NEWS & BLOG / BLOG
The Medical City Launches Phototherapy
July 16, 2012
Summer is here and it`s time to show some skin! This is the most awaited time for people to enjoy some fun in the sun. People with skin problems are no exception. From the ancient times up to the present, it was largely believed that getting sun is a simple way of helping skin disorders, particularly psoriasis.
Summer is here and it's time to show some skin! This is the most awaited time for people to enjoy some fun in the sun. People with skin problems are no exception. From the ancient times up to the present, it was largely believed that getting sun is a simple way of helping skin disorders, particularly psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that produces red, dry plaques of thickened skin. The dry flakes and skin scales are thought to result from the rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by abnormal lymphocytes from the blood. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.
The sun is good for psoriasis as ultraviolet (UV) rays, particularly UVB rays, help the skin to heal and reduce inflammation. They also slow down the over-production of skin cells which causes scaling. A short daily period of exposure to the sun, avoiding burning of course, is enough to make plaques disappear. However, prolonged exposure to the sun can be harmful. While sunlight can help, artificial ultraviolet light can be used on psoriasis plaques with more precision.
The Medical City Center for Wellness and Aesthetics now offers Photodermatologic Therapy or Phototherapy, a treatment that uses ultraviolet light to treat skin disorders such as psoriasis.
Phototherapy or light therapy, involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light on a regular basis and under medical supervision. The ultraviolet light slows down the growth of affected cells.
“These light treatments must be given on a regular basis over a period of time to produce results,” says Dr. Bernardita Ortiz Policarpio, dermatologist / head photospecialist from The Medical City.
The sun’s rays consist mainly of visible light, ultraviolet “A” and ultraviolet “B” (UVA and UVB). Dr. Policarpio explained that in the treatment of psoriasis, two main types of phototherapy are used, UVB therapy and oral photochemotherapy called PUVA (Psoralen+UVA).
UVB, which has a shorter wavelength than UVA, is used more often than PUVA. It is used without the ingestion of drugs. UVB treatment involves exposing the patient to lights designed to emit the sort of ultraviolet rays that are most helpful for psoriasis.
PUVA uses a different band of ultraviolet light to treat psoriasis -- ultraviolet A -- in combination with psoralen, an oral or topical drug that makes your skin more sensitive to light. Without psoralen, UVA is not active against psoriasis.
Aside from psoriasis, the most common conditions treated with Phototherapy include atopic dermatitis and other forms of dermatitis, vitiligo (white patches on the skin), chronic eczema, prurigo (itchy eruptions of the skin), and pityriasis (flaking or scaling of the skin) among others.
Phototherapy has a lot of benefits. Dr. Policarpio said it is safer than oral medications and more effective than topical alone. It is also a natural alternative to chemicals and medication because it avoids the use of oral immunosuppressive drugs like oral steroids and other drugs.
Phototherapy is also one of the best options for immunocompromised patients who have chronic skin diseases since phototherapy does not have internal side effects unlike oral medications.
This treatment is usually given in a stand-up cabinet with lights at a fixed distance around the walls. Depending on the dose, the patient stands in the center, usually for half a minute to 10 minutes. In general, patient’s entire body is exposed to the light. If psoriasis affects only certain areas of the body, UV light may be directed at these selected areas only. The patient will wear sunglasses that block UV light and goggles or a blindfold to protect the eyes from getting cataracts.
Treatments are normally given two or three times each week, with dosages being carefully increased, leading to longer times spent in or under the light source.
Most common side effects of the procedure include redness of the skin which lasts for two to three days and mild sunburn.
The Medical City, the country’s premier healthcare network, has a complete roster of competent and board certified dermatologists who can give expert medical advice, diagnosis and treatment on skin disorders.
For more information about Phototherapy and other dermatological services, please call The Medical City Center for Wellness and Aesthetics at Tel. No. (632) 988 – 1000, 988 – 7000 ext. 6527/ 6528. The Wellness Center is open from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm from Monday to Saturday.
