What is Phototherapy?
Skin diseases such as psoriasis, lichen planus, eczema and vitiligo can complicate the lives of patients with both physiological and psychological effects. These disorders, which can cause rashes, spots and color differences on the skin, can be controlled with phototherapy applications today. Since the therapeutic effect of sun rays on dermatological diseases is known, phototherapy methods that have been applied stand out as a comfortable application. Since the application must be carried out with modern devices and in appropriate doses, it is important to choose experienced specialists and equipped centers.
It can be combined with many treatment options or medications.
As a classical treatment method in dermatology, phototherapy plays an active role in the treatment and control of many skin diseases. In this method, not only UVA but also different wavelengths of light such as wide or narrow band UVB are used, sometimes alone or in combination, to give the patient the most effective treatment with the least risk in dermatological diseases. In general, the physician who applies which treatment will be chosen; The patient decides by considering many factors such as skin type and additional diseases. Local or systemic drugs can be used to increase the effectiveness, especially in UVA treatments. In addition, combined treatment options can be created by adding it to other treatments to increase effectiveness.
It plays an active role in the treatment of many benign or malignant dermatological diseases.
Phototherapy still maintains its popularity in the treatment and control of dermatological diseases that may be benign such as psoriasis, diffuse eczema, lichen planus and vitiligo, or malignant such as some early skin lymphomas.
Whole body or regional processing devices are available
There are cabin applications used for the whole body and local phototherapy devices for areas such as scalp or hands and feet. The appropriate method should be selected according to the extent of the patient’s lesions.
Be sure to tell your doctor about your additional diseases and medications you use.
The rules to be followed during the application and the things to be done before and after the application are explained to the patient in detail by the physician and/or the phototherapy nurse. It is necessary for patients to clearly tell their physicians about the drugs they take apart from the routine evaluations, the local drugs they use, including cosmetics, and their dermatological problems, such as frequent herpes, for effective treatment and prevention of possible side effects. Care should be taken to protect moles, eyes and genital area during applications. It is also necessary not to take light from natural or artificial sources during the treatment.
Not applicable to all patients
Children, expectant mothers, people with a previous history of skin cancer, those who are extremely sensitive to sunlight, and those who cannot stay indoors alone in cabin applications may not be eligible for this treatment.
The treatment can be planned as 2-4 sessions per week and the treatment time can be increased slowly, and it can continue for a long time until the lesions disappear almost completely. The estimated time is predicted by the physician.
Correct dosing is very important
The most important risk of side effects of this method in the early period is to burn the skin, and in the long term, the risk of skin cancers associated with lifelong exposure to sunlight may increase when very excessive doses are reached. Since the total amount of light received in solariums, which is a method used for tanning, cannot be adjusted, this method is not recommended by dermatologists.
As a result; As an effective treatment method in dermatology, phototherapy applications continue to be performed safely in appropriate patients and in experienced hands.
"The content of the page is for informational purposes only. Consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment."
