Medical Dermatology: UV Light Therapy for Skin Conditions

Conditions which involve chronic skin irritation – such as psoriasis and eczema – can be extremely frustrating, often to the point of decreasing a patient’s quality of life. Fortunately, Kessel Dermatology offers cutting-edge treatments to help patients keep their symptoms under control. Also known as phototherapy, dermatology UV light therapy has proven efficacy in treating a wide variety of skin conditions, many of which are notoriously difficult to manage with other methods. Read on to learn about how phototherapy works and the different kinds offered at our practice.

Medical Dermatology: UV Light Therapy for Skin Conditions

Safe and convenient, phototherapy utilizes different wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light to help clear up irritation & inflammation associated with many common skin conditions. While UV light may be administered to large areas of the body if symptoms are widespread, it can also be used for localized treatment in hard-to-reach areas. Phototherapy is also advantageous in that it tends to produce long-lasting results while minimizing patient discomfort and side effects.

At Kessel Dermatology, UV light therapy options include:

• PUVA – Psoralen & Ultraviolet A light therapy benefits many patients who suffer from atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or dyshidrotic eczema. As compared to UVB light, UVA is able to penetrate through deeper parts of the skin due to its longer wavelengths. This makes it the favorable choice for certain areas of the body, or for patients whose conditions have not responded to other treatment methods.
• Excimer Laser Therapy – The excimer laser is an ultraviolet laser (308 nm) which is proven to provide relief from symptoms of numerous skin conditions. This type of UV therapy may be recommended for patients with folliculitis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo or alopecia areata, among many other conditions.
• NbUVB – Narrowband Ultraviolet B is a specific frequency band of light (311 – 313 nm) which is clinically proven to resolve symptoms of several common skin disorders. Psoriasis, vitiligo and atopic dermatitis are among the conditions for which this type of light therapy may be prescribed.

Whether UV light therapy is an appropriate treatment option for a specific patient will depend on the skin condition they are experiencing, the location/severity of their symptoms and other individual factors. In some cases, phototherapy may be combined with topical treatments for optimal symptom management.

Find the Right Skin Treatment for You at Kessel Dermatology

As irritating as it can be to have a chronic skin condition, skillful treatment can help make symptoms far less bothersome. Kessel Dermatology is proud to offer the most advanced therapies for all skin, hair and nail conditions – for patients of all ages. To explore individualized treatments for your skin condition, call our office at 609-890-2600 and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.