UVB Light Therapy for Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition which is caused by a malfunction in our own immune systems. In normal circumstances, on sustaining a cut or lesion, our immune systems trigger a response to activate a repair mechanism to heal the skin. Normally, our bodies produce skin cells via a process in which the new cells develop at the deepest (innermost) layer of the skin.

New skin cells are developed at the innermost layer forcing cell layers above upwards towards the uppermost layer of the skin. Once the skin cells reach the uppermost layer they die and flake off.

Normal skin cell development timescales are between 3-4 weeks, the time between a new cell developing to the skin cell dying and flaking off the epidermis. Psoriasis is triggered when our immune systems malfunction, going into hyperdrive, forcing this process of cell regeneration to completes in 3-7 days rather than the normal 3-4 weeks. Psoriatic skin cells reaching the surface in 3-7 days are immature and build up quickly on the outer layer of the epidermis as patches of inflamed flaky skin, easily susceptible to irritation.

Whilst we do not fully understand the mechanism that causes the body to malfunction, Psoriasis will remain a condition which is not curable; However, we can treat the symptoms of Psoriasis, these symptoms can be controlled with the correct remedy. Many treatments exist to relieve the symptoms of Psoriasis including lotions, tablets and injections, but by far one of the most effective treatments for Psoriasis on the hands is Narrowband UVB light therapy.

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

The efficacy of psoriasis treatment largely depends on the type of psoriasis you have. However, independent medical research indicates that Narrowband UVB treatment for psoriasis in hospitals is effective in around 79% of cases.

A medical trial in 2008 indicated that psoriasis treatment at home can actually be more effective in treating psoriasis!

The trial, “Home versus outpatient ultraviolet B phototherapy for mild to severe Psoriasis” compared the efficacy of UVB light therapy at home against Outpatient treatment in Hospitals. This trial is detailed in the British Medical Journal on line archive.

The trial concluded;

“ultraviolet B phototherapy at home is equally effective and equally safe as ultraviolet B phototherapy in an outpatient department” 

“Treatment at home also led to a lower burden of treatment and greater patients’ satisfaction than did ultraviolet B phototherapy in an outpatient setting”

The report also measured an improvement of how effective UVB treatment at home was vs hospital outpatient treatment;

“82% of the patients treated at home compared with 79% of the patients treated in an outpatient setting reached the SAPASI50”

SAPASI50 is a reduction in the PASI or SAPASI score of 50% (PASI or SAPASI scores are a measurement of the severity of the Psoriasis condition).

If you’re considering what the best treatment for psoriasis is for you, why not speak with a doctor who will be able to best advise you.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition which comes and goes in cycles, meaning that some sufferers may not always experience symptoms. The condition can flare up and improve at random intervals, and can even go into remission, however this is different for each individual.

Remission for some may mean that skin completely clears up, whilst for others there may still be signs of psoriasis, although it will likely be much less severe. It is possible that effective treatment can help psoriasis go into remission, however the condition can also clear up by itself in some cases. Although psoriasis may go into remission numerous times, there is always a chance it can come back at any time.

The condition can flare up due to various triggers. Flare ups can be triggered by anything, but stress, infections, the weather, hormones, alcohol & smoking are recognised as common causes of flare ups.

Recently one of our customers bought a canopy unit which cleared her flare up in the time that it took to get her referral to her dermatology centre.

Having one of our units in your home enables you to treat your condition immediately. Treating the flare up as swiftly as possible can dramatically improve your management of the condition often resulting in the psoriasis spreading less and reducing the time that the flare up lasts.

If you want to find out more about our units, contact us today to speak with a member of our team!

This is another recurring theme. Nearly all of our customers who have had light therapy in the health service have experienced practical issues fitting the treatment regime into their lives.

These issues are not with the quality of care provided but simply with the nature of the treatment schedule and practically how it will fit in with your life.

Narrowband UVB Light therapy is a well-established therapy regime within the NHS most commonly used for the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo. The treatment will require your attendance for treatment at a hospital or care centre every 2 -3 days each week, for a period of between 6 – 12 weeks.

The appointments enable you to use one of the hospital Narrowband UVB Cabinets in which you will be treated with Philips TL01 lamps. The treatment session last for a maximum time of generally 4 minutes. Initially the session exposure times start at under 1 minute and then build very gradually up to the maximum exposure time.

Missing any of your appointments is problematic for two reasons.

• Most importantly, missing sessions reduces the effectiveness of the treatment.
• Secondly, in some cases, missing more than two appointments may result in the health care provider offering your treatment to the next person on the waiting list and you having to go back to your GP and go through the whole referral process from the beginning.

To get an independent idea of how UVB is actually used in phototherapy, see the posted links below as examples (similar leaflets/advice can generally be obtained from your local NHS Trust also).

NHS Patient Information Leaflets

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Patient Information Narrowband UVB Therapy

University Hospitals of Morecombe Bay NHS Foundation Trust UVB Light Treatment

Our full body cabinets are designed for you to use at home enabling you replicate the treatment that you would receive in a hospital or treatment centre. The full body cabinets and all of our Narrowband Canopies use the same Philips TL01 tubes that are used in Hospitals. Our units enable you to treat yourself with phototherapy in the simplest and most practical way, without impact on your life or work, whilst delivering the same treatment that hospital units provide.

In practice, having access to phototherapy treatment at home means that you will never face the following problems;

• Waiting for a referral to a treatment centre before getting Phototherapy treatment
• Having to arrange time off work
  • 2-3 times per week for between 6 & 12 consecutive weeks.
  • The cost of time off work & travelling to and from the treatment centre
• Ensuring that you make every treatment appointment.

The benefits include;

• Being able to treat your condition as swiftly as possible.
• Being able to treat your condition in your own home.
• Being able to treat your condition when it suits you (first thing in the morning or last thing at night).
• Being able to treat your condition yourself, discreetly and in the privacy of your own home.
• No time off work.
• No time wasted commuting to appointments.
• No money wasted for time off work, commuting or parking.