Phototherapy

Ultraviolet light A (UVA) and ultraviolet light B (UVB) are the primary forms of UV phototherapy treatments. Each uses a different wavelength—for example, medium or long—to achieve treatment goals.

• UVA: The long wavelength of this UV light can penetrate your skin’s first two layers. When combined with psoralen, a medication that enhances the impact of light therapy, it’s called PUVA. UVA therapy treats skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
• UVB: With its medium wavelength, UVB light penetrates the top layer of your skin only. It’s often used to treat inflammatory skin conditions like vitiligo. Excimer laser treatment is a type of UVB light therapy that offers precision-based care for small areas of affected skin.

Some forms of light therapy, including LED lights, use different hues on the color spectrum to treat specific conditions. Each color penetrates distinct layers of the skin. Red light therapy and blue light therapy are the most common forms of color-based light therapy.

Color-based light therapy treatments include:

• Red light therapy: This treatment may be recommended for those with acne, scars, redness, wrinkles, and other characteristics of aging skin. It penetrates the first several layers of skin.
• Blue light therapy: This light treatment treats jaundice in newborns, certain types of acne, and precancerous and cancerous lesions. It penetrates the topmost layer of skin.
• Green light therapy: This light therapy is sometimes recommended to reduce symptoms of migraines. It penetrates the upper few layers of skin but does not reach as deeply into the skin’s layers as red light therapy.

Fluorescent light is bright, visible, and more like natural outdoor light. It’s often used to treat mental health conditions, including seasonal affective disorder or types of depression. This light therapy typically minimizes the use of UV light, which is the best option for some people.

Your care team will provide instructions on how to prepare your skin for treatment. This often includes arriving with freshly cleaned skin free of creams, lotions, deodorants, perfumes, and other topical substances that may interfere with treatment.

During each treatment session you can expect to follow these general steps:

• You’ll be asked to place protective gear around your eyes and other parts of your body that aren’t receiving treatment.
• You’ll remove clothing from the areas being treated, and sunscreen will be applied.
• Optionally, you’ll be given prescription drugs, like psoralen, to enhance treatment. You may take the medication orally, topically, or by soaking in a tub.
• The light will be applied to the area that needs treatment. The delivery technique is based on the size of the affected area and the type of light used. For example, if a large area needs UV light treatment, you might stand in an upright booth, similar to a tanning bed, as light moves around your body. For small sections of skin, you might position yourself on a table while your provider uses a handheld, wand-like device to shine light directly on the spot.

Once the session is complete, you’ll be able to dress and return home. Typically, you can return to your regular activities right away while you take recommended precautions to care for your skin, like wearing eye protection and sunscreen when outdoors.

Certain phototherapy devices are tested and approved for use at home, particularly those with little UV light to help reduce risks of skin damage. For example, your doctor might recommend you use a light therapy box, or light box, for 30 minutes a day to treat a mood disorder.

It’s important to seek the advice of your doctor before using any at-home light treatment. Follow their recommendations on which type of device to use and stick to their suggested treatment schedule. Also be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using the device safely.