Phototherapy, or photochemotherapy, is a form of ultraviolet radiation treatment for serious skin diseases. The oral administration of the psoralens is followed by UV light exposure, which activates the psoralens, causing them to interact with the body’s DNA, thus inhibiting the cell multiplication of certain skin diseases.
At Colorado Springs Dermatology Clinic, PC, we have highly trained and experienced skin care specialists who use phototherapy to treat some of the most severe skin diseases with optimal results. Schedule your appointment at CSDERM today:
Who is a candidate for Phototherapy?
Originally developed for psoriasis, phototherapy treatment is also used on patients with other chronic skin diseases, including graft versus host disease, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, and vitiligo. These diseases are characterized by rapidly multiplying cells, and phototherapy aims to arrest the multiplication. Because of its serious side effects, the therapy is not generally recommended for children. Care should be taken with patients who have had melanoma or multiple skin cancers, are pregnant or nursing, or have skin types that tend to burn easily.
What is the treatment process?
Phototherapy combines an oral drug with ultraviolet light exposure. In the most common form of phototherapy, the patient is administered Oxsoralen-Ultra® (8-methoxypsoralen) by mouth. The patient’s weight determines the dosage of the drug. About 45 to 60 minutes later, the skin is exposed to long-wave ultraviolet radiation for a period of time determined by the patient’s skin pigmentation. The darker your skin is, the longer the light exposure will be.
During treatment, you will remove clothing from the affected body areas and stand in a seven-foot-high lightbox. Lights will be turned on for a length of time between one and 10 minutes. You wear groin protection (underwear or a towel) and protective goggles to shield your eyes from the ultraviolet light. The male genitals are particularly susceptible to the cancer-causing effects of UV light therapy. If the affected areas are not on the face, some patients may wear a bag over their heads to prevent photo-aging of facial skin. UVA-absorbing wrap-around sunglasses must be worn 24 hours after treatment, and sunlight should be avoided for at least 24 hours afterward.
How many treatments will I need?
Phototherapy must be administered in a physician’s office and requires treatment twice to thrice a week for 12 to 15 weeks for significant improvement. In psoriasis cases, therapy may be required indefinitely as phototherapy does not cure the disease. Treatments must be administered at least 48 hours apart as the burn caused by phototherapy can be delayed for up to two days. The amount of light applied increases at each visit, with adjustments made for pigmentation. The therapy will be discontinued if 30 treatments are administered with no significant improvement. However, if significant improvement is noted, the frequency of treatments may be decreased to maintain improvement.
What is the advantage of phototherapy?
Phototherapy can activate only at the site of the disease, on the skin, making it less toxic than similar therapies that require systemic administration and have effects on other parts of the body.
Are there side effects?
Several side effects are associated with PUVA, including:
- headache and dizziness
- nausea
- itching and redness
- skin burn and blistering
- tanning or darkening of the skin
The oral medication should be taken with food as it may cause nausea. Ginger capsules or prescription drugs such as Reglan® may help fight the nausea.
Reference: drugs.com
Phototherapy treatment also has potentially serious side effects. It has the potential to cause a variety of skin cancers, particularly squamous cell skin cancer, with risk directly related to the amount of energy administered during the procedures. It also unavoidably causes photo-aging and, if improperly monitored, can cause serious ultraviolet light burns. phototherapy patients may also develop white and brown spots to appear on the skin.
What can I expect after treatment?
After treatment, a physician should check the skin at least once or twice a year for skin cancer or signs of other damage.
Our dermatology clinic locations
We offer medical dermatology at four CSDERM locations:
Central Colorado Springs
170 S Parkside Dr
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Phone: (719) 471-1763
North Colorado Springs
2060 Briargate Pkwy, Ste 150
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Phone: (719) 471-1763
Pueblo
406 North Main St
Pueblo, CO 81003
Phone: (719) 566-0176
Cañon City
1332 Bauer Ln
Cañon City, CO 81212
Phone: (719) 275-7485