 The Buffalo Medical Group’s Phototherapy
Department offers state-of-the-art services for
a wide range of skin conditions including
psoriasis, chronic dermatitis and eczema,
vitiligo, cutaneous lymphoma, and various
diseases associated with severe itching.
Phototherapy involves the use of a medical
device that emits ultraviolet radiation. Patients
typically stand inside a capsule filled with
fluorescent light bulbs and a measured dose of
ultraviolet light is administered onto the skin.
The capsule resembles a stand-up suntan
booth, but this prescription form of treatment
is not available in tanning parlors.
Two forms of phototherapy are available at the
Buffalo Medical Group. The first is narrowband
ultraviolet B phototherapy (NB-UVB) and the
second is PUVA. There is a separate phototherapy
unit for each of these treatments. The referring
physician determines which treatment is more
appropriate for an individual patient.
The narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy
treatment offers significant advantages over
previously available forms of phototherapy.
With recent improvements in technology, the
UVB wavelength can be divided. This sophisticated
equipment filters out all of the wave lengths except the most beneficial wavelength
bands, hence the name narrowband. The BMG
phototherapy unit uses this new narrowband
technology. This is the treatment of choice for
conditions such as psoriasis and vitiligo. Other
narrowband UVB benefits include shorter
treatment times, improved outcomes, and
longer remissions between outbreaks.
The other form of phototherapy is PUVA. The “P” stands for a psoralen pill, which allows the
ultraviolet treatment to be effective. UVA is the
abbreviation for Ultraviolet A light, a treatment
that, by itself, normally does not help skin
conditions. In most cases, the psoralen pill is
taken approximately 90 minutes before the
actual exposure in the ultraviolet A unit. PUVA
is most effective for certain forms of psoriasis
and cutaneous lymphoma.
Depending on the physician’s prescription, the
patient’s typical phototherapy treatment will
require 2-3 visits per week. Most treatments
are covered by insurance. In the case of psoriasis,
patients may require up to 25 treatments.
Certified nurses monitor the dosage required
for treatments by following existing protocols
that take into consideration the patient’s skin
type, age, size and other physical attributes. In
some cases, there is a need to treat small isolated
areas such as the hands or feet for psoriasis
and for other skin conditions including those
mentioned previously. These localized treatments
are available in both the narrowband
UVB technology and the PUVA technology.
Among the various diseases that are effectively
treated with phototherapy are psoriasis,
dermatitis, eczema, lichen planus, cutaneous
lymphoma, severe itching associated with
various skin conditions, sun sensitivity
conditions, granuloma annulare, vitiligo,
scleroderma, and graft versus host disease.
Phototherapy services are provided in the
Department of Dermatology, 295 Essjay Road,
Williamsville, Monday through Friday. The department may be
reached by calling 630-1108.
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