I’ll never forget the look on a new mom’s face in my clinic. Her beautiful, tiny baby, just a few days old, was starting to look… yellow. Her worry was palpable. “What’s wrong with him, doc?” she asked, her voice trembling. I reassured her that this was very common, a condition called jaundice. And the treatment? It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie: specially calibrated light. That’s the core idea behind Phototherapy, a treatment that uses light to heal.
It’s not just for tiny babies. For many of my patients struggling with relentless skin conditions, light therapy can be a game-changer. It’s a gentle yet powerful tool we have in our medical toolbox.
What Exactly Is Phototherapy?
Simply put, phototherapy is a treatment that exposes your skin to specific wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light under strict medical supervision. Think of it as harnessing the beneficial properties of sunlight while filtering out or controlling the harmful ones.
The sun gives off different kinds of UV light. The two we use in medicine are:
- UVB (Ultraviolet B): This is a medium-wavelength light that mainly affects the top layer of your skin. It’s the same type of ray that can cause a sunburn if you get too much, but in controlled, tiny doses, it’s incredibly effective at calming skin inflammation.
- UVA (Ultraviolet A): This one has a longer wavelength that goes a bit deeper into the skin. We often use it for conditions that are rooted a little further down.
We also use different colors of light for specific jobs. You might hear about blue light therapy, which works wonders for newborn jaundice, or red light therapy, which is often used for cosmetic concerns like wrinkles and scars.
Who Can Benefit from Light Therapy?
Phototherapy is a versatile treatment we turn to for several frustrating conditions. It can bring significant relief for:
- Psoriasis: Calming the overactive skin cell growth that causes those thick, scaly patches.
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): Reducing the inflammation and maddening itch.
- Vitiligo: Helping to stimulate pigment production in the white patches of skin.
- Newborn Jaundice: Breaking down a substance called bilirubin that causes the yellowing of a baby’s skin and eyes.
- Mycosis Fungoides: A type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
- Morphea: A condition that causes hardened patches of skin.
- General, persistent itchiness that doesn’t respond to other treatments.
It’s a safe and effective treatment for many people, including children and adults. For babies with jaundice, it’s often the primary, life-saving treatment.
Who Should Be Cautious?
While it’s generally very safe, phototherapy isn’t the right fit for everyone. We’ll always review your full health history, but we’re particularly careful if you:
- Have a condition that makes you very sensitive to the sun, like lupus or xeroderma pigmentosa.
- Have a history of certain skin cancers.
- Have liver disease.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding (we’ll weigh the pros and cons together).
- Are taking medications that increase sun sensitivity (like certain antibiotics or diuretics).
We’ll go over everything to make sure this is a safe and helpful path for you.
Walking You Through a Phototherapy Session
The idea of standing in a light box can be a little intimidating, so let’s walk through it. It’s usually a quick and straightforward process.
Before Your Session
First, we’ll get you ready. This involves providing you with special protective eyewear—this is non-negotiable to protect your eyes. We might also have you apply sunscreen to parts of your body that aren’t being treated. Depending on the target area, you may need to undress to expose the skin.
During the Treatment
What happens next depends on the type of therapy you’re getting:
- For full-body UVB: You’ll likely stand in a cabinet that looks a bit like a standing tanning booth. The lights will turn on for a very specific, short amount of time—we might start with just a few seconds!
- For smaller areas: We might use a handheld wand that delivers the light directly to the patches of skin that need it.
- For UVA (PUVA): This is a bit different. To make your skin more receptive to the UVA light, we first use a medication called psoralen. You might take it as a pill an hour or two before treatment, or soak in a bath with it. This makes the treatment much more effective.
The sessions are surprisingly fast, often lasting just a few minutes, especially at the beginning.
After Your Session
Once you’re done, you can get dressed and go about your day. We’ll give you simple instructions to care for your skin:
- Be good about using moisturizer, as the light can be drying.
- Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when you’re outdoors. Your skin will be a bit more sensitive.
- Avoid tanning beds. This is just adding uncontrolled UV exposure, which can be harmful.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Like any medical treatment, it’s about balancing the benefits with the potential risks. Here’s how I break it down for my patients.
| The Upsides (Benefits) | Potential Downsides (Risks) |
|---|---|
| It effectively reduces the inflammation and redness that drives so many skin conditions. | Mild redness or a temporary, sunburn-like feeling is common and usually fades in a day. |
| It’s fantastic at minimizing itchiness, which is often the most debilitating symptom for my patients. | Your skin might feel dry. A good daily moisturizer is your best friend here! |
| For many, it can lead to long periods of remission, keeping symptoms at bay. | Rarely, a more significant burn or blisters can occur. We adjust the dose carefully to prevent this. |
| It’s a non-invasive, medication-free option for the skin itself (unless you’re using psoralen). | With very long-term, extensive use (especially UVA), there is an increased risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer. We monitor this closely. |
What to Expect and When to Call Us
Patience is key with phototherapy. You won’t see a change after one session. Most people start to notice improvement after about 6 to 8 treatments, but it can take 15 to 25 sessions to get the best results. We’ll set up a schedule that works for you, usually 2-3 times per week.
You should always feel comfortable reaching out. Please give my office a call if you experience:
- A burning sensation that lasts for more than a day.
- Any skin blistering.
- Flu-like symptoms like nausea, fever, or chills after a session.
- Any signs of skin infection, like a sore that’s leaking pus or won’t heal.
- Any new or worrying vision problems.
Can You Do Light Therapy at Home?
Yes, in some cases, at-home therapy is an option. For newborns with mild jaundice, we can sometimes send families home with a fiber-optic blanket (often called a “Biliblanket”). This lets the baby get treatment while being held and cuddled at home.
For adults, at-home units are available for some skin conditions, but this should only be done under a doctor’s supervision to ensure you have the right device and the correct treatment schedule. It’s not a DIY project.
You may have also heard of light boxes for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). These are different—they use very bright visible light (not UV) to help improve mood during the dark winter months. That’s a different tool for a different job!
Take-Home Message
- Phototherapy uses medically supervised ultraviolet (UV) light to treat skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and newborn jaundice.
- It works by reducing inflammation, calming itchiness, and, in babies, breaking down bilirubin.
- Treatments are quick, but you’ll need a series of sessions (often 15-25) to see the full benefit.
- Side effects are usually mild, like temporary redness and dryness, but we always monitor you closely for more serious risks.
- Always protect your skin and eyes. Follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions carefully, especially regarding sun exposure.
Navigating a chronic skin condition or the worries of a new baby can feel overwhelming. But it’s important to know there are gentle, effective options out there. We’ll figure out the best path forward, together. You’re not alone in this.