Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that results in thick red, white, or silvery patches on your body, usually around the joints, back, and scalp. Linked to the immune system and often genetic, it essentially causes skin cells to grow too rapidly. This common condition can be both inconvenient and unsightly for those who have it. While there is no cure for psoriasis, phototherapy—using ultraviolet light to treat skin conditions—can effectively minimize its effects. Lauren A. Daman, MD, PC, in Hartford, CT, offers a range of skin treatments from microdermabrasion to Botox®, and includes phototherapy.

This expert skin surgeon shares further details on how phototherapy can help minimize psoriasis symptoms:

• UVB Phototherapy: UVB phototherapy involves using an artificial ultraviolet B light to penetrate the skin for a set amount of time at regular intervals. This phototherapy treatment can either use narrow band light bulbs to emit a smaller range of light or broad band bulbs to emit a wider range of light. Dermatologists often find that narrow band UVB phototherapy is most effective at clearing psoriasis. This method is usually combined with other ointments and medications, and it is the safest long-term phototherapy treatment for psoriasis.
• PUVA Phototherapy: This type of phototherapy uses ultraviolet A, which is less effective on its own than ultraviolet B. However, when UVA is used with psoralen, a medication that increases skin’s sensitivity to light, it can be highly effective at clearing up skin and slowing skin cell growth. Before undergoing PUVA phototherapy, you can intake psoralen orally via a tablet or by soaking in a bath that contains psoralen.
• Sunlight: While both UVB and PUVA phototherapy treatments include using artificial sources of light, UVB rays from direct sunlight can also be used (in moderation) as a way to help psoriasis. Because overexposure can also be damaging to the skin, limit your time in the sun to five to 10 minutes daily. Additionally, if you are using other topical medications for psoriasis, you should consult with your dermatologist before beginning sunlight exposure. The skin surgeon will ensure the medications do not increase the risk of sunburn.

While psoriasis can be cumbersome to live with, you can contain its symptoms with phototherapy. For more information on phototherapy or other skin treatments like microdermabrasion, scar removal, and Botox, contact Lauren A. Daman, MD, PC, today. Call their Hartford clinic at (860) 246-3533 or visit them online.