How To Treat Eczema
Usually, the doctor is trying to exclude any triggering factors. The treatment may include strict diet, antihistamine, sedative, hormone balance correcting medications. If the patient suffers from mycosis form of the disease, antifungal drugs might be prescribed. It is recommended to avoid stresses and worries, to wear clothes and underwear made from the natural materials. If the climate obviously worsens conditions, then you might possibly consider moving to another region.
Some Of The Many Types Of Eczema And How They Respond To Phototherapy:
Atopic Dermatitis
Responds well to UVB-NB Phototherapy
Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It is hereditary, typically starts early in life, and is often associated with allergies. It responds well to UVB-Narrowband light therapy, in-home or at the clinic.
Varicose Eczema
This long-term rash is associated with varicose veins. It is normally treated with topical drugs and compression stockings. Phototherapy is not recommended.
Infantile Seborrheic Eczema
Clinical phototherapy only
ISE affects infants and normally clears up within a couple of months. UV phototherapy is not recommended except for severe cases, and only under physician guidance in a phototherapy clinic.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Clinical PUVA phototherapy may be considered
As the name suggests, allergic contact dermatitis is caused by an allergen contacting the skin, with the body taking an immune system response, sometimes well after the initial contact. Common allergens include nickel as found in jewelry, latex as in latex gloves, and plants such as poison ivy. The primary treatment objective is to identify and eliminate the allergen, typically by using allergic patch testing. When other treatments such as topical steroids fail, clinical PUVA phototherapy may be considered.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
May respond to UVB-NB Phototherapy
Discoid or Nummular Dermatitis
Responds well to UVB-NB Phototherapy
Adult Seborrheic Eczema / Dermatitis
Responds well to UVB-NB Phototherapy
Eczema: Light Therapy And Oral Medications
Eczema can usually be kept at bay by moisturizing your skin enough, applying anti-inflammatory ointments or creams, and avoiding irritants. If this isn’t enough, light therapy with UV rays or treatment with tablets can be considered.
Some people have such severe flare-ups that using ointments or creams to reduce the inflammation doesn’t relieve the symptoms enough. During acute phases like this, light therapy may be used. If this doesn’t work well enough either, tablets that suppress the body’s immune response are an option.
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How Atopic Dermatitis Ultraviolet Light Therapy Works
UV light therapy works by exposing the skin to carefully calculated doses of UV light. UVA rays go deeply into the skin and are responsible for the skin tanning. UVB rays do not penetrate as deeply. However, they can cause delayed tanning and burns.
UV light can help treat eczema due to its anti-inflammatory properties. This is because UV light has an immunosuppressive effect, meaning it can reduce an overactive immune response in the skin.
Before prescribing light therapy, a doctor will first examine if phototherapy is safe for an individual. Aside from doing a thorough skin exam, they will ask about the individuals family history, reaction to sunlight, medications they are taking, and if they are pregnant or nursing.
A person can have phototherapy in their healthcare professionals office or a clinic. People who only need treatment for certain parts of the body need to cover all other areas using sunscreen or clothing to avoid getting a burn.
However, individuals who require treatment for their entire body may need to apply moisturizing oil to their skin and stand undressed in a booth that emits UV light. They also need to wear goggles to protect their eyes.
Dermatologists determine the type of therapy and treatment dosage that will benefit the individual while avoiding adverse reactions. The length of UV treatment and the course of the treatment will depend on the persons skin condition and their response to the treatment.
Different Kinds Of Light Therapy
There are different kinds of light with different wavelengths, known as UVA rays and UVB rays. Treatment of nowadays mostly uses what is known as narrowband UVB phototherapy. Here the skin is only exposed to UVB rays with a wavelength of 311 to 313 nanometers. Limiting the light spectrum in this way reduces the risk of side effects.
There is also another option called psoralen plus ultraviolet A therapy. This involves taking the medication psoralen first, in order to make your skin more sensitive to light. Then, about two hours later, the skin is exposed to UVA rays. Alternatively, a psoralen cream or gel can be applied to the affected areas of skin first.
As well as using the right wavelength of light, the right dose and duration of light therapy has to be determined too. Many different factors play a role here, including what kind of skin you have, the type and number of previous treatments, whether you have had other medical conditions such as skin cancer, and whether you are taking medication that makes your skin more sensitive to light, like NSAIDs or . So it’s a good idea to find a doctor who has a lot of experience with light therapy.
There are also other kinds of light therapy, such as UVA1 phototherapy and balneo-phototherapy. Balneo-phototherapy is a combination of bathing and UV light therapy. You can either be exposed to the UV light while bathing or after bathing.
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Uvb Phototherapy For Eczema
Beyond topicals, the next treatment in line for many types of eczema is clinical or in-home UVB-Narrowband phototherapy, which within weeks of slowly building up treatment times can provide significant remission. Low-dose maintenance treatments can then be used to control the condition indefinitely and drug-free with practically no side effects. Plus there is the immense benefit of making large amounts of Vitamin D naturally in the skin, carried away by the skins tiny blood vessels for health benefits throughout the body.
