How does UVB light therapy treat your condition?

by | Jan 4, 2022

Our services we offer here at Skin Matters Bristol cover a wide variety of skin conditions that are common across the general public of the UK. Our narrow band light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is the recommended, highly effective treatment that is slowly losing its race for funding in hospitals across the country. Our wide range of devices are scientifically designed to offer you the most appropriate treatment based on the severity of your skin condition.

With 3% of the world’s population effected by psoriasis alone (240 million), the amount of those with a skin condition in general is 1 in 3. Whether you have a condition effecting just one part of the body or the full body, we can provide the right solution for you! Let’s have a look at some of the most common conditions facing the UK and how our therapy will treat it!

Eczema

Being one of the most common skin conditions in the UK, Eczema is the name for a group of skin conditions that cause inflammatory, dry, irritated skin, sometimes incredibly severe. Other types of eczema include discoid eczema, a type of eczema that occurs in circular or oval patches on the skin, or contact dermatitis, a type of eczema that occurs when the body comes into contact with a particular substance. Although common in children and teenagers, it can affect people of all ages. Eczema can be treated effectively through our hand-held UVB lamps, which reduce itching, calms the inflammation and increases the vitamin D production in the area, putting the condition into a remitted or passive state long after the initial symptoms and sensitivity has been treated. Dermatologists and medical professionals worldwide highly recommend UVB light therapy to tackle Eczema, so why not find your solution today through Skin Matters Bristol!

Acne

Especially common within teenagers and young adults, problems surrounding acne occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Effective acne treatments are available, but acne can be persistent. UVB light therapy can ease acne, especially cases that are severe, through reducing the condition and tackling inflamed or red, patchy areas of the skin.

Lichen Planus

Lichen planus is a common disease that causes inflammation (swelling and irritation) on your skin or inside your mouth. On your skin, lichen planus causes a rash that is usually itchy. Inside your mouth, it may cause burning or soreness. You cannot catch lichen planus and it does not usually come back once it’s cleared up, so extracting the condition through our light therapy will be highly effective in tackling the problem.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. It is also occurs naturally in a few foods — including some fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks — and in fortified dairy and grain products. By using our UVB lamps, this will expose you to large amounts of UVB radiation likewise to what the sun emits. This could be from the melanin content within your skin. Melanin causes skin to tan. The darker your skin, the more sun exposure is needed in order to get sufficient vitamin D from the sun.

Psoriasis

Arguably our main focus here at Skin Matters Bristol, problems with psoriasis come from inflammatory skin. Although there is no cure for psoriasis, you might find you go through periods when it is better and times when it flares-up. Psoriasis can also affect more than the skin – you might find it has an impact on your nails or joints too. Although there are many different types of psoriasis with different symptoms, most people have plaque psoriasis. Around 80% of those with psoriasis have a mild form where just a few areas of skin are affected. This is why we have full body or handheld machines available to use to tackle your psoriasis.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin loses its pigment cells (melanocytes). This can result in discoloured patches in different areas of the body, including the skin, hair and mucous membranes. Whilst light therapy for vitiligo is one of the most popular forms of treatment, it is important to note that it cannot cure the condition, but rather just makes it better.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma is more of an uncommon condition that results in hard, thickened areas of skin. Scleroderma is caused by the immune system attacking the connective tissue under the skin and around internal organs and blood vessels. This causes scarring and thickening of the tissue in these areas. Our UVB lights will calm the inflammation of the skin, reducing itching and pain.

Ichthyosis

Ichthyosis is a skin condition that causes thick, dry and rough skin with ‘fish-like scales’ which can be widespread and persistent. There are many different types of ichthyosis – some we inherit and start at birth, whilst others can develop as we go through life. While ichthyosis cannot be cured, it’s possible to manage your symptoms with narrow band light therapy.