Phototherapy at Home

Medical Home > Cosmetic Plastic Surgery > Aesthetic Trends > Phototherapy at Home

High-Tech Medical Phototherapy offers new possibilities to patients at home with UVBIOTEK™

J.R. Torrico

Since it was first developed in the 1900s, phototherapy has become an increasingly popular and effective treatment for skin conditions, by using different UVB or UVA wavelengths of ultraviolet light.  The most common phototherapy prescriptions are for Narrowband UVB, Broadband UVB, and decreasingly PUVA.

Numerous medical studies have shown that proper medical use of UVB has never caused an increased risk of skin cancer.  Whether in a phototherapy system or at the beach, it is burning which increases a patient’s risk later on in life.

Narrowband UVB is popular because it emits wavelengths concentrated in the optimal therapeutic range while minimizing erythemic output.  Narrowband UVB usually results in faster clearance with longer remissions between regimens and is considered the safest, most effective phototherapy treatment with the fewest side effects.

Even though significant clinical progress has been made in treating such skin conditions as psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, and other severe skin conditions, technology permits doctors to treat patients much more aggressively than statistics currently report.  A recent survey conducted by the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF)* reveals that while 87% of patients receive topical steroids, only 21% try phototherapy and only 18% try oral medicine.  Disturbingly, an overwhelming 90% of patients suffering from severe psoriasis in this group surveyed considered their treatments ineffective.

For psoriasis, exposure to sunlight has long been a proven technique.  But uncontrolled broad spectrum UV light from the sun can also damage healthy skin.  Exposing activated T-cells to specific wavelengths of UVB causes them to die, a process called apoptosis.  Apoptosis reduces inflammation and slows the overproduction of skin cells which cause plaques.  Phototherapy with Narrowband UVB can effectively manage psoriasis, maintaining a remissive state by reducing inflammation and slowing rapid skin cell division.  This same mechanism of action is theorized to benefit the other photo-responsive conditions.

Phototherapy At-Home System

UVBioTek™ has managed to put in effect a phototherapy system which not only harnesses powerful Narrowband UVB light, but also combines this with a wrap-around design which offers total body exposure with treatment times usually between 3-5 minutes.  UVBioTek offers systems with 40, 32, and 24 lamps to accommodate the varied needs of the individual.   Depending on the model chosen, a UVBioTek system will typically administer a 100 milli-Joule dose within 7-11 seconds.  This allows for less treatment time without using up a lot of space.  Built-in, computerized safety features continuously monitor treatment to help protect from over-exposure.

Previously, full body phototherapy systems were not practical for the home. They were simply too large and bulky and just not available for the individual to buy.  But the sleek, patented folding design of the UVBioTek system makes it ideal for any home.  When a UVBioTek system is not in use, it folds flat against the wall and takes up less than 3 square feet of space.  There is no need to spend hours upon hours in a doctor’s office for treatments!  Additionally, the 50-inch wide, flexible five-panel design allows you to best position lamps, maximizing treatment on a patient’s problem areas.

Phototherapy Regimen

A typical phototherapy regimen is generally 3 times per week for 3 months and is usually covered by insurance with reimbursement rates ranging from $50-$100 per treatment.  For more information call 800-UVBioTek or log onto www.uvbiotek.com.

*Krueger G, Koo J, Lebwohl M, et al. Arch Dermatol. 2001;137:280-284

J.R. Torrico

J.R. Torrico is the National Sales Director UVBioTek™.  UVBioTek Company is the Medical Division of MedTek Lighting Corporation.  In the early 1990s, a nationally known and well-respected dermatologist from New York City saw the possibilities of a folding light box fitting perfectly in homes as personal phototherapy units. With his continued input, UVBioTek was able to develop the medical UVB home phototherapy systems and list them with the FDA.