The Medical City Launches Phototherapy
July 16, 2012
Summer is here and it`s time to show some skin! This is the most awaited time for people to enjoy some fun in the sun. People with skin problems are no exception. From the ancient times up to the present, it was largely believed that getting sun is a simple way of helping skin disorders, particularly psoriasis.
Summer is here and it's time to show some skin! This is the most awaited time for people to enjoy some fun in the sun. People with skin problems are no exception. From the ancient times up to the present, it was largely believed that getting sun is a simple way of helping skin disorders, particularly psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that produces red, dry plaques of thickened skin. The dry flakes and skin scales are thought to result from the rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by abnormal lymphocytes from the blood. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.
The sun is good for psoriasis as ultraviolet (UV) rays, particularly UVB rays, help the skin to heal and reduce inflammation. They also slow down the over-production of skin cells which causes scaling. A short daily period of exposure to the sun, avoiding burning of course, is enough to make plaques disappear. However, prolonged exposure to the sun can be harmful. While sunlight can help, artificial ultraviolet light can be used on psoriasis plaques with more precision.
The Medical City Center for Wellness and Aesthetics now offers Photodermatologic Therapy or Phototherapy, a treatment that uses ultraviolet light to treat skin disorders such as psoriasis.
Phototherapy or light therapy, involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light on a regular basis and under medical supervision. The ultraviolet light slows down the growth of affected cells.
“These light treatments must be given on a regular basis over a period of time to produce results,” says Dr. Bernardita Ortiz Policarpio, dermatologist / head photospecialist from The Medical City.
The sun’s rays consist mainly of visible light, ultraviolet “A” and ultraviolet “B” (UVA and UVB). Dr. Policarpio explained that in the treatment of psoriasis, two main types of phototherapy are used, UVB therapy and oral photochemotherapy called PUVA (Psoralen+UVA).
UVB, which has a shorter wavelength than UVA, is used more often than PUVA. It is used without the ingestion of drugs. UVB treatment involves exposing the patient to lights designed to emit the sort of ultraviolet rays that are most helpful for psoriasis.
PUVA uses a different band of ultraviolet light to treat psoriasis -- ultraviolet A -- in combination with psoralen, an oral or topical drug that makes your skin more sensitive to light. Without psoralen, UVA is not active against psoriasis.
Aside from psoriasis, the most common conditions treated with Phototherapy include atopic dermatitis and other forms of dermatitis, vitiligo (white patches on the skin), chronic eczema, prurigo (itchy eruptions of the skin), and pityriasis (flaking or scaling of the skin) among others.
Phototherapy has a lot of benefits. Dr. Policarpio said it is safer than oral medications and more effective than topical alone. It is also a natural alternative to chemicals and medication because it avoids the use of oral immunosuppressive drugs like oral steroids and other drugs.
Phototherapy is also one of the best options for immunocompromised patients who have chronic skin diseases since phototherapy does not have internal side effects unlike oral medications.
This treatment is usually given in a stand-up cabinet with lights at a fixed distance around the walls. Depending on the dose, the patient stands in the center, usually for half a minute to 10 minutes. In general, patient’s entire body is exposed to the light. If psoriasis affects only certain areas of the body, UV light may be directed at these selected areas only. The patient will wear sunglasses that block UV light and goggles or a blindfold to protect the eyes from getting cataracts.
Treatments are normally given two or three times each week, with dosages being carefully increased, leading to longer times spent in or under the light source.
Most common side effects of the procedure include redness of the skin which lasts for two to three days and mild sunburn.
The Medical City, the country’s premier healthcare network, has a complete roster of competent and board certified dermatologists who can give expert medical advice, diagnosis and treatment on skin disorders.
For more information about Phototherapy and other dermatological services, please call The Medical City Center for Wellness and Aesthetics at Tel. No. (632) 988 – 1000, 988 – 7000 ext. 6527/ 6528. The Wellness Center is open from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm from Monday to Saturday.
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