Skin Problems: Benefits of Light Therapy

You can treat vitiligo with two types of light therapy. One uses a narrow-band ultraviolet B (nbUVB) light. You sit in a light box or booth, or a doctor uses lasers to apply it. The other is called PUVA, which is ultraviolet A (UVA) light from a booth or the sun along with a medication called psoralen. Both light treatments are about 70% effective at bringing color back to skin, but PUVA can raise your odds of skin cancer.

Light therapy can treat plaque, palmoplantar, nail, and scalp psoriasis. The nbUVB light from a light box, other light source, or a laser helps slow the growth of skin cells, calm an overactive immune system, and ease inflammation and itching. Doctors can also treat psoriasis with PUVA light therapy. You can take psoralen as a pill or soak in it using bathwater before UVA light treatment.

When hardened skin goes farther down, your doctor may prescribe UVA-1 phototherapy. This kind of light goes deep into skin to loosen scarred areas and reduce itching. A type of light treatment called intense pulsed light (IPL) can help with some dark skin patches.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that happens at the same time every year, usually when there's less light outside. You can use a sunlamp with bright white light to help with symptoms. The light helps boost melatonin and serotonin, hormones that help with sleep and mood. You don't need a prescription for a sunlamp. Doctors typically recommend about 30 minutes in front of the light each day.

Bright light therapy can treat non-seasonal depression. The doctor may have you take a medication along with the treatment. A typical session in front of a light box is about 30 minutes a day.

Dermatologists can treat acne with lasers. They might use blue or red light to kill bacteria and treat pimples, or intense pulsed light (IPL) to help remove oil and dead skin cells from clogged pores and treat blackheads. Light therapy doesn't work for everyone. You can also use a less powerful red or blue light at home.

Red light therapy, a type of treatment that uses low-wavelength red light, can help with pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders. This light can ease back or neck pain, as well as pain from conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and dental problems.

A light box can help reset your sleep/wake cycle. The device mimics outside visible light without using harmful UV light. The doctor can help you decide how long to sit in front of the light box each day.

Studies show that having natural, outdoor-like light during the day in rooms of people with dementia can help them sleep better and show less agitation. These results get better over time. Light therapy can also help with depression and slow the effects of dementia.

This form of T-cell lymphoma can cause rashes and sores. Depending on your stage and how thick your mycosis fungoides is, you may be able to treat it with narrow-band UVB or PUVA phototherapy. This type of treatment is 60%-90% effective in killing cancerous cells.

Morphea is a skin condition that causes red, white, or hard painless patches on your skin. If you have a serious case that covers much of your body, the doctor might prescribe ultraviolet light to ease your symptoms.

You might get this condition if your body rejects and attacks transplanted cells during a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. Light therapy isn't usually the first line of treatment. But studies show that PUVA, UVA-1, and UVB can all help treat and bring on remission when cGVHD attacks your skin.