Psoriasis
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a common condition where there is inflammation of the skin. It typically develops as patches (plaques) of red, scaly skin. Once you develop psoriasis it tends to come and go throughout life. A flare-up can occur at any time. The frequency of flare-ups varies. There may be times when psoriasis clears for long spells. However, in some people the flare-ups occur often. Psoriasis is not due to an infection and you cannot pass it on to other people.
About 1 in 50 people develop psoriasis at some stage of their lives. Psoriasis is more common in white people. It can first develop at any age but it most commonly starts between the ages of 15 and 30 years. About 3 in 10 people with psoriasis have a close relative with the same problem. Also, one large study found that smokers (and ex-smokers for up to 20 years after giving up) have an increased risk of developing psoriasis compared with non-smokers. One theory for this is that toxins in cigarette smoke may affect parts of the immune system involved with psoriasis.
Narrowband Therapy for Psoriasis
Ultraviolet (UVB) light therapy is a popular option for psoriasis when creams and ointments aren’t enough. It’s also called phototherapy. Light therapy involves standing in a specially designed cubicle that contains ultraviolet fluorescent lights. It’s important to note this is very different from using high-street sunbeds.
Phototherapy has been considered as one of the most effective treatments for psoriasis, particularly when used in conjunction with other treatments, and has a 50-90% efficacy rate in reducing symptoms in the vast majority of users. Light therapy usually involves having two or three sessions a week, for around three to four months.
All of our light therapy units use the Philips TL01 Narrowband tubes, which are also commonly used in hospitals and speciality clinics as they are the most effective on the market.
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.
Vitiligo
What is vitiligo and what causes it?
Vitiligo is due to a lack of colour (pigment) in the affected areas of skin. Vitiligo does not make you feel ill. However, the appearance of vitiligo can be distressing. This is particularly so for darker-skinned people where white patches are more noticeable.
About 1 in 100 people develop vitiligo. Men and women are equally affected. It can develop at any age. However, it begins before the age of 20 years in about half of cases. There are some genetic factors involved and vitiligo may run in the family. Nearly 1 in 3 affected people have some other family member who is also affected. Vitiligo is not infectious and you cannot catch it from affected people.
Narrowband Therapy for Vitiligo
For those looking for an effective home treatment for vitiligo, our range of domestic Narrowband UVB light therapy units are an ideal solution. We understand that for many who suffer from vitiligo, attending regular treatment sessions can be costly and inconvenient, which is why we have brought the market-leading technology to you.
Whilst UVB light therapy is one of the most popular forms of treatment for vitiligo, it is important to note that it cannot cure the condition. This type of vitiligo treatment at home must be performed frequently, between 2-3 times a week to maintain results, and caution must be taken as excessive use can come with some risks such as burning and premature ageing of the skin.
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.
Alopecia
What is Alopecia?
Alopecia areata is a condition that causes hair to fall out in small patches, which can be unnoticeable. These patches may connect, however, and then become noticeable. The condition develops when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. There’s currently no cure for alopecia areata. However, there are treatments that may help hair grow back more quickly and that can prevent future hair loss.
Narrowband Therapy for Alopecia
UVB Light Therapy is sometimes considered a treatment for hair loss from alopecia. Those who do undergo UVB Light Treatment have two to three sessions per week where the skin is exposed to UVB light. Sometimes patients will also be given psoralen, a medicine that makes the skin more sensitive to light, before treatment.
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.
Eczema
What is Eczema?
Eczema is a condition that mainly consists of dry skin, it is not contagious, and you cannot catch it from someone else. It is a condition which varies from person to person, comes in many different forms and is also known as dermatitis.
Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become itchy, inflamed or have a rash-like appearance that may appear red in lighter skin tones or grey, purple or ashen in darker skin tones. There are several types of eczema including – atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis. Eczema is quite common. And in many cases, it is also manageable.
Narrowband Therapy for Eczema
UVB light therapy for eczema offers unrivalled results, particularly in those who suffer with stubborn symptoms of eczema that may have been resilient to other forms of treatment. Whilst it has a strong success rate in reducing symptoms of eczema, sometimes even returning the skin to a normal appearance, it is important to remember that this type of treatment does not work for everyone.
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.
