What Is It?


Sunlight has been used to treat skin conditions since the beginning of time. Called heliotherapy, after the sun god Helios, it has proven effective in many diseases including psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and uncontrolled itch (pruritus).

Sunlight is a combination of ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths and is commonly separated into UVA, UVB, and UVC. Put simply, UVB causes sunburn while UVA causes tanning. Very little UVC makes it to the surface of the Earth and has little effect on our skin. Recent work has focused on determining which of the many wavelengths available in these segments of the spectrum was the most effective in the treatment for these conditions. It was soon determined that the 311 nanometer (nm) wavelength was the active ingredient. This wavelength is called narrowband UVB.

Narrowband UVB Phototherapy

Narrow-band UVB refers to a specific wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, 311 to 312 nm. This range has proved to be the most beneficial component of natural sunlight for psoriasis and looks promising in the treatment of some other skin conditions including atopic eczema and vitiligo, pruritus, polymorphous light eruption and early cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Compared with broadband UVB, in the treatment of skin conditions:

• Exposure times are shorter but of higher intensity.
• The course of treatment is shorter.
• It is more likely to clear the condition.
• Longer periods of remission occur before the condition reappears.

Side effects

Narrow-band UVB can result in burning, just like sunlight and broadband UVB. Frequent emollients should be applied to burned skin, and if recommended by the therapist, topical steroids. It sometimes provokes polymorphous light eruption.

Although the risk from narrow-band UVB is unknown, research to date suggests it is no more risky than broadband UVB and probably less risky than photochemotherapy (PUVA).

What does the treatment involve?

Patients attend two to five times weekly. The patient is placed in a specially designed cabinet containing fluorescent light tubes. The patient stands in the center of the cabinet and wears protective goggles. The involved areas of the body are exposed to the UVB for a short time (seconds to minutes).

The amount of UV is carefully monitored. A number of protocols exist depending on the individual's skin type, age, skin condition and other factors. The skin may remain pale or turn slightly pink (the Minimal Erythemal Dose) after each treatment. The effects generally start to become noticeable after five to ten treatments. Most patients will require 15-25 treatments to clear, and then go on to less frequent maintenance therapy.

Considering the various therapy choices open to people with these conditions, narrowband UVB represents an effective, safe treatment with minimal side-effects. It is very good for treating patients with large areas of body involvement and can reduce the need for messy cream applications. It can also be used to fortify existing treatments and shorten time to resolution.

Please call our Kendall office at 305-279-6060 or e-mail us at info@resderm.com to schedule a consultation to see if this cutting-edge therapy can help you or someone you know.

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