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Phototherapy is available in various wave lengths; the three most notable are UVA, UVB, and NBUVB. While each has their respective applications, Narrow Band UVB (NBUVB) has become the preferred choice for home and clinical treatments due to its efficacy and minimal risk of side effects.
Narrowband UVB therapy is a more targeted form of UVB phototherapy that uses a specific narrow range of UVB wavelengths. It has been found to be more effective and have fewer side effects compared to broad-spectrum UVB phototherapy. Narrowband UVB is commonly used for treating conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and vitiligo.
UVB (Ultraviolet B) phototherapy involves exposing the skin to UVB light, which helps reduce inflammation and slow down the rapid growth of skin cells. It is commonly used to treat conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and certain types of dermatitis.
PUVA (Psoralen plus Ultraviolet A) therapy combines the use of a light-sensitizing medication called psoralen with exposure to UVA (Ultraviolet A) light. This combination enhances the effects of phototherapy and is often used to treat psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and certain types of skin lymphoma.
During phototherapy sessions, the skin is exposed to specialized light emitted by medical-grade phototherapy units. These units vary in size, from handheld devices designed for localized treatment to larger, walk-in units catering to full-body needs. The ultraviolet (UV) light emitted by the medical lamps triggers cellular changes within the skin, prompting normalization of cell behavior in most patients. This normalization process often leads to a reduction or complete alleviation of skin disease symptoms.
Initially, patients may undergo multiple treatments in quick succession to initiate skin improvement. As the skin responds positively and shows signs of enhancement, transitioning to a weekly maintenance treatment schedule may suffice to sustain the progress achieved.
Home phototherapy products are FDA-cleared medical devices requiring a prescription. Your healthcare provider needs to submit a prescription for a home phototherapy device and one of our team members will follow up with you to complete the purchase. Ask your healthcare provider if phototherapy is right for you.
Phototherapy boasts impressive efficacy data, with clinical trials showcasing remarkable outcomes for conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and more.
Recent clinical trials show 89.1% of guttate psoriasis and 64.8% of plaque psoriasis patients achieved a PASI 90 clearance in less than 7 weeks (over 20 sessions) – making phototherapy an ideal choice for many patients.6
Phototherapy has demonstrated effectiveness in treating psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and other photoresponsive conditions.7
Phototherapy is one of the safest treatment options because it has fewer side effects than other treatments. Narrowband UVB therapy boasts an exceptional safety profile, making it suitable for children1, pregnant women2, the elderly3, and individuals with compromised immune systems.4
Furthermore, research indicates that Narrowband UVB monotherapy is not significantly linked to the development of malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or basal cell carcinoma.5
“As a 45 year psoriasis sufferer, I was hopeful, yet skeptical. […] For the first time since I can remember, my skin is 100% clear. Treatment took approximately 2 months. […] I could not be happier with the product, the customer service and the results. It has literally changed my life.”
“Before trying light therapy, my psoriasis had spread to forearms, elbows, legs, knees, and back despite regular applications of steroidal cream. My dermatologist suggested I try light therapy, and it seemed miraculous. After a few months of therapy at the doctor’s office, she suggested I get a home unit. […] So, high praise to my doctor, my insurance company who paid for a good bit of it and to Heather and [NatBio]. Time saved and clear skin. I’m delighted.”
“After driving just over an hour each way to the doctor’s office to be treated with light therapy, I was finally approved to get my own machine. […] They made this complicated process of working with insurance companies an easy step by step process and it was always just a quick phone call away to answer my questions.”
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REFERENCES
1 Pavlovsky M, Baum S, Shpiro D, Pavlovsky L, Pavlotsky F. Narrow band UVB: is it effective and safe for paediatric psoriasis and atopic dermatitis? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Jun;25(6):727-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03832.x. Epub 2010 Aug 18. PMID: 20726938.; Jury CS, McHenry P, Burden AD, Lever R, Bilsland D. Narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy in children. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2006 Mar;31(2):196-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2006.02061.x. PMID: 16487089. 1
2 Bae YC. Van Voorhees AS, et al. “Review of treatment options for psoriasis in pregnant or lactating women: From the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Sep;67:459-77.; Bangsgaard N, Rørbye C, et al. “Treating psoriasis during pregnancy: Safety and efficacy of treatments.” Am J Clin Dermatol. 2015 Oct;16:389-98.
3 Bulur, I., Erdogan, H. K., Aksu, A. E., Karapınar, T., & Saracoglu, Z. N. (2018). The efficacy and safety of phototherapy in geriatric patients: a retrospective study. Anais brasileiros de dermatologia, 93(1), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20185468
4 Rácz, E., & Prens, E. P. (2017). Phototherapy of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 287–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56017-5_24
5 Hearn RMR, Kerr AC, Rahim KF, Ferguson J, Dawe RS. Incidence of skin cancers in 3867 patients treated with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy. British Journal of Dermatology. 2008;159:931-935. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08776.x.
6 Fernández-Guarino M, Aboin González S, Gonzalez-Cantero A, Arsuaga C, Lázaro P (2020) Phototherapy with Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B in Adult Psoriasis: A Study in Clinical Practice. J Clin Exp Dermatol Res. 11:521. DOI: 10.35248/2155-9554.20.11.521
7 Zanolli, M. D. (2000). Psoriasis Narrow Band Ultraviolet B (NBUVB) Phototherapy by Skin Type. In Phototherapy treatment protocols: For psoriasis and other phototherapy response dermatoses (pp. 18–20). essay, Parthenon Publishing