FAQ’s

It is vitally important that you are clued up when it comes to purchasing/hiring our range of equipment. You can check out some of the most frequently asked questions within the industry below!

Click on the + to view the answer to each question

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What to look for, Are the Lamps supplied Philips?

See Video On Home Page “Stop Psoriasis” Beware
The lamps may be imprinted with UVB Narrowband 311 NM but are they the genuine Philips article? The answer in NO. The lamps must be branded Philips Narrowband TL/01, remember these lamps are the only ones that are medically approved.

The lamps MUST be branded “Philips Narrowband TL 100W/01” Remember, these lamps are the only ones that are medically approved. N.B. Philips do NOT supply medical lamps to unqualified traders.

Beware of websites trying to mislead you. Do not be deceived by a photo of a Philips lamp displayed on an unqualified traders’ website. Some traders’ state, that although their lamps are not branded “Philips” they are in fact manufactured by Philips. DO NOT BELIEVE THIS!!

Look for the trademark name, i.e. “PHILIPS” Fake lamps will not reflect this and therefore are not sold VAT free (for chronic conditions)

The one question that MUST be answered PRIOR to purchase is “DO YOUR UNITS COME FITTED WITH PHILIPS TL/01 UVB Narrowband lamps, as used in hospitals Worldwide?” if you phone them & the response is either from an answer machine or call centre, BE ALERT. This should “RING ALARM BELLS” They do not wish to personally answer the question involved, &, if eventually you do receive a call back, probably they will suggest, in addition, that you purchase other unproven health care products from them. All units we supply are fitted with GENUINE PHILIPS LAMPS & are delivered by our courier. NO OTHER PERSON IS IN THE EQUATION, i.e. Skinmatters Bristol = Direct Delivery to the purchaser.

A genuine Philips Lamp is as displayed here, DO NOT ACCEPT ANY SUBSTITUTE, DO NOT COMPROMISE YOUR HEALTH?………

Delivery, our full length Philips UVB Narrowband Units

These units come with free delivery and installation check (UK Mainland)

Delivered by carrier the driver will place the unit where it is required, assemble it and will ensure all lamps are in full working order before departing.

Where is the company based?

Skinmatters is based in Bristol, England. All phone and email enquiries are dealt with immediately by a qualified member of staff (not an EVASIVE answer machine or call centre)

We want you to have 100% full knowledge of our products prior to purchase and would want you to be 100% satisfied that you have purchased the best.

Is the website giving the UVB content of the Lamp? (or is it conveniently left out?)

Most unbranded versions of UVB Narrowband Lamps (311nm) inported from China will not give the UVB content of the Lamp. Why?

A 6ft Philips TL/01 UVB Narrowband Lamp (311 nm) has a UVB content greater than 17%

What is the length of the Lamp?

6ft Lamps are 100 watt in strength.
5ft Lamps are 80 watt in strength.
4ft Lamps are only 40 watt.
2ft Lamp is even less 24 watt.
The shorter the Lamp length, results in reduced wattage and strength.

Will the treatment help my psoriasis?

We have full body or handheld machines available to use to tackle your psoriasis. Our Phillips UBV lamps are proven to be effective when it comes to psoriasis treatment. UVB therapy uses a wavelength of light invisible to human eyes which slows down the production of skin cells. By doing this on a regualr basis, you can expect to see staggering results in 6-8 weeks. But like any form of treatment, the results can differ from person to person.

Does using a sunbed do the same job as using UVB lamps?

Sunbeds will not help your skin, contrary to belief. Tanning beds will often clear up the skin for a short amount of time, but once worn off, your condition often comes back worse off from the lack of consistency your skin is getting in terms of light and the damaging effects this UVA light has on your skin. Doctors up and down the UK recommend NOT to use sun beds to clear up skin conditions. This is due to the large amount of UVA light emitted over what is increasingly more important, UVB light. UVA light without medication, such as psoralen, is relatively ineffective at treating psoriasis as it primary effect is to react to skin by burning or darkening (tanning) it, not to actively treat it. Some people notice that their skin clears up during the summer months when they’re out in the sun a lot. The sun may improve psoriasis a little bit. But overall, the UVB rays from sunlight and sun beds don’t work as well on psoriasis as the UVB rays from phototherapy. Sunbeds can also lead to heavy burning if used heavily, which will worsen your existing conditions.

