Phototherapy
Phototherapy is a treatment that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to treat psoriasis plaques. Historically, phototherapy, using the sun’s rays, was used to treat psoriasis for over a century. The Dead Sea, for example, was, and still is, a popular place for people with all types of skin conditions. The combination of water saturated with salt and minerals and the unique spectrum of light found there provides a natural treatment for psoriasis. These days, however, phototherapy is carried out using artificial UV light (from purpose-built light bulbs).
There are two main types of phototherapy:
- PUVA Photochemotherapy
- UVB Phototherapy
Both of these therapies are usually given at a specialist phototherapy centre.