Phototherapy

 

Phototherapy is light therapy, also known as heliotherapy and it is exposure to daylight, specifically natural sunlight. However, in most cases phototherapy eliminates the ultraviolet light (UV) that causes skin damage and free radicals as well as the destruction of vitamins A and C which account for early aging of the skin. Often prescribed by dermatologists for skin disorders including certain types of skin cancer, phototherapy is also recommended for various sleep disorders and psychiatric conditions like depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Phototherapy is usually prescribed in doses of illuminance that is a measure of intensity observed by the patient’s eye. Depending upon the skin condition, one of the artificial sources of daylight will be prescribed for the skin. These can include ultraviolet light which is UV filtered as well as visible full spectrum light, blue and red light and infrared light radiation. However, when phototherapy is recommended for other disorders or more serious skin conditions, clinical supervision of the type of light therapy used and time of day can vary over the course of treatment. Your doctor can advise you on what type of phototherapy you need.

Phototherapy could be prescribed for the following conditions:

• Acne
  
• Atopic Dermatitis
  
• Psoriasis
  
• Certain Types of Skin Cancer
  
• Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma
  
• DNA Repair
  
• Eczema
  
• Muscular Stimulation
  
• Neonatal Jaundice
  
• Non Seasonal Depression
  
• Pain Management
  
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  
• Sleep Phase Disorders
  
• Reducing Body Odor
  
• Reducing Infectious Bacteria
  
• Wound Healing