Phototherapy

You’ll be given special goggles to protect your eyes, or a visor to cover your entire face if it’s not being treated. The dermatologist will let you know whether to apply any sunscreen in order to protect certain parts of healthy skin, such as your lips.

If your whole body is being treated, you’ll have the light therapy in a specially designed walk-in cabin that is fitted with UV lights. Fans that are built into the equipment control the temperature and offer ventilation, while sensors ensure the prescribed level of exposure.

It may feel daunting on the first treatment, but you can discuss any concerns with your dermatologist or the dermatology nurse beforehand, and easily open the door to stop the treatment if you feel at all uncomfortable during the treatment. It is important that you do not keep your eyes open, even though you are wearing goggles.

If you’re having treatment for your palms and/or soles only, a smaller machine may be used to just treat these areas, in order to limit your exposure to UV radiation.

During the first few sessions, your phototherapy treatment may last less than a minute, and the duration will be gradually increased later, depending on how you respond.

Your dermatologist will discuss all possible side-effects of phototherapy with you during your consultation, and you will be given advice on how to prepare for phototherapy before your first treatment. Additionally, you will be provided with follow-up care information so that you know what to do, and what to avoid after treatment.

Some side-effects of all types of phototherapy include red skin, which looks and feels similar to a sunburn.

Some people’s skin can become dry and itchy, and may break out in a rash, or blisters.

If you typically get cold sores (herpes simplex virus or HSV), it’s possible that phototherapy can trigger an outbreak, so the dermatologist may instruct you to use a sunscreen on the lip area, and continue with any usual medication you have been prescribed.

Patients may develop an infection of the hair follicles, which is known as folliculitis; and this would require further treatment.

As with natural UV radiation from sunlight, phototherapy can increase the risk of skin cancer and also cause premature skin ageing over the long term. To reduce that risk, your dermatologist will:

• Provide shields for more sensitive parts of the body like the face and genitals;
• Ensure the lowest dose of UVB or PUVA possible to provide a beneficial effect;
• Keep records of the total amount of phototherapy to monitor exposure and ensure it’s within safe limits over a course of treatment and during your lifetime;
• Regularly monitor your skin for signs of skin cancer;
• Provide patient information on how to protect the skin and reduce exposure to UV light following phototherapy treatment.

Phototherapy also increases the risk of damage to the eyes, especially if you’ve had cataracts or other eye issues, however, wearing eye protection will help to reduce this risk.