In practice, UVB-Narrowband light therapy works well in professional phototherapy clinics , and equally well in the patients home4,5. There are many medical studies on the subject search for Narrowband UVB on the US Governments respected PubMed website and you will find more than 400 entries!
Other Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Options
Practitioners may suggest phototherapy as a second line of treatment after unsuccessful topical treatments. If these options are still unsuccessful, health practitioners may consider other prescription medications, such as biologics and immunosuppressants.
Biologics are medications that target specific proteins called interleukins to help stop a persons immune system from overreacting. Immunosuppressants are medications that help to suppress the immune system. They include traditional systemic drugs such as cyclosporine, and systemic steroids.
While side-effects such as redness and skin tenderness are common after phototherapy, individuals may want to consider seeing their doctor if they present with the following:
- redness of treatment area beyond 24 hours
- any open areas on the skin, including blisters, burns, and cuts
- worsening of eczema
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Aftercare For Light Therapy
Youll usually be able to leave the hospital or clinic as soon as your treatments finished. Your phototherapist will give you some advice on how to manage any side-effects.
Protect yourself from the sun while youre having a course of light therapy. For example, cover your skin with clothing and a hat, and use a high-factor sunscreen. Dont use sunbeds or sunbathe while youre having treatment.
Youll need to take extra precautions if youve had psoralen ultraviolet A because it makes your skin especially sensitive. Youll need to stay out of the sun for 12 to 24 hours after your treatment. Keep your ultraviolet protective glasses on during this time to prevent a future risk of cataracts. This includes wearing them outside, and when youre near a window or indoor lighting that can emit UVA, as some energy-saving fluorescent lamps do.
You Can Buy Uvb Machines For Small Areas Such As Hands Are These Good
With home kits you cannot track the amount of UV exposure you have had, and therefore safety cannot be properly monitored. Anecdotally, we do not hear of positive responses from these machines.
To obtain the information on this page in a PDF format, please download our Phototherapy factsheet, below.
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Uvb Light Therapy Helps
UVB light therapy helps relieve chronic skin conditions. Low-dose UVB light can have a positive effect on skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo and sun allergy. This therapy can take place at home, under medical supervision. Together with university hospitals, we are researching the results of UVB light therapy.
UVB light therapy, also called phototherapy, is a generally accepted hospital treatment for skin conditions such as psoriasis. However, this often requires several hospital visits. UVB light therapy at home from our subsidiary Dermasun has also been proven effective. The study Psoriasis and daily low-emission phototherapy: effects on disease and vitamin D level by Sylvie Mireille Franken et al. examined the effectiveness of daily use of UVB light therapy.
University research
In this study, 62 patients were treated for six months with either a daily low emission UV treatment and mometasone ointment 0.1% or with mometasone ointment 0.1% alone. During the study, psoriasis severity, quality of life, vitamin D levels and blood pressure were monitored every two months.
Patients treated with UVB light therapy showed significant improvements. This research shows that daily UVB light therapy is an effective treatment for psoriasis patients: their symptoms decreased, their quality of life improved, the use of steroid ointment decreased and their vitamin D level increased.
Fewer complaints with UVB light therapy
Skin type 1: always burns and does not tan
When To Try Uv Light Therapy
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using UV light therapy as a second-line treatment for eczema when first-line treatments like topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, drugs that alter the immune system, and emollients fail to improve symptoms.
It can also be used as maintenance therapy to prevent the progression of eczema when needed. UV light therapy should only be performed under the guidance and ongoing supervision of a physician.
While dosing of phototherapy intensity and frequency of scheduled visits can vary case by case, phototherapy typically is used three to five times a week for four to eight weeks.
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Narrowband Uvb Light Therapy
Narrowband UVB uses a small part of the UVB spectrum, which cuts down on exposure to UV radiation, says Page. This makes it more appealing than broadband UVB, which is also less effective at penetrating the skin, according to the National Eczema Society. In addition, a review published in October 2019 in the Expert Review of Clinical Immunology called narrowband UVB light the gold standard of light therapy treatment for eczema in terms of safety and efficacy.
What Are The Benefits Of Uvb Light Therapy At Home
- Access to therapy immediately, when you need it!
- When your condition flares, you will avoid delays for an appointment with your GP or Dermatologist, and any subsequent referral or wait times associated with receiving the therapy at a treatment centre. *Please note* we strongly advocate that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always defer to their advice on any treatment of your condition.
- Clinicians have not defined all of the triggers for these auto immune conditions. However, stress is a well recognised factor. Having immediate access to a medically proven remediation therapy will undoubtedly reduce your stress, thereby breaking the circle of anxiety leading to further exacerbation of your condition.
