Phototherapy or Light Therapy is an established and respected treatment for Psoriasis both in the UK and globally within the international medical community.

In fact, the NHS offer UVB Phototherapy as the second line of treatment when topical treatments prove ineffective or when your condition is severe.

Phototherapy for psoriasis works by exposing your skin to very specific wavelengths of light which have been proven to be therapeutic in the treatment of Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is recognised as an immune mediated skin disorder. Essentially the body’s immune system malfunctions and attempts to regenerate skin cells too quickly. Immature cells rise to the surface of the skin in a matter of days rather than weeks as they would do in a normal skin growth cycle. These immature cells form the raw, itchy plaques that are commonly recognised as Psoriasis.

Phototherapy for psoriasis involves exposing the skin to narrowband UVB light. When the light penetrates the skin it has the effect of inhibiting the abnormally rapid re-growth of cells that is symptomatic of Psoriasis.

Modern medical practice is to use n-UVB light (narrowband Ultra Violet B light, around a very specific wavelength  of 311nm) to penetrate the skin. The effect of the treatment is to slow the growth of the cells affected by Psoriasis.

At MBS Phototherapy we offer a range of n-UVB Phototherapy devices which provide the ability to treat your Psoriasis at home.

Is Phototherapy effective for Psoriasis?

Narrowband UVB Phototherapy is an extremely effective treatment for sufferers Psoriasis. This is the treatment that you will most commonly encounter in the UK when you have phototherapy for Psoriasis at any NHS Dermatology centre. This form of treatment is used very successfully, to treat cases of moderate to severe Psoriasis.

“UVB phototherapy is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo and other photo responsive disorders”.[1]

This is a quote from one of the numerous studies on the use of Phototherapy to treat Psoriasis. UVB Phototherapy for Psoriasis was introduced in the 1970’s. In its current form, using n-UVB light, it is globally recognised by medical practitioners and is a key treatment pathway in the management of Psoriasis in the UK.

[1] RK Singh, KM Lee et al The Dermatol 2016

What types of Phototherapy are used for Psoriasis?

In the UK Narrowband Ultraviolet B light treatment, or n-UVB, is the most commonly used Phototherapy for Psoriasis.

For your reference, other forms of phototherapy to treat Psoriasis have now been depreciated and are unsuitable for home treatment, or unproven and should therefore be avoided.

UVA Phototherapy – This form of Phototherapy & UVA + a photosensitiser (Psloaren -PUVA) has largely been superseded by n-UVB but may still be prescribed by a Dermatologist and requires strict medical supervision.

Broadband UVB Phototherapy has been entirely superseded by n-UVB.  Used when UV treatment of Psoriasis was developed in the ‘70s, B-UVB was superseded  when research determined 311nm wavelength light to be the most therapeutic (and least invasive) form of treatment, (and Philips produced their commercial 311nm n-UVB lamps).

In fact, Narrowband UVB (n-UVB) has replaced both Broadband UVB and PUVA, (UV treatment using UVA light and Psolaren/A Photosensitiser), when using phototherapy to treat the vast majority of cases of Psoriasis.

308nm Phototherapy –  Is not appropriate for Psoriasis. There are currently two types of device which use this form of Phototherapy, neither of them are suitable for the treatment for Psoriasis.

• 308nm Excimer Laser. This Laser produces a focussed beam of light at 308nm. This device was developed to treat small patches of Vitiligo. It is a laser and should only prescribed and applied by a medical professional. Whilst useful for treating very small targeted areas of Vitiligo, the laser would be inappropriate for treating an area of more than the size of a coin.
• 308nm Hand Held device. These devices have been developed and produced in China as a cheap alterative to the expensive Excimer Laser. Please note, they are not recognised by the medical profession and not certified by any medical authority as no clinical trials have been performed to establish their efficacy. These devices could also potentially be dangerous as they use very intense, high powered leds to produce their light and therefore you run the risk of damaging the skin very easily.

Red Light Phototherapy – Although Red Light therapy is an effective and approved therapy for other ailments, there are no clinical studies or evidence that it is effective in treating Psoriasis as a skin condition.

How does Phototherapy for Psoriasis work?

Phototherapy for psoriasis works by exposing your skin to very specific wavelengths of light which have been proven to be therapeutic in the treatment of Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder which triggers symptoms on the skin, red flaky patches known as plaques. The skin can feel irritated and itchy which can cause a great deal of discomfort to the sufferer.

