Introduction:
Eczema can usually be prevented by moisturizing the skin, using anti-inflammatory oils or creams, and avoiding irritants. If this is not enough, other treatments include UV treatments or products that can be swallowed or injected. A gentle treatment can help people with the most common eczema, which is difficult to treat in atopic dermatitis.
For some people, light therapy for eczema flare-ups can be so severe that anti-inflammatory drugs are not enough to alleviate symptoms. In such severe steps, ultraviolet radiation can be used.
Understanding Eczema
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, breaks down the skin barrier and causes dryness and irritation. Traditional treatments, such as medications and patches, often provide temporary relief. However, the unique challenges of treating eczema require sophisticated solutions.
Eczema is often referred to as “dermatitis”; eczema and dermatitis are the same and are used interchangeably. Sometimes eczema is associated with affected areas. But more than one type of eczema affects the same part of the body.
What does light therapy involve?
Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, involves exposing affected skin areas to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV light prevents skin inflammation and also affects cell division. The treatment is carried out in special rooms with radiation tubes that glow with light of a specific wavelength.
The lights can also be used to treat certain areas of the body, such as the head, hands, or feet. Mild treatment usually takes two to six weeks in a dermatology clinic or hospital. The treatment lasts from four weeks to three months.
The dose is adjusted according to the skin type of the patient and gradually increased so that the skin gradually becomes accustomed to the radiation. Gentle therapy usually takes less than a minute to start and several minutes to finish.
How Light Therapy Works to Help Treat Eczema
Years ago, doctors used three types of light therapy for eczema, but today there is only one. The most common form of phototherapy is narrowband UVB, which has largely replaced other forms of phototherapy such as broadband UVB and PUVA.
PUVA Light Therapy
PUVA occurs when a doctor uses a wavelength of UVA light, but the oral drug Psoralen must be taken an hour before the treatment is effective (PUVA stands for Psoralen plus UVA) because the skin is more sensitive. This treatment is more commonly used to treat psoriasis than eczema.
Narrowband UVB light therapy
According to the National Eczema Association, it is more attractive than broadband UVB and also less effective at penetrating the skin. Meanwhile, a review published in October calls narrowband UVB light the “gold standard” for light therapy for treating eczema in terms of safety and efficacy.
In addition to narrow-band UVB, fluorescent lamps generate a narrow part of the UVB spectrum. Two wavelengths from 311 to 313 nm (nm) penetrate the skin better than older broadband sources, reducing swelling and irritation and improving the unwanted wavelength effect of burns on the skin.
What does light therapy treat?
Phototherapy uses UV light of different wavelengths. Light therapy for eczema is anti-inflammatory, anti-immune, and anti-cellular. Phototherapy is an effective treatment for many diseases, such as infantile anemia.
Light therapy is primarily used to treat various skin diseases. Health professionals can treat eczema to reduce swelling and inflammation.
How do I get rid of eczema?
- Your eczema treatment is unique to you and has caused your symptoms to worsen.
- If skin is dry during the day, use a mild or sensitive skin moisturizer. Apply moisturizer after a bath or shower when the skin is wet.
- Apply topical medications, such as topical steroids, to the skin as directed by your doctor.
- Use oral medications such as anti-inflammatory medications, antihistamines, or corticosteroids to reduce itching and swelling.
- Immunosuppressants help regulate the immune system.
- Gentle therapy helps improve skin appearance and remove blemishes.
- Avoid triggers that make eczema symptoms worse.
Treating eczema: a step-by-step approach
The first (primary) treatment consists of emollients and topical steroids in most cases of eczema. Wet bandages and wraps can be a useful addition for some people, especially if scratching is a big problem. Sedating antihistamines can help you sleep at night (they didn’t help with itchy eczema). Long-term use is not recommended.
Treatments for more severe eczema, or “supportive therapy,” include radiation therapy, oral steroids, immunosuppressants, biologics, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.
Eczema is a relatively common skin condition that causes inflammation, redness, and peeling. There are also therapeutic options, such as phototherapy, which uses UV light to reduce the symptoms of eczema.
Can light therapy help?
Studies have shown that gentle therapy can reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms such as itching. It temporarily heals the skin. But eczema doesn’t go away for long. Based on the current studies, light therapy and bathing are slightly more effective than light therapy alone.
Conclusion.
The skin is usually dry and often very itchy. Light therapy for eczema makes it almost impossible to resist the urge to scratch an eczema itch. During a flare-up, the skin may become red, sore, and dry, causing bleeding.