What is phototherapy?
Phototherapy is a type of light therapy, primarily used to treat skin conditions. It shines controlled amounts of light onto the body to promote healing and relieve symptoms, like itchiness, redness, and inflammation. While light therapy is frequently used for skin ailments like psoriasis and eczema, it treats other conditions too, including jaundice in newborns, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and cutaneous T cell lymphoma.
Light treatments are typically done in a hospital or clinic on an outpatient basis. Occasionally, you can do them at home under a doctor’s guidance. Your physician chooses the type of light to use, the optimal amount of time for each treatment, and the number of sessions needed to achieve your treatment goals. Penn Medicine’s dermatology team is experienced in providing a wide range of light therapy treatments for medical and cosmetic purposes.
Types of phototherapy treatments
Phototherapy comes in multiple light forms, each used to treat different conditions. Ultraviolet (UV) light, colored light, and fluorescent light sources are all considered types of phototherapy. Your doctor may recommend a combination of light therapies depending on your treatment needs.
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.
Who is eligible for phototherapy treatment?
Most people of any age are good candidates for phototherapy treatment. Conditions treated with phototherapy include:
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Vitiligo
- Scleroderma
- Actinic keratosis and skin lesions
- Acne
- Rosacea
- Wrinkles and sun-damaged skin
- Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
- Jaundice in newborns
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Your doctor may suggest you avoid phototherapy if you are sensitive to light, take certain medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have a history of skin cancer, liver disease, lupus, or some eye conditions. Talk with your doctor about your medical history and use of medication to be sure that phototherapy is a good fit for you.
What to expect during phototherapy
Many phototherapy sessions take place at a provider’s office, hospital, or other clinical center, though some at-home treatment options may be available depending on your treatment goals. Your care team will create a regular schedule for you, which often includes multiple sessions a week over a period of weeks or months.
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.
Recovery after phototherapy treatments
Most light therapy, especially ultraviolet light treatment, requires you to take extra care of your skin for a while after each session. Your doctor may recommend that you:
- Avoid exposure to the sun or use of a tanning bed
- Use sunscreen and protective clothing if you are outdoors
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, especially in the first 24 hours after each treatment
- Apply moisturizing lotion to keep your skin supple and relieve any itching or burning
- Use cold compresses, eye patches, or artificial tears for watery eyes
Risks of phototherapy treatments
Phototherapy treatments are generally safe and effective. Though, like any treatment, there are risks. You may notice some temporary redness, dry skin, and other sunburn-like symptoms, such as slight burns, blisters, or peeling. These symptoms generally resolve quickly.
In some cases, longer-term ultraviolet light therapy may lead to accelerated aging of the skin or certain types of skin cancers. It’s important that you seek care from a skilled dermatology team to mitigate these risks and get optimal benefits from your treatment. Talk with your health care team if you have any questions or concerns about the risks of phototherapy.
Specialists in advanced light therapy
When receiving light-based therapy from Penn Medicine, you’ll work with experienced dermatologists and providers who know how to deliver phototherapy treatment in the right doses, while preventing damage to your skin, eyes, or other organs. Our dermatology team is highly trained in a range of therapeutic light therapies, including photopheresis and photodynamic therapy, and will guide you toward the best treatment plan for you. They’ll conduct an initial consultation, plan and deliver your treatment sessions, and monitor your progress and recovery. Using the latest methods and technologies, they’ll provide thorough and compassionate care that is trusted, proven, and helps you feel better.
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