Psoriasis is a common, multiple, easy to relapse, difficult to cure skin diseases which in addition to external drug therapy, oral systemic therapy, biological treatment, there is another treatment is physical therapy. UVB phototherapy is a physical therapy, So what are the side effects of UVB phototherapy for psoriasis?
What is UVB phototherapy? Which diseases can be treated by it?
UVB phototherapy use artificial light source or solar radiation energy to treat disease, and the use of ultraviolet radiation on the human body treatment of disease method called ultraviolet therapy. The principle of UVB phototherapy is to inhibit the proliferation of T cells in the skin, inhibit epidermal hyperplasia and thickening, reduce skin inflammation, so as to reduce skin damage.
UVB phototherapy has a good effect in the treatment of various skin diseases, such as psoriasis, specific dermatitis, vitiligo, eczema, chronic bryophyid pityriasis, etc. Among them in the treatment of psoriasis that UVB (wavelength of 280-320 nm) play a major role, the operation is to expose the skin to ultraviolet light at a specific time; UVB phototherapy has different properties such as anti-inflammatory, immunosuppression and cytotoxicity.
What are the classifications of phototherapy?
Psoriasis optical therapy mainly has 4 kinds of classification, respectively for UVB, NB-UVB, PUVA, excimer laser treatment. Among them, UVB is more convenient and cheaper than other phototherapy methods, because you can use UVB phototherapy at home. UVB phototherapy is usually recommended for adults and children with psoriasis. If psoriasis lesions occur in thin areas, the effect of phototherapy will be relatively obvious
What are the advantages of UVB phototherapy for psoriasis?
UVB phototherapy has been included in the psoriasis diagnosis and treatment guidelines (2018 edition), and its therapeutic effect is certain. Statistics show that 70% to 80% of psoriasis patients can achieve 70% to 80% relief of skin lesions after 2-3 months of regular phototherapy
However, not all patients are suitable for phototherapy. Mild psoriasis is mainly treated with topical drugs, while UVB phototherapy is a very important treatment for moderate and severe patients.
Phototherapy can prolong the recurrence time of the disease. If the patient's condition is mild, the recurrence can be maintained for several months. If the disease is stubborn and the skin lesions are difficult to remove, the risk of recurrence is higher, and new skin lesions may occur 2-3 months after stopping phototherapy. In order to have better therapeutic effect and reduce recurrence, phototherapy is often used together with some topical drugs in clinical practice.
In an observational study of the efficacy of tacathinol ointment combined with narrow-spectrum UVB radiation in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, 80 patients were assigned to a control group that received UVB phototherapy alone and a treatment group that received tacalcitol topical (twice daily) combined with UVB phototherapy, body irradiation, once every other day.
Research results show that there was no statistically significant difference of the two groups of patients with PASI score and efficient of the treatment to the fourth week. But compared to 8 weeks treatment, the treatment group PASI score (psoriasis skin lesion degree score) improved and efficient were superior to control group, suggests that tacalcitol joint UVB phototherapy in the treatment of psoriasis are good effect than UVB phototherapy only.
What is tacacitol?
Tacalcitol is a derivative of active vitamin D3, and similar drugs have strong irritant calcipotriol, which has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of epidermal cells. Psoriasis is caused by excessive proliferation of epidermal glial cells, resulting in erythema and silvery white desquamate on the skin.
Tacalcitol is mild and less irritating in the treatment of psoriasis (intravenous psoriasis can also use it) and should be used 1-2 times a day depending on the severity of the disease. Why say it gentle? For the thin and tender parts of the skin, except the cornea and conjunctiva, all parts of the body can be used, while the strong irritation of calcipotriol can not be used in the head and face, because there may be itching, dermatitis, edema around the eyes or facial edema and other adverse reactions. If treat combined with UVB phototherapy that phototherapy is three times a week, and tacalcitol twice a day
What side effect can UVB phototherapy have? What should pay attention to during treatment?
Generally speaking, most of the side effects of UVB treatment are relatively temporary, such as itching, burns or blisters. Therefore, for part skin lesions, phototherapy needs to cover healthy skin well. It is not appropriate to shower immediately after phototherapy, so as not to reduce uv absorption and phototoxicity.
During the treatment should not eat photosensitive fruits and vegetables: fig, coriander, lime, lettuce, etc.; Also can not take to photosensitive medicine: tetracycline, sulfa drug, promethazine, chlorpromethazine hydrochloride.
And for the spicy irritating food that may cause aggravation of the condition, eat as little as possible or do not eat, this kind of food has seafood, tobacco and alcohol, etc., through reasonable control of diet can promote the recovery of skin lesions, and effectively prevent the recurrence of psoriasis.
Conclusion: Phototherapy in the treatment of psoriasis, can alleviate psoriasis lesions, reasonable combination of topical drugs can improve the treatment effect and reduce recurrence.
Post time: Jun-07-2022
