Phototherapy for atopic dermatitis

Treatment Overview

Phototherapy is the supervised use of ultraviolet (UV) light to treat skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis. Ultraviolet B (UVB), ultraviolet A (UVA), or a combination of UVB and UVA may be used during therapy.

During phototherapy, you stand in a booth that contains light tubes that give off UV light. Goggles should be worn to protect your eyes during treatment. Men need to shield their genitals to protect them from an increased risk of genital cancer.

What To Expect After Treatment

As your skin recovers from treatment, it should be checked frequently (at least once or twice a year) for signs of skin damage or skin cancer.

Why It Is Done

Phototherapy is usually used for mild to moderate cases of atopic dermatitis in adults. It is used only for severe symptoms in children.

How Well It Works

Phototherapy with ultraviolet (UV) light can be an effective treatment for severe atopic dermatitis. Combined UVA and UVB light have a more beneficial effect than UVA or UVB light alone.

UV light may help prevent bacterial infections, which are a particular problem in people with atopic dermatitis.

Risks

Risks related to phototherapy include:

• Skin cancer and cancer. Exposure to UV light may result in skin cancer. The male genitals are highly susceptible to the cancer-causing effects of UV therapy.
• Skin damage. Exposure to UV light may lead to sunburn and skin damage.
• Cataracts. The risk of cataracts can be reduced by regular use of sunglasses that block UV light when outdoors.
• Worsening of other skin diseases.

UVA produces fewer and milder short-term side effects than equal doses of UVB light.

What To Think About

UVB treatment requires little time (from seconds to minutes), while UVA treatment is more time-consuming (typically 20 minutes per treatment).

Another type of treatment, photochemotherapy, combines UVA light with psoralens, drugs that interact with UV light to make the light more effective in controlling skin conditions. This therapy adds additional risks but enhances the effectiveness of UVA light.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: July 26, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
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