phototherapy before Stelera

[Imapsomom]

Had an appointment with the GP today. He suggests trying a round of phototherapy before trying Stelera.  A gentler treatment and if it works and the P doesn’t come back- awesome! If it does come back, nothing lost and THEN we try Stelera. Makes good sense I think.  What are your experiences with phototherapy?

[jiml]

Hi my experience of phototherapy was good, and although it worked well and cleared me every time I had a round of it the Psoriasis always returned within a month of stopping unless I was lucky enough to get the treatment in the spring. Then I was able and confident enough to go to the beach and keep the uv topped up naturally throughout the summer.
But for me and most sufferers in the past  it was one of the few treatments available. But now there are better systemic options available
Hopefully it will give you clearance but I think you will end up on Stelara soon after.

[Fred]

Not something I could comment on really as when I tried it it was sitting under one bulb for half an hour at a time and it didn't do much. But things have moved on a lot and the new systems do work for a lot of people, and by what I know it's just a couple of minutes at a time.

So yes definitely worth a go especially under prescription. It's the self treatment where it could go wrong in my opinion.

I hope it works for him, it may be all he needs to send it into remission. But do remember that most of our members say it's not a long lasting thing, so you may need to be prepared for it to come back later on.

[D Foster]

I had a range of treatment over a 12 month time period and at the end of the sessions they had installed new equipment so instead of lying on the bed for ages I just stood in box for a minute or so though if I remember I still had to soak in the bath before going in. Had a great tan and it made a difference but not that a significant one , the sun has never improved my P to any great degree. It's worth a try anyway .

[Caroline]

I am very much more negative on the UV treatment as the others who answered.
That is because everyone of them states that the Psoriasis comes back after they stopped the treatment and inevitably everyone will have to stop the treatment when they have reached the maximum dose that is in the guidelines for UV.
In the mean time you have damaged your skin in such a way, that every extra staying too long in the sunshine will enhance your risk on cancers of the skin on a later age. I know this from an interview with an oncologist-dermatologist in one of the recent numbers of the magazine of the Dutch patients organization.
She tells that UV-radiation adds up in your skin during your life. Which leads to the approach of specially for children to protect them very well against the sunshine when they are long by means of sunblocks etcetera.
By going for UV-treatment you do exactly the opposite and finally it will come back anyway.

[Imapsomom]

Had a fun night out tonight with an old friend who told me she had terrible psoriasis as a child. It went away during her teen years and hasn't been back and she is 47. I know there is plenty of time for it to come back and haunt her, but at least she has had 30 good years.
Thanks for sharing your phototherapy experiences.

[Fred]

Had a fun night out tonight with an old friend who told me she had terrible psoriasis as a child. It went away during her teen years and hasn't been back and she is 47. I know there is plenty of time for it to come back and haunt her, but at least she has had 30 good years.

That's good to know, we don't get many reports like that.

Tell your friend long may it continue

[River60]

I am very much more negative on the UV treatment as the others who answered.
That is because everyone of them states that the Psoriasis comes back after they stopped the treatment and inevitably everyone will have to stop the treatment when they have reached the maximum dose that is in the guidelines for UV.
In the mean time you have damaged your skin in such a way, that every extra staying too long in the sunshine will enhance your risk on cancers of the skin on a later age. I know this from an interview with an oncologist-dermatologist in one of the recent numbers of the magazine of the Dutch patients organization.
She tells that UV-radiation adds up in your skin during your life. Which leads to the approach of specially for children to protect them very well against the sunshine when they are long by means of sunblocks etcetera.
By going for UV-treatment you do exactly the opposite and finally it will come back anyway.

I'm inclined to agree with Caroline on this.  I did these treatments twice a week for 6 months.  It was one of those stand up booths and the length of time in the booth increased until its was for almost 15 minutes.  But here is the kicker it really didn't do a whole lot for me, but I had an awesome tan.  As soon as I stopped the tan went away and my skin had aged three years or more.  I'm a gardener and I'm outside in the sun and honestly if your psoriasis is substantial your not likely to do much more then age your skin.  I believe though that the insurance providers make these hoops of progressive therapies before they will pay for the more expensive treatments like the biologicals.   Good luck, sorry to be negative.

[Grizzly Bear]

I heartily agree, photography’s a very good therapy

Now, who’s pinched my marbles ?

[Imapsomom]

I'm inclined to agree with Caroline on this.  I did these treatments twice a week for 6 months.  It was one of those stand up booths and the length of time in the booth increased until its was for almost 15 minutes.  But here is the kicker it really didn't do a whole lot for me, but I had an awesome tan.  As soon as I stopped the tan went away and my skin had aged three years or more.  I'm a gardener and I'm outside in the sun and honestly if your psoriasis is substantial your not likely to do much more then age your skin.  I believe though that the insurance providers make these hoops of progressive therapies before they will pay for the more expensive treatments like the biologicals.   Good luck, sorry to be negative.

No worries River. I'm still tempted to try lol. It doesn't seem that their are any great options, or ones that don't cause other problems or potential problems. He has P on every body part but just a little bit. I think the thing that may hold us back is my son will probably be to embarrassed to have a tan in the winter so It may be off the list anyway...unless we do something like go to Hawaii