Psoriasis
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 6:11 pm
Do light treatments help psoriasis in any way or are they too dangerous?
Many thanks for your question.
Light treatments or phototherapy can be a useful treatment for psoriasis in a controlled medical setting and will usually be recommended by a dermatologist after assessment of your skin.
Dermatologists usually use either UVB or UVA light in the treatment of psoriasis - UVB is used more commonly in the UK. There are potential side effects and long-term effects you must be aware of and these are discussed in detail before starting treatment. These include potential burning, itching and discomfort of the skin in the short term. If light treatment is repeated frequently over the years it may also increase the risk of developing skin cancers.
For this reason, although the treatment is effective, it should be started by a dermatologist and carried out in a controlled fashion.
I hope that helps.
Anjali