UV and quartz with psoriasis: advantages and disadvantages

Psoriasis has long been recognized as an incurable disease with a chronic course. And, if it is virtually impossible to cure this disease, then it is quite possible to translate psoriasis into a stable stage of remission - this is the period when the symptoms of the pathology subsided and the person feels healthy. One of the most effective ways to do this is to use ultraviolet and quartz lamps to treat psoriasis: thanks to ultraviolet light, the patient's skin is cleansed and restored.

Advantages and disadvantages

Treatment with the help of ultraviolet and quartz lamps has a number of advantages:

• a wonderful therapeutic effect (about 80% of patients notice a pronounced skin cleansing from psoriatic plaques);
• the action of ultraviolet and quartz lamps becomes noticeable after the first few sessions;
• the method is safe and well tolerated by most patients;
• after the full course of treatment, patients mark the onset of a stable period of remission (from several months to several years);
• the method does not require placing the patient in a hospital: most often, ultraviolet and quartz lamps are used out-patient;
• Ultraviolet irradiation does not cause any discomfort to the patient;
• the method does not cause the body to become accustomed, even with a large number of repetitive courses.

Among the minuses of the procedures of ultraviolet and quartz irradiation in psoriasis can be called that this method still has some contraindications, which must be taken into account before prescribing this treatment. In addition, it is not recommended to treat psoriasis with the help of ultraviolet and quartz lamps to women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with cataracts, and also to the owners of light sensitive skin (there may be burns and hyperpigmentation).

Indications for the procedure

Ultraviolet and quartz irradiation with lamps are used not only for the treatment of psoriasis. Similar procedures are often prescribed and with such pathological conditions:

• with dermatological problems (dermatitis, eczema, acne);
• with superficial damage to the skin (bruises, wounds);
• at pathologies of reproductive sphere;
• in diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• with disturbed metabolism, pathologies of the endocrine system;
• with diseases of the respiratory system;
• with a decrease in the body's defenses;
• with hemorrhoids;
• with diseases of the ENT organs;
• when there is a shortage of vitamin D in the body.

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Preparation

As a rule, the use of ultraviolet and quartz lamps for psoriasis does not require special preparation. However, to improve the effectiveness of procedures, it is recommended to make some changes in the diet beforehand:

• Eliminate alcoholic beverages, and limit the use of black tea and coffee;
• limit the content in dishes of animal fat, salt, spices;
• limit the use of sugar, confectionery and jam.

With psoriasis, the inclusion in the menu of salads from fresh vegetables and fruits, vegetable side dishes, fruit desserts, crumbly cereals, dairy products is welcomed.

Very useful in psoriasis are considered bran, sea kale, crab meat.

You should try to consume enough foods rich in vitamins and fiber. It is useful to add vegetable oil to the dishes, but the daily portion of butter is better to reduce.

Immediately before the procedures with the use of ultraviolet and quartz lamps it is not recommended to actively sunbathe in the sun and visit the solarium.

Technique of the uFO and quartz for psoriasis

To determine the required dose of ultraviolet rays for the treatment of psoriasis, the first session should be no more than 20 seconds. In the absence of redness and skin irritation, the next session can be carried out for 10 seconds longer.

Sessions with the use of ultraviolet and quartz lamps are conducted once in two days, but not more often (one time in 3 days).

Healthy skin surfaces can be covered with clothing or treated with a special cream with a protective property of at least 20 SPF.

If the patient has separate super sensitive sections of the skin, they are irradiated separately, according to a special scheme.

If on the skin after the exposure of the rays from the lamp redness appeared, the procedures do not stop, however, the time of irradiation does not increase.

At the beginning of pronounced improvements, the time of sessions is gradually reduced - every time for 10 seconds.

After the end of the treatment course for psoriasis with the use of ultraviolet and quartz lamps, it can be resumed no earlier than in 20 days.

In prophylactic purposes, irradiation is carried out once in 7 days.

• If an ultraviolet or quartz lamp for the treatment of psoriasis is used at home on its own, the procedure is carried out in accordance with the instructions that are attached to the UV lamp. Quartz lamp for the treatment of psoriasis should not be used in the acute phase of the disease: first, it is necessary to eliminate the main signs of exacerbation - for example, using external therapies. Ultraviolet quartz lamp has the best effect at the time of symptom relief.
• Some UFO lamps for the treatment of psoriasis are equipped with a regulator of the dose of ultraviolet radiation. This is very convenient, because you can pre-configure the device and comfortably apply it at home.
• Before you start self-treatment of psoriasis with ultraviolet and quartz lamps, it must be taken into account that it is necessary to protect the organs of vision from the rays. Usually for this purpose use glasses with anti-ultraviolet coating. When directing the lamp to one or another area of the body surface, avoid areas where birthmarks or other formations, including pigment spots, are present.
• After the UV exposure session, the skin should be moistened - that is, lubricate with a moisturizing cream or a special ointment.

Contraindications to the procedure

Ultraviolet and quartz lamps for the treatment of psoriasis are prohibited:

• Persons with active tuberculosis;
• patients with grade II or III hypertension;
• a patient with a stomach ulcer in an acute stage;
• patients with pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• Persons with acute inflammatory processes;
• people with a special sensitivity to ultraviolet rays;
• patients with endocrinological problems;
• oncological;
• Persons with diseases of the hematopoietic system, liver or kidneys.

Also, ultraviolet and quartz lamps for psoriasis can be contraindicated due to the individual characteristics of the patient: for example, such procedures are not used when the skin is too thin and sensitive, prone to superficial hemorrhages and widening of the capillaries.

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Complications after the procedure

The main number of adverse effects after treatment with ultraviolet and quartz lamps is associated with inadequate treatment, or ignoring the indications and contraindications to such an irradiation procedure.

The most frequent complications appear in about 10-20% of cases and are the result of illiterate doses of rays and the duration of the irradiation session. Such complications are: redness and irritation of the skin, burns, itching and pain in the places of the procedure.

The long-term consequences of therapy can be:

• photoaging of skin;
• visual impairment, cataract (if the organs of vision were not sufficiently protected during the procedure);
• increasing the risk of oncology (especially with frequently repeated treatment courses);
• deterioration of the course of psoriasis (if treatment was carried out during the period of exacerbation of the disease).

Ultraviolet and quartz lamps for the treatment of psoriasis in most cases have only a positive effect. Complications are rather an exception to the rules: if you correctly prepare for the procedure and just as competently to treat, the probability of adverse effects will be minimal.