergo this treatment?
The UV light used in phototherapy, although artificial, is still much like the one emitted by the sun. That is why exposure to this kind of light must be carefully done under the supervision of a specialist in order to prevent sunburn and other potential effects on the body. What are these potential side effects? One is the possible development of cataracts – a condition which involves the clouding of the normally clear lens of the eyes. During a phototherapy session, the patient’s eyes are protected by special goggles to prevent the UV light from harming the eyes and vision.
Premature skin aging may also be another potential side effect of phototherapy, although limited to prolonged treatments only. However, the patient’s exposure to UV light is administered in controlled doses by a specialist, so any skin damage that may arise is significantly kept at minimum.
Isn’t it that exposure to UV light causes skin cancer?
We all know that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause skin cancer. Sunlight has UV light; phototherapy uses the same kind of light as that emitted by the sun. Yes, this is very much true. But then again, phototherapy is controlled and administered by a specialist, and each phototherapy session does not take long hours of exposure to UV light. Usually, the first treatment only takes a few seconds, working up to a few minutes each side of the body as the treatment course progresses. Of course, much of it still depends on what the specialist deems appropriate.
How does UV light help relieve eczema symptoms?
You might have heard before that some dermatologists actually recommend their patients suffering from skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis to have their skin exposed to sunlight at times. So what’s in sunlight that makes it beneficial to such skin conditions? Yes, it’s UV light.
UV light kills the T cells in the affected skin, resulting to reduction of redness and slowing down of the production of skin cells that cause scaling. Because of the same effects, phototherapy is considered as an effective eczema treatment, when other treatment methods fail to yield positive results.
Comments
Menu
My Articles
Eczema Treatment Using LightEczema Treatment – The Use Of UV Light
Eczema Treatment For Kids – Keeping The Skin Moisturized
Wet Wrap Therapy Can Be Used As Eczema Treatment
Eczema Treatment – Corticosteroids And The Side Effects
What Happens After Eczema Treatment
Supplements Are Also Useful For Eczema Treatment
How To Deal With Eczema
Eczema Treatment, The Natural Way
Eczema Treatment And Prevention Of Symptoms Aggravation
Eczema Treatment For Newbies
Eczema Treatment – Conventional Vs. Natural
Is An Eczema Treatment Using Antihistamines The Best For You?
Eczema Treatment At Home
Eczema Treatment Cannot Begin Without Knowing What Caused It
Natural Treatment For Eczema
Eczema Treatment – What’s A Pregnant Woman With Eczema To Do?
Eczema Treatment – Different Methods
Corticosteroid Creams And Ointments Are Commonly Used For Eczema Treatment
Eczema Treatment The Herbal Way – Is It For You?
Eczema Treatment – Triggering Factors To Steer Clear Of
Oral Eczema Treatment
Are Alternative Eczema Treatments Really Effective?
Eczema Treatments Available For Patients
Related Sites | My Articles Eczema Treatment For Newbies Have you been recently diagnosed with eczema? Are you having trouble dealing.. 5 Plants Used For Eczema Treatment You may not know it yet, but a natural eczema treatment.. Is An Eczema Treatment Using Antihistamines The Best For You? Antihistamines are used to suppress the body’s natural.. |
|
|
Related News:
|