Light treatment

[Filmbuff]

Hi all, I've been having light treatment for a while now and there has been a real improvement. The referral from my doctor took a while to come through but it was worth it, and a relief after trying a whole bunch of creams and ointments. I'm on Enstilar and Calcipotriol as well. I'm wondering if many others have had light treatment and how long lasting you found the effects to be after treatment ended; I'm wondering what to expect, if it will come back with a vengeance or stay reduced for a while at least. Thanks  

[jiml]

Hi all, I've been having light treatment for a while now and there has been a real improvement. The referral from my doctor took a while to come through but it was worth it, and a relief after trying a whole bunch of creams and ointments. I'm on Enstilar and Calcipotriol as well. I'm wondering if many others have had light treatment and how long lasting you found the effects to be after treatment ended; I'm wondering what to expect, if it will come back with a vengeance or stay reduced for a while at least. Thanks  

Hi filmbuff I used to have uv treatment several years ago and it worked well for me .... Psoriasis usually reappeared gradually for me over the next few months, but it helped me to keep topping up my tan if ever the sun appeared and often I got through the summer before it started up again. I only stopped because I was told I have had my lifetime allowance of uv

[phil]

Hi Filmbuff I used to have uvb treatment as well worked brilliant for me.but like Jim said it comes back after a few months. had so much of it that I cant ever have anymore.
when I used to have it I would have to take tablets 2 hours before and wear special glasses for I think it was 8 hours after
do you do this or is it different now I am talking about 20 years ago though.

Phil

[Caroline]

Hi Filmbuff,

Over here in the Netherlands the dermatologists become slowly less eager to use light therapy. This is because the knowledge on skin cancer is increasing and now also the dermatologists acknowledge that every therapy session brings you closer to your max dose you can have in your life.
The effect of UV-radiation appears to sum up during your lifetime. If you have been in the sun very much during your life, you will reach your maximum dose earlier, which also holds for light therapy. If you are going over your lifetime limit, the risk of skin cancer increases. (This does not mean that you will get skin-cancer !! The risk increases.)

So be prepared that this is a limited treatment.

cheers,
Caroline

[Filmbuff]

Caroline, Phil and jiml, thanks for the replies - I will probably try and manage it with the creams and so on when I end this current bout, and avoid going for further sets of treatment because of the increased risk of skin cancer. I normally avoid the sun and cover up (never go on the beach, not for years) so hopefully should be ok - Phil, I use goggles and a visor, but only during the treatment itself. Thanks again, folks.

[arsenalfan13]

I had 30+ sessions around Xmas time and got up to 6 mins in the cabin but unfortunately it had absolutely no effect on my psoriasis whatsoever.

In hindsight I should really have known it wouldn't work as UVB has never done anything for my psoriasis either.

Would absolutely love to know why uvb clears some people's psoriasis and not others? Perhaps a different root cause to the psoriasis?

[Filmbuff]

I had 30+ sessions around Xmas time and got up to 6 mins in the cabin but unfortunately it had absolutely no effect on my psoriasis whatsoever.

In hindsight I should really have known it wouldn't work as UVB has never done anything for my psoriasis either.

Would absolutely love to know why uvb clears some people's psoriasis and not others? Perhaps a different root cause to the psoriasis?

Yes, it seems strange that it affects people differently - like I've used a list-full of topical creams and whatnot to no effect but the light therapy seems to do the job.

[Caroline]

I had 30+ sessions around Xmas time and got up to 6 mins in the cabin but unfortunately it had absolutely no effect on my psoriasis whatsoever.

In hindsight I should really have known it wouldn't work as UVB has never done anything for my psoriasis either.

Would absolutely love to know why uvb clears some people's psoriasis and not others? Perhaps a different root cause to the psoriasis?

Yes, it seems strange that it affects people differently - like I've used a list-full of topical creams and whatnot to no effect but the light therapy seems to do the job.

It's my guess that people react differently to Vitamin D and D3. The production of vit. D in your skin is what the sunlight stimulates. This vitamin D is a moderator for several interleukins who also are involved with the expression of Psoriasis.
So it you are sensitive to that it will help.
You can also increase the intake of vit D in your food. I have found that it helps me, my PsA is feeling smoother, less sharp, due to it.

[Filmbuff]

I had 30+ sessions around Xmas time and got up to 6 mins in the cabin but unfortunately it had absolutely no effect on my psoriasis whatsoever.

In hindsight I should really have known it wouldn't work as UVB has never done anything for my psoriasis either.

Would absolutely love to know why uvb clears some people's psoriasis and not others? Perhaps a different root cause to the psoriasis?

Yes, it seems strange that it affects people differently - like I've used a list-full of topical creams and whatnot to no effect but the light therapy seems to do the job.

It's my guess that people react differently to Vitamin D and D3. The production of vit. D in your skin is what the sunlight stimulates. This vitamin D is a moderator for several interleukins who also are involved with the expression of Psoriasis.
So it you are sensitive to that it will help.
You can also increase the intake of vit D in your food. I have found that it helps me, my PsA is feeling smoother, less sharp, due to it.

Vitamin D in food sounds a good idea, are there plant or dairy based sources?

[Fred]

I had 30+ sessions around Xmas time and got up to 6 mins in the cabin but unfortunately it had absolutely no effect on my psoriasis whatsoever.

In hindsight I should really have known it wouldn't work as UVB has never done anything for my psoriasis either.

Would absolutely love to know why uvb clears some people's psoriasis and not others? Perhaps a different root cause to the psoriasis?

Yes, it seems strange that it affects people differently - like I've used a list-full of topical creams and whatnot to no effect but the light therapy seems to do the job.

It's my guess that people react differently to Vitamin D and D3. The production of vit. D in your skin is what the sunlight stimulates. This vitamin D is a moderator for several interleukins who also are involved with the expression of Psoriasis.
So it you are sensitive to that it will help.
You can also increase the intake of vit D in your food. I have found that it helps me, my PsA is feeling smoother, less sharp, due to it.

Vitamin D in food sounds a good idea, are there plant or dairy based sources?

Vitamin D the natural way.