If you have skin conditions driven by inflammation or immune system activity, topical treatments alone may not be enough. At South Yarra Dermatology, we use narrow-band UVB phototherapy to manage the symptoms. We offer both whole-body phototherapy for widespread conditions and targeted hand and foot phototherapy for localised concerns.
Phototherapy, also known as light therapy, treats skin conditions using precise wavelengths of UV light delivered in carefully measured doses under close supervision. The most commonly used form is narrow-band UVB, a specific type of ultraviolet B light that has proven particularly effective for several inflammatory and pigmentation conditions.
Narrow-band UVB works by calming overactive immune cells in the skin, reducing inflammation in conditions like psoriasis and eczema. It also slows rapid skin cell growth, helping to resolve the thick, scaly plaques characteristic of psoriasis. For vitiligo, it stimulates pigment-producing cells, potentially helping restore colour to depigmented patches.
Phototherapy, also known as light therapy, treats skin conditions using precise wavelengths of UV light delivered in carefully measured doses under close supervision. The most commonly used form is narrow-band UVB, a specific type of ultraviolet B light that has proven particularly effective for several inflammatory and pigmentation conditions.
Narrow-band UVB works by calming overactive immune cells in the skin, reducing inflammation in conditions like psoriasis and eczema. It also slows rapid skin cell growth, helping to resolve the thick, scaly plaques characteristic of psoriasis. For vitiligo, it stimulates pigment-producing cells, potentially helping restore colour to depigmented patches.
Phototherapy works particularly well for inflammatory skin conditions, immune system-related problems, and changes in skin pigmentation. By delivering targeted UV light in controlled doses, it can modify immune responses and cellular behaviour in ways that topical treatments often cannot achieve. This makes it especially valuable for widespread or treatment-resistant conditions. Phototherapy is effective for:
Phototherapy offers benefits from reducing inflammation and slowing excessive skin cell growth to stimulating pigment production in depigmented areas. Before recommending treatment, we take time to understand what you hope to achieve and how phototherapy might fit into your treatment goals. This helps us determine the appropriate UV dosage and treatment schedule for your skin condition.
Phototherapy uses specific light types to effectively treat long-lasting skin issues like psoriasis, eczema, and vitiligo that might not get better with creams or ointments alone. This targeted approach can provide relief when other options haven’t worked.
For some people, phototherapy can minimise reliance on oral medications or systemic treatments that may have unwanted side effects. This localised approach treats the skin directly while limiting impact on the rest of your body.
Your dermatologist can adjust the light wavelength, intensity, and duration based on your specific condition, skin type, and how your skin responds. This personalisation helps optimise effectiveness while minimising potential side effects.
Regular phototherapy sessions may help achieve extended periods of clear or improved skin for chronic conditions. Many people experience significant improvement that lasts well beyond their treatment course.
Unlike topical treatments that can be impractical for large body areas, phototherapy efficiently treats extensive skin involvement. This makes it particularly valuable when conditions affect significant portions of the body.
We begin with a thorough assessment of your medical history, skin condition, and UV sensitivity to determine if phototherapy is right for you. We’ll create a treatment plan that starts with very brief exposures and gradually increases as your skin builds tolerance.
On treatment days, arrive with clean skin free from products, lotions, or makeup. During each session, you’ll wear protective goggles while receiving controlled UV light exposure. Sessions take 15 to 30 minutes and are typically scheduled two to three times per week over several weeks or months.
Most people notice only slight warmth during treatment, with possible mild pinkness afterwards that fades within hours. Results develop gradually as treatment progresses, with improvement typically becoming visible after several weeks of consistent sessions.
Phototherapy works well for many patients with inflammatory skin conditions or pigmentation disorders, though response varies. If you’re dealing with psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, or similar conditions that haven’t responded adequately to topical treatments, book a consultation at South Yarra Dermatology to explore whether phototherapy is right for you.
No, medical phototherapy and tanning beds are fundamentally different despite both using UV light.
Narrow band UVB phototherapy uses a specific type of light that research has shown treats skin conditions. It delivers controlled, measured doses calculated based on your skin type and response. Treatment occurs under medical supervision with careful monitoring, using medical-grade equipment calibrated to emit precise wavelengths.
Tanning beds emit broad-spectrum UV (including both UVA and UVB) at uncontrolled intensities. They lack medical oversight or individualised dosing, aim to produce cosmetic tanning rather than treat disease, and carry well-established risks without any therapeutic benefits. Tanning beds should never be considered equivalent to or substitutes for medical phototherapy.
