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Medical Phototherapy (NB-UVB)
Phototherapy is a specialized medical treatment that uses a specific wavelength of light to treat chronic skin conditions. At Smooth Skin Clinic, we use Narrowband UVB (311nm), which is the gold standard for treating Psoriasis, Vitiligo, and Eczema. Unlike a solarium (which uses damaging broad-spectrum UVA), medical Narrowband UVB uses only the specific part of the light spectrum that calms the immune system and reduces inflammation, without the high burning risk associated with sunlight. It is a safe, effective, and drug-free option for patients who want to avoid strong oral medications.
Key Points
- Medical Grade This is not a tanning bed. It is a prescription treatment performed in a standing medical cabinet.
- Frequency Effective treatment requires consistency, typically 3 sessions per week (e.g., Mon, Wed, Fri).
- Speed Sessions are very short, starting at less than 30 seconds and gradually increasing to a few minutes.
- Bulk Billing In Australia, medical phototherapy is often bulk-billed or heavily subsidized by Medicare because it is an essential medical service.
- Safety It is safe for children and pregnant women who cannot take other systemic drugs.
What is Phototherapy?
It involves standing in a cabin lined with medical fluorescent bulbs that emit light at exactly 311 nanometers. This wavelength penetrates the skin and suppresses the overactive immune cells (T-cells) that cause plaques and itching.
Who needs it?
It is the first-line medical treatment for:
Psoriasis: Widespread plaque psoriasis (guttate or plaque type).
Vitiligo: To stimulate pigment cells to wake up and repigment white patches.
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): For widespread, itchy eczema that is not responding to creams.
Itch (Pruritus): For chronic itching of the skin (e.g., in kidney or liver disease).
Contact Smooth Skin Clinic to schedule your phototherapy induction.
Clinical features
Patients referred for phototherapy typically present with widespread inflammatory dermatoses that are too extensive to treat effectively with topical creams alone. Psoriasis patients often exhibit multiple erythematous plaques with thick, silvery scale covering more than 10% of their body surface area. Vitiligo patients present with depigmented, chalk-white macules where melanocytes have been destroyed. Eczema patients show generalized lichenification (thickening) and excoriation (scratch marks) from chronic itching. The goal of phototherapy is to induce "remission," where the skin becomes smooth and clear, although maintenance may be required.
Diagnosis and differential diagnosis
Before starting, a dermatologist must assess your skin type (how easily you burn) to calculate your "starting dose."
Induction: The first appointment involves a check-up and safety briefing.
Escalation: We increase the dose (time in the machine) slightly at every visit as your skin gets used to the light ("hardening").
Review: You are reviewed by the doctor every 6-8 weeks to monitor progress and adjust the protocol.
Impact and complications
Clearance: Most psoriasis patients achieve 75-90% clearance of their skin after 6-8 weeks of steady treatment. Side Effects: The most common side effect is a mild sunburn-like reaction (erythema). If this happens, we pause treatment and lower the dose. Long-term Risk: While safer than sunlight, long-term use (hundreds of sessions over many years) carries a slight theoretical risk of skin aging or cancer, so we strictly monitor your total lifetime dosage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about scheduling or what to expect? Here are answers to common inquiries to help you feel fully prepared.
No. You just feel warmth. It is like standing in mild sunlight for a minute.
Absolutely not. Commercial solariums emit massive amounts of UVA, which causes melanoma and skin aging but does very little to clear psoriasis. They are dangerous and banned in many states for a reason. Medical UVB is a completely different part of the light spectrum.
It is not an overnight fix. You will usually see the itch reduce after 3-4 sessions, but visible clearing of plaques takes about 15-20 sessions (approx. 6 weeks).