How does the process of UVB light therapy work?

When UVB light hits your skin, your immune system makes fewer cytokines, which in-turn decreases the growing rate of skin cells and therefore reduces skin conditions appearing. This means that even common conditions such as inflamed, dry or irritated skin can be helped through our Narrowband technology. Dermatologists and medical professionals worldwide highly recommend UVB light therapy to tackle skin conditions.

Will the treatment help my acne?

Acne will form in your pores – the tiny holes that litter your skin. Each pore will contain an oil-producing gland that keeps your skin looking healthy. However, it’s possible that sometimes the dirt, oil, and dead skin cells can get unintentionally trapped inside your pores and clog them up in the process. Bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) which live on the surface of your skin can also get themselves inside the blocked pores. P. acnes force the clogged pores to swell into bumps called acne.

One way to kill these bacteria and clear up your acne is with light. The bacteria that live in your skin are especially sensitive to certain types of light, including the UVB light that we use. When you shine this kind of light onto the surface of your skin, toxic substances can form and kill off the bacteria. Light therapy will also shrink the oil glands that sit in your skin, so your skin produces less of the pore-clogging oil.

Will the treatment help my eczema?

Present in natural sunlight, Ultraviolet light B (UVB) is an effective treatment for eczema. Treatment involves exposing the skin to an artificial source of UVB light for a given length of time on a consistent schedule. Phototherapy gradually improves the skin after several weeks of consistent treatment that are normally two or three times per week. You can expect to experience a noticeable reduction in itching, and the eczema will slowly clear as treatment goes on. It is highly important that people are able to get regular treatment sessions in to optimise the chances of success, as the frequency can be reduced once treatment is effective.

How do I prepare for light therapy?

Some of the things you can do to prepare for light therapy treatment are:

  • Limit your exposure to additional ultraviolet light – cover your skin when you’re out and about in the sun, and avoid sunbeds.
  • Try to avoid eating an abundance of foods that contain natural psoralen, since these can make you even more sensitive to UV light. Psoralen is found in figs, carrots, citrus fruits, celery, parsley, and parsnips, for example.
  • Avoid using creams, perfumed products, lotions, and ointments on your treatment days since they can contain things that will make your skin even more sensitive to the light.
  • Make your phototherapy provider aware of any medications you take for other conditions.
  • Don’t drink alcohol before being treated.
Do we charge VAT?

Here at Skin Matters Bristol, we do not charge VAT for those who suffer with chronic conditions. A chronic condition is a human health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects or a disease that comes with time. The term chronic is often applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months.

Why not use UVB Light Therapy through the NHS?

The NHS do offer treatments for skin conditions, but the waiting list to access these treatments can be months, if not years away.

UVB phototherapy is the most recommended form of therapy by doctors around the world, as this form of therapy uses a wavelength of light invisible to human eyes. The light slows down the production of skin cells and is an effective treatment for some types of psoriasis that have not responded to topical treatments.

Each session only takes a few minutes, but you may need to go to hospital 2 or 3 times a week for 6 to 8 weeks. Some people just do not have the time to attend these sessions, resulting in taking time off work. So why not hire these units yourself to use in the comfort of your own home? This not only gives you convenience, but the machines can be easily stored as well, causing no trouble to your life at home.

Is There UVB Light Therapy Near Me?

For our home hire units, we only operate within the Bristol and Gloucestershire area, but you can purchase our range of machines no matter where you are based in the UK.

How long does UVB treatment take to work?

The recommended amount of time that sees the best range of results is anywhere between 15-20 sessions of using the machine, with the time of which you use it increasing each time as your skin becomes use to the machine and the light wavelengths.

However, different people react differently to the use of the machines, with some customers experiencing improvements within the first 2-4 weeks, with others at 6-8 weeks.

Can UVB Light Therapy cause cancer?

For UVB machines to cause cancerous conditions, you would need to be exposed to a lot of UV light over a long period of time, so if used correctly and monitored as suggested, then risks will be avoided. Phototherapy can however cause some minor side effects such as tanning and freckling.

Over the course of your life, you will be exposed to much more UV from the sun than you are during your phototherapy sessions. It would take at least 300 treatment sessions to start increasing the risk of any of these issues. A typical course of therapy might include 10-20 sessions.