Vitamin D deficiency
What is Vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D is a vitamin and, like all vitamins, it is essential for our health and well-being. Vitamin D is mostly made in the skin by exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency means that there is not enough vitamin D in your body. Vitamin D is essential to human health for its role as a catalyst for calcium absorption, yet many people are deficient, especially those that live at higher latitudes, far away from the earth’s equator. Vitamin D protects against the development of many chronic diseases, including: osteoporosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and depression.
Narrowband Therapy for Vitamin D deficiency
For six months of the year (October to April), much of western Europe (including 90% of the UK and Ireland) lies too far north to have enough UVB rays in sunlight necessary to make vitamin D in the skin. So, many people in the UK use UVB Narrowband lamps such as our Philips TL-01 lamps, producing a more concentrated UVB light source and providing only the most therapeutic wavelengths of UV light. Artificial light sources allow much more accurate UVB dosing than using natural sunlight, which controls the possibility of sunburn. Typical treatment times range from a few seconds to a maximum of a couple of minutes. Our home UVB light therapy units are very low maintenance with the lamps lasting as long as 10 years (over 1000hrs usage).
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.
Acne
What is Acne?
Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. It often causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples, and usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages.
Effective treatments are available, but acne can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up. Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scar the skin. The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of such problems.
Narrowband Therapy for Acne
One way to kill bacteria and clear up pimples is with light. The bacteria in your skin are sensitive to UVB light. When you shine these lights on your skin, toxic substances form and kill the bacteria. UVB light therapy also shrinks the oil glands in your skin, so your skin makes less pore-clogging oil.
Light therapy works on mild to moderate acne. Your doctor or dermatologist may tell you to stay out of the sun and avoid tanning beds for a week or more before your treatment and you might also have to stop using some of your skin-care products for a period of time.
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.
Lichen Planca
What is Lichen Planca?
Lichen planca is an inflammatory skin condition that can cause bumps or lesions to appear on your skin, in your mouth, or on your nails. There is no known cause of lichen planca, and it usually disappears on its own. Most cases last about 2 years. This condition is most common in middle-aged adults between the ages of 30 and 60. It often affects perimenopausal women. It’s not infectious, so it can’t be passed from person to person.
Narrowband Therapy for Lichen Planca
The most common phototherapy for lichen planus is UVB light therapy, which penetrates only the upper layer of skin (epidermis). UVB Light therapy usually requires two to three treatments a week for several weeks.
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.
What is Atopic Dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common type of eczema, affecting millions of children and adults worldwide. It’s a chronic condition that can come and go for years or throughout life. In people with AD, for complex reasons science hasn’t fully sorted out, the immune system becomes disordered and overactive.
This triggers inflammation that damages the skin barrier, leaving it dry and prone to rashes, itching, redness in lighter skin tones or a purple, brown or grayish hue in darker skin tones.
This often leads to a vicious cycle of itching, scratching and more itching that further inflames the immune system and further damages the skin barrier.
Narrowband Therapy for Atopic Dermatits
Narrowband UVB therapy is a second line therapy which is generally prescribed after (1st line) treatments with topical corticosteroids & topical tacrolimus cream have been tried and have failed.
The benefits include reduced itching, calming of inflammation and increased vitamin D production
Phototherapy is used to treat eczema that is all over the body (widespread) or for localized AD (such as hands and feet) that has not improved with topical treatments.
About 70% of people with eczema get better with phototherapy. Some people find that phototherapy puts their AD in a “quiet” state long past the end of the treatment.
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.
Pityriasis Rosea
What is Pityriasis Rosea?
Pityriasis Rosea (PR) is a self-limiting rash that can occur both in adults and in children. PR is more common in people aged between 10 and 35 years and is most common during the spring and autumn months.
Its exact cause is unknown. No germ (bacterium, virus, or fungus) has been found in people with the rash. However, certain types of human herpes viruses may be a part of the cause. It is not associated with food, medicines or stress. However, some medicines can cause a rash which looks similar to pityriasis rosea.
Narrowband Therapy for Pityriasis Rosea
According to results published in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal, treatment of PR with narrowband UVB has been proven to considerably decrease the severity of disease and hastened recovery.
***Please note*** – we strongly advise that you keep your GP or Dermatologist aware of any therapy regime and always seek their advice on any treatment of your condition.