Many of you may have experienced improvement in your skin condition when you spend more time in the sun. Sun Exposure has many benefits, but unfortunately it also exposes you to harmful sun rays that can lead to skin cancer in the long term. Narrow Band UVB light therapy uses a safe spectrum of light to accomplish what the sun does, in a very short amount of time. Currently the estimate is that you need 500 hours of exposure to Narrow Band UVB light to raise your risk of skin cancer. Each treatment lasts less than a minute, which equates to much less than 1 hour of UVB exposure per year. So you need to live to 500 years old to develop any skin cancer risk!

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That being said, there is a few important safety considerations to adhere to; 

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1. Wear proper protective eyewear when you are in the booth. We do sell glasses for a nominal fee, but you can  also purchase your own. If you buy your own, it is very important that they are ISO9000 certified for wear in light therapy rooms. 

2. We absolutely have to know what medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, creams and OTC products. Certain medications, including some antibiotics, make the skin more sensitive to light and we will adjust the dose of light exposure to ensure that this is taken into account. 

3. If your schedule changes, such as when you go on holiday, we need to adjust for this by restarting treatment at a reduced in booth time. 

4. Failure to adhere to these safety measures can lead to sunburn and non reversible eye damage.

 

What are the side effects?

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All the below side effects are rare, but not zero. You can help mitigate side effects by being proactive. 

1. Skin cancer. While the risk is now very much considered low enough to easily recommend the treatment, we cannot say it is zero. Mitigate your risk by looking after your skin with good sun protection measures. 

2. Sun spots. If you are prone to making sun spots (aka freckles, lentigo, liver spots), UVB can contribute to making more. Protect your face in the booth if face is not involved in treatment. 

3. Sunburn. If the dose is too high, you can get a sunburn. See above

4. Skin ageing. Just like too much sun can cause wrinkles and sun spots, so can this treatment. Again, protect your face if not involved. 

5. Eye damage. You absolutely have to keep your special goggles on till the treatment is done.

6. Cold sores may flare

7. You may develop mild flu like symptoms after treatment.  

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How to lower your risk;

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1. Have less sun exposure in general. Wear hats and long sleeve shirts, Always use suntan lotions, even in winter. 

2. Apply sun screen after your treatment before you leave the room. Your skin was sensitized by the treatment, and now is even more prone to sunburn for that day. 

3. Don't hang out in the sun the day of and after your treatment. 

4. Cover your face if not involved in treatment. Pull a pillow case over your head in the booth. Or apply sunscreen.

5. Men to wear jockstrap or briefs or pull a sock over their genitals in the booth. 

6. Woman to wear thong or underwear. Dark cotton bra if breasts not involved. 

7. Undress the same way so as to expose the same skin areas each time. Why? If you expose an area not previously treated, the new higher dose will be too high for that area!

8. If you use lotions, use the same one each time. Why? Because, e.g.., vaseline makes it harder for UV light to penetrate, while Mineral Oil makes it easier. As long as you use the same one each time, we can continue to adjust your dose in a safe manner. 

9. Have flip flops to wear in the booth.