The controlled, supervised nature of phototherapy allows therapeutic benefits while managing risks. Anyone considering phototherapy should receive treatment from qualified medical providers using appropriate equipment rather than attempting to replicate therapy through tanning beds.
Phototherapy typically requires two to three sessions per week. The most common schedule is three times weekly with at least one day between treatments. This spacing allows your skin to respond between sessions while maintaining progress.
The regular schedule is a significant commitment. Missing sessions can delay progress or reduce effectiveness. Treatment continues for weeks to months depending on your condition and response. Once you achieve improvement, some patients reduce frequency to once or twice weekly for maintenance, though others find their condition returns and must continue regular treatment.
The actual UV exposure during each session is relatively brief, ranging from just seconds initially to several minutes as doses gradually increase. First treatments might involve only seconds of UV exposure, increasing incrementally with each session based on your tolerance and response. Once therapeutic doses are reached, treatment might last two to three minutes or slightly longer.
While the light exposure itself is short, total appointment time is longer, accounting for preparation, positioning in the phototherapy unit, the brief treatment itself, and dressing afterwards.
Minimal preparation is needed. Your skin should be clean but does not require special cleansing beyond normal bathing. Remove all makeup, lotions, perfumes, deodorants, and other products from areas being treated before your session. These products can increase sensitivity or create uneven UV penetration, potentially causing irregular reactions.
Do not apply sunscreen before phototherapy, as it would block the therapeutic UV. Avoid other significant UV exposure on treatment days. If you develop sunburn between sessions, inform staff before treatment, as burned skin should not receive additional UV exposure until healed.
You can immediately resume all normal activities. However, several recommendations will help optimise results.
Apply moisturiser liberally to treated areas after each session. Phototherapy can be drying, and well-moisturised skin tolerates treatment better. Avoid additional sun exposure on treatment days if possible. If you must be outdoors, use appropriate sun protection. Monitor your skin for excessive redness, blistering, or other concerning reactions and report these promptly.
Certain situations make phototherapy inadvisable or require particularly careful consideration. History of melanoma or multiple non-melanoma skin cancers requires a thorough discussion of risks versus benefits. Genetic conditions predisposing to skin cancer (such as xeroderma pigmentosum or basal cell nevus syndrome) generally rule out phototherapy.
Lupus and certain other conditions that UV exposure can worsen typically preclude phototherapy. Current immune suppression from medications or medical conditions increases skin cancer concerns. Many medications cause increased sensitivity to light, potentially causing excessive reactions to phototherapy. Very fair skin that burns extremely easily may not tolerate phototherapy well.
The duration of phototherapy varies tremendously based on your condition, response to treatment, and treatment goals. Initial treatment to achieve clearing or substantial improvement typically requires weeks to months (often six to 12 weeks or longer for conditions like psoriasis).
Once improvement is achieved, decisions about continuation depend on individual circumstances. Some patients transition to maintenance phototherapy at reduced frequency (perhaps once or twice weekly) that sustains improvement. Others find their condition remains controlled for weeks to months after stopping treatment, then undergo additional treatment courses when symptoms return. Some need indefinite regular treatment to maintain acceptable control.
The chronic nature of conditions like psoriasis and eczema means lifelong management is required, though phototherapy does not necessarily need to continue forever. It can be used intermittently or alternated with other treatments.
Yes, phototherapy often combines effectively with other treatments, potentially improving outcomes. Creams (including steroids, vitamin D analogues, or calcineurin inhibitors) can be used alongside phototherapy, often allowing reduced amounts or strengths while maintaining control. Some systemic medications combine well with phototherapy for conditions not adequately controlled by either approach alone.
However, some combinations require caution. Certain medications increase sensitivity to light, potentially causing excessive reactions to phototherapy and requiring discontinuation or dose adjustments. Retinoids, some antibiotics, and various other medications can affect sensitivity.
Missing occasional appointments will not completely derail progress, but consistency is important for optimal results. Phototherapy requires regular, frequent treatment to maintain therapeutic UV levels and allow cumulative benefit to develop. Missing sessions means therapeutic momentum is lost, potentially delaying improvement.
If you miss many sessions after building up to higher UV doses, skin tolerance may decrease, potentially requiring dose reduction when resuming to avoid excessive burning. However, life circumstances sometimes necessitate missing appointments. Inform us when you need to miss sessions so we can plan appropriate adjustments.
