Psoriasis UVB Light Therapy Treatment Information UK

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a skin condition which is caused by the immune system. The skin cells are attacked by the immune system which causes them to shed faster than normal.

In people without psoriasis, skin cells shed naturally over a few weeks. but in people with psoriasis, the process happens over the course of just a few days. 

This accelerated shedding of the skin cells cause patches of raised, reddened skin to appear. Which in turn, creates an uncomfortable itching effect for the sufferer.

Psoriasis is a non-curable condition that needs to be controlled and managed.

What Causes Psoriasis

It is believed that psoriasis is hereditary, however, it is unclear why some people get psoriasis and others don’t. 

Outbreaks can be triggered for a number of reasons including:

• Cold weather
• Illness
• Medications
• Stress
• Skin injury
• Smoking
• Trauma

There are a number of types of psoriasis, including:

Plaque Psoriasis

Symptoms: red bumps or silvery scales on the skin’s surface, the most common form of psoriasis. Around 80 percent of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, according to the AAD.

Guttate Psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis causes small, dot-like lesions to appear on the skin. Most common in children and young adults, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) 

estimates it affects about 10 percent of psoriasis sufferers.

Inverse Psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis causes red lesions to appear in the folds of the skin. This type of psoriasis can be active along with and other types at the same time.

Pustular Psoriasis

Pustular psoriasis Mostly affects the hands or feet and results in blisters surrounded by red skin. Erythrodermic psoriasis

Erythrodermic Psoriasis

The most severe form of psoriasis is Erythrodermic psoriasis This appears as a red rash all over the body and can develop from uncontrolled or unmanaged plaque psoriasis. 

Around 3 percent of people with psoriasis develop this type, according to the NPF. 

Psoriasis Treatment

Reducing the flare-ups and preserving the quality of life are the goals and there are a number of treatments to consider with your doctor including:

• UV light therapy equipment 
• Topical creams
• Oral medications
• Injected medications 

UV Light Therapy

The skin complaint Psoriasis can be dramatically improved by exposure to Ultraviolet A (UVA) and B (UVB) light, naturally available from sunlight but due to the lack of available sunlight in Northern Europe, 

Doctors prescribe artificial light therapy as a treatment for psoriasis. This exposure to UV light helps to reduce inflamed skin and which in turn helps relieve the uncomfortable itching.

The specialist light therapy lamp is the Philips TL01 Narrowband lamp which is the medically supported treatment for psoriasis, these are the lamps hospital use for treatment of psoriasis, this is the same lamp as used in the Sol-Rapide Psoriasis home treatment canopy. This home use canopy is equally as effective and a lot more convenient, particularly with the current Covid-19 situation.

UV Light - Tanning Beds

If using a regular tanning bed for self treatment of psoriasis, a lamp with a higher UVB content would be the most beneficial. A particularly effect  one is the Sol-Rapide V9 sunbed canopy or the Sol-Rapide V26 vertical sunbed, both of which have numerous 5 star reviews.

Sun and Health International Ltd have been supplying sunbeds since 1986 and we have had many, many customers buy a sunbed to help them control both psoriasis and eczema skin conditions.

Here are some recent reviews from customers who use regular sunbeds to treat psoriasis or eczema skin conditions:

Reviews:

• Cyndi from Inverness "If your a Psoriasis sufferer I would recommend Sunbeds as they really help and boost confidence if you suffer badly as I have for 34 years."
• Rachel from Stoke-on-Trent "After considering buying a home sunbed to help with psoriasis for a while, I finally went for it and I’m so glad I did! The staff are amazing. After they answered all my initial questions, I placed the order on a Friday and my sunbed was delivered, set up and fully explained the very next day. After just a few uses I am already noticing a difference with my skin. The tan is a nice bonus too! So glad I went ahead with my purchase, just wish I had done it sooner! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this company!"

Always consult your GP or Medical Advisor before starting Home Light Therapy. To learn more please check out the NHS Website.