Psoriasis is actually an autoimmune or immune-mediated condition. It cannot be “caught”. It is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person.

An “immune mediated condition” means that Psoriasis is actually a disorder triggered by the body’s immune system incorrectly perceiving a problem and then responding in an abnormal manner. Psoriasis is in fact, the result of you own immune system behaving badly.

Psoriasis affects the body’s normal skin replacement process, speeding up the generation of cells. Normally, skin cells are generated and rise to the surface of the skin in a period of 28 days or more. Psoriasis increases the production of new skin cells forcing them to the surface in just a few days. These immature skin cells form the “plaques” on the skin surface.

Currently the most predominant form of Phototherapy, Narrowband UVB Phototherapy uses therapeutic light (around  a very specific wavelength, 311nm), to inhibit the abnormally fast skin regeneration process. This therapeutic light is known as Narrowband UVB, NB-UVB or more commonly n-UVB.

Therapy involves exposing the skin to the light for very short periods of time. Typically, this exposure will be between 30 seconds and a maximum of 4 minutes, 2-3 times each week, typically seeing results within 4 to 8 weeks.

Please note these timings & timescales carefully.  Narrowband UV Phototherapy is extremely effective, but only if you stick to the treatment regime rigorously.

In a Hospital or Dermatology unit you will step into a cabinet which surrounds your body with n-UVB lamps. Your body will be exposed to the light for a number of seconds. You will then be required to return to the hospital repeat this exposure, in line with your treatment schedule, every 2-3 days for 4-8 weeks.

As stated, it is critical for you to follow the light exposure schedule rigorously in order for the treatment to work. Due to limited resources, some Authorities will, understandably, return you to the waiting list if you miss a number of your appointments.

This is where Narrowband UVB light therapy at home comes into its own. Having phototherapy treatment for Psoriasis at home makes it simple to stick to the treatment regime and effectively manage your condition.

Is Phototherapy the right treatment for my Psoriasis?

The only way to establish whether Phototherapy is the right treatment for your condition is by consulting a Dermatologist.

In the UK, via the NHS this free consultation can be obtained via a referral from your GP. In practice, your GP will triage your condition and initially prescribe topical treatments (emollients & creams) with the hope of clearing your Psoriasis. This can be a lengthy process over months or even years as your GP will follow clinical guidelines, endeavouring to see whether various lines of treatment improve your condition. Once your GP has established that 1^st line treatments are ineffective, you will be referred to a Dermatologist.

• Visit your GP. Your GP will triage your condition following the NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) treatment guidelines. For most patients this will involve several months trialling various topical medicines, from emollients to steroid creams. Once they have determined that these treatments are ineffective, they will refer you to a Dermatologist.
• Your Dermatologist will determine the most appropriate treatment for your Psoriasis. If your Dermatologist refers you for n-UVB Phototherapy there will probably be a wait list before you can commence treatment. If you have already had n-UVB phototherapy in the past, you will still need to see the Dermatologist before you can commence treatment.
• n-UVB Phototherapy treatment in Hospital will require you attending an outpatient appointment  2-3 times a week consecutively for 6-8 weeks
• Attending these appointments regularly is critical to the effectiveness of the treatment. Skipping treatments can render the therapy less effective or even useless. For this reason, some Authorities will drop you from the treatment program if you miss too many sessions.
• Once you complete your treatment program, should your Psoriasis flare again, unfortunately, you will have no priority in the wait list for further treatment . You will need to consult your Dermatologist, before joining the queue for treatment, once again.

Again, for your reference, the NHS provide a guide (updated weekly) which will help you understand how long a referral to a Dermatologist may take.

My Planned Care  will give you information about waiting times for hospital consultations & treatment.

From the https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/ home page.

• Select the Postcode search, enter your postcode & select Dermatology as the speciality.
• This will return a list of care centres, their distance away from you, and two average waiting times
  • First Outpatient Appointment – Is the wait time for an initial appointment with a Dermatologist once you have been referred by your GP
  • Wait time for treatment – Is the time that you will wait once you have consulted the Dermatologist.

Is Phototherapy the right treatment for my Psoriasis?

n-UVB Phototherapy is an established, proven & effective treatment for Psoriasis. Here are our 20 reasons to choose Phototherapy for Psoriasis at home.

