UV Therapy // Part 2

So first of all, to answer everyones question of what exactly is UV therapy, this post will be solely about the the types UV rays that exist, and how they effect the skin and the type of treatment I am doing. So what is UV therapy?

UV therapy is like a sun bed. But it isn't. Basically.

Thats how I've been describing it to friends and anyone who asks me about it. However, the difference between the sunbed you might be using down in your local tanning place, and the magical UV booth that I'm using is that all the harmful stuff, like the UVA and UVB rays are controlled. I hear you say "the hell are those?". Well, I've just gone ahead and done a quick FAQ about it all...

What is UV light/radiation?

Ultraviolet Light is what is omitted from the sun and is made up of UVA and UVB wavelengths or rays. The stuff that makes you tanned and sunkissed during the summer.

Thats all well and good, but what is UVA and UVB?

Well let me tell you...

> UVB rays are short, powerful and harmful rays that affect the outer layers of the skin. UVB causes sunburn and produces melanin, which gives people a tan. It also damages DNA in the skin, which causes skin cancer.

> UVA rays are long rays that penetrate deep into the skin. UVA damages the skin causing wrinkling, sagging and premature aging. It may also have a role in causing skin cancer.

How does this apply to light therapy though, is there a difference for the therapy?

Yes, actually there is. There are two types of light therapycalled broadband UVB light therapy and UVA light therapy...

>BroadbandUVB therapy has been used to treat skin conditions since the 1920s. Eczema treatment involves standing in a light box three times per week for a total course of 20 to 30 treatments. The length of the first treatment is determined by a MED light test, after the length of each treatment increases until the skin becomes slightly pink, but never burnt.

>In order for UVA light therapy to be effective, an oral medication, psoralen, is taken an hour before the treatment to make the skin more sensitive to the light therapy. This combination of psoralen and UVA is called PUVA phototherapy. PUVA eczema treatments are given two to three times per week for 12 to 15 weeks. As with UVB, the length of exposure is increased gradually, and weekly maintenance treatments may be given after the first phase of treatment. Some people are unable to tolerate PUVA because of nausea from psoralen.

So what type of of uv therapy are you receiving?

I am currently receiving UVB light therapy! This is my second course of light therapy, and its going a lot smoother than my first time during the Summer of 2015.