- Typical light therapy regimes offered in the NHS require regular attendance at a hospital 2 to 3 times per week for exposure to Narrowband UVB light, with a treatment session time of between 30 seconds and an absolute maximum of 4 Minutes. This is a difficult schedule to adhere to from a purely practical perspective if you have a busy life or a job.
- No creams or ointments.
- No drugs, steroids, auto-immune suppressors or biological regimes.
- Treating yourself at home will enable you to take back control of the management of your condition!
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What Is Ultraviolet Light
In nature, UV radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that reaches the Earth from the sun. UV wavelengths are classified as UVA, UVB or UVC. The latter has the shortest rays and is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer, so does not reach Earth. However, both UVA and UVB penetrate the atmosphere . UV light is important for health and is responsible for tanning and burning the skin. Excessive UV radiation causes skin cell damage, which can lead to skin cancer.
Can Jaundice Come Back After Phototherapy
Its common for newborns and babies to have jaundice even after phototherapy treatment. High levels of bilirubin in your babys blood cause jaundice. Too much bilirubin can cause permanent brain damage if its not treated. Babies can get a skin test to see if they have too much bilirubin, and then a blood test to determine the cause of their jaundice. Your provider will decide if UV treatment is necessary and then theyll keep checking the bilirubin level to be sure its getting better. After treatment, your baby will have bilirubin checked to be sure it doesnt get high again.
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What Happens During A Phototherapy Session
Most people go to a dermatology center or a hospital to get this treatment. Depending on the exact type of phototherapy you get, a typical session could involve these steps:
Right before your session, youâll put moisturizing oil on the parts of your skin affected by atopic dermatitis. If you have symptoms all over your body, youâll undress in privacy to apply the oil and youâll put protective goggles over your eyes.
If youâre getting UVA phototherapy, your dermatologist will also have you take a prescription medicine called psoralen before each session. You take it by mouth a couple of hours before the session, or rub a cream or gel version on your skin shortly before the session, depending on which form your doctor prescribes. Psoralen makes your skin more sensitive to UV light. Itâs not safe to get UVA light therapy with psoralen if youâre pregnant or breastfeeding.
The phototherapy session itself usually involves going into a booth or chamber that gives off UV light. Or, if you have atopic dermatitis symptoms on just one or two body parts — like your head, hands, or feet — your dermatologist might simply have you place them under a special UV lamp.
The dermatologist usually exposes you to the UV light for seconds to minutes. Theyâll decide the exact amount of time.
Eczema Light Therapy: Effective Way To Fight Disease
A person diagnosed with eczema is exposed to severe physical and mental sufferings, feeling shy and lonely, often avoiding the company of others. But its important to remember that you are not alone with your problem. According to WHO, 3% of the world population is suffering from different forms of eczema, and this number is constantly growing. This insidious disease is identified in 40% among all skin illness cases. Eczema light therapy combined with medicament methods is considered one of the most effective way of eczema treatment. Another advantage is that you can achieve the effect even at home.
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Who Should Try Light Therapy
About 70% of people with eczema see an improvement in symptoms after light therapy.
Light therapy is generally reserved for adults and adolescents with widespread eczema symptoms. Also, those with atopic dermatitis who do not respond to first-line treatments, such as gentle moisturizers or topical steroids, receive light therapy.
Still, light therapy is not a cure-all for every person with eczema. And experts stressed that people with atopic dermatitis should speak to their healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of the treatment before trying it.
“We don’t necessarily like to put people into it unless there’s nothing else that’s keeping them controlled,” Jon Hanifin, MD, professor of dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Ore., told Health.
For those people, Dr. Hanifin described using an immunosuppressant medication, such as cyclosporine, for a limited time until their skin isn’t “all thickened and red and scratched.”
Dr. Hanifin then recommended tapering off the treatment while building up their UV treatments to stop inflammation. Dr. Hanifin explained that light therapy could be a bridge to healthier skin for those people.
“UV is really good for ,” said Dr. Hanifin. “But it’s not for everybody.”
Finding A Professional Who Performs Light Therapy For Eczema
Phototherapy must be prescribed by a dermatologist. The procedure itself may be provided directly at your dermatologists office or at another facility such as an outpatient center or hospital.
To find a professional who performs light therapy for eczema, you may consider searching the following organizations for a dermatologist in your area:
2008 research review , phototherapy is considered a safe treatment overall for eczema in all skin tones when conducted by a professional.
However, individuals with dark skin and people of color should choose a dermatologist with experience using phototherapy to treat skin conditions in skin of color.
Theres a chance for exacerbation if sunlight is one of your eczema triggers. Let the technician know ahead of time so they can adjust the UV lamps accordingly.
UV radiation may increase your risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer.
However, risks from phototherapy are considered low compared with indoor tanning beds, according to the AADA. Other possible side effects and risks include:
- increased itchiness
- future cataracts
Short-term effects, such as redness or discoloration and burning, may be worse after 8 hours following your session but should improve after this time, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology .
You can help alleviate dry skin from your treatment by applying an emollient cream after each session.
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