1. Access to therapy immediately, when you need it!
2. 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.
3. UVB Light treatment at home puts you permanently at the front of the queue for treatment.
4. If you miss a few sessions – Not a problem, just restart the course!
5. If your Psoriasis flares up – You can treat yourself immediately!
6. Empower yourself! You control the management of your condition!
7. Knowing that you can control your condition reduces the amount of stress associated with a flare. This can break the vicious circle where stressing exacerbates Psoriasis.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Phototherapy at home means no time off work & no awkward conversation regarding your condition.
11. Following a strict treatment schedule produces the best results. Phototherapy at home allows you to adhere to a strict treatment regime without
12. If you have a n-UVB phototherapy device at home, treating yourself 4 times per week becomes very simple.
13. You do not need to allocate any time for the treatment. You can integrate your 30 second – 4-minute exposure in your daily schedule, after a shower in the morning or your bath at night.
14. No problem sticking to the treatment schedule. You only have to find a spare 4 minutes somewhere in your day.
15. No travelling to a treatment centre.
16. No costs associated with attending a hospital appointment.
17. No creams or ointments.
18. No drugs, steroids, auto-immune suppressors or biological regimes.
19. Treating yourself at home will enable you to take back control of the management of your condition!
20. Managing your condition effectively will enhance your quality of life by improving both your physical and mental wellbeing.

This is a critical consideration which largely depends on the extent and severity of your condition. However, there is one overriding factor. n-UVB phototherapy has been dominated since its inception, by the use of Philips n-UVB lamps that produce the therapeutic  narrowband UVB light at the 311nm wavelength. These lamps are recognised globally within the medical profession. If you attend a Dermatology centre for phototherapy treatment for Psoriasis you will be treated with a device that uses a Philips n-UVB lamp. For this reason, if you choose to buy a device, you should ensure that the device uses genuine Philips 311nm n-UVB lamps.

Returning to the topic of  the extent and severity of your condition. If your condition is severe or covers large areas of your body you will require a phototherapy device that can deliver treatment by exposing affected areas in a single session. If you have experienced “full or partial body treatment” within the NHS  you will be familiar with the cabinets that they use to deliver treatment. These units use 6ft Philips 311nm n-UVB lamps commonly known as Philips TL01 tubes. At the other end of the spectrum, if you have been treated for Psoriasis of the scalp, neckline, or possibly small patches which affect only small areas of your body, (commonly hands or feet), you will have been treated with a small hand-held device which contains a Philips PL01 311nm n-UVB lamp.

At MBS we have endeavoured to make the same n-UVB Phototherapy that is available to patients in a Hospital available to patients at home.

Our company have been helping people to access n-UVB phototherapy in their own homes since 1996. Even though our business has moved on to an e-commerce platform, we recognise that most of our customers value the personal service that buying on the internet lacks. We also recognise that many of our customers value our experience and look to us for advice.

We pride ourselves on a personal service and are more than happy if you  or your dermatologist wish to contact to discuss our products.

Even if you have researched n-UVB thoroughly, (as most of our customers do). Please do get in touch,  we may be able to offer some further insights that you may not have considered ….. and if nothing else, some empathy.

To get an idea of how we treat our customers, take a look at the independent Google reviews on our Google Business Page

• We are available via phone  on 01925 694280 or email  sales@treatpsoriasistl01uvblamps.co.uk to discuss any questions you may have.
• We are happy to talk to your Dermatologist or Doctor if you prefer.
• Our aim is to offer a personalised service to try and offer advice on the most appropriate device for your condition.
• Please be patient with us, if your phone call is not answered, we are most likely speaking with another customer (most of our calls are quite lengthy).
• We guarantee that if you leave us a message with your phone number or email us, we will contact you as soon as possible.

If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to get in contact with us and we shall be more than happy to answer any questions. Office hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excludes Bank Holidays). The office is closed on Saturdays but we will still try to answer your call up to 1pm. Outside these hours you can leave a message and we will get back to you the next working day.

At MBS, we specialise in  a range of light therapy units, designed for use within your own home, enabling you to benefit from the same UVB Narrowband treatment that you would receive if you used similar equipment for Phototherapy in a hospital or care centre.

If you are interested in discovering more about Phototherapy or aspects of the treatment please click on the expandable boxes below. Or take a look at the Information and Treatment section on the main menu