UVB therapy, sometimes referred to as TLO1 (after the type of tubes
that are used), is used for a number of skin disorders including
psoriasis, eczema and polymorphic light eruption (prickly heat). For
treatment, the patient stands in a cabinet to receive exposure to
ultra-violet light. Treatment may last from a few seconds, building up
gradually with each visit, to about 15 minutes. A course of treatment
usually involves attending the hospital two or three times a week for
a period of around six to eight weeks.
The dermatology nursing staff administer the treatments, but
the dose (duration) of each treatment session is determined by
a computer programme and is adjusted according to how many
treatments you have already had and how well you tolerate sunlight.
In this way, the possibilities of human error are reduced.
UVB therapy is normally given in a limited course of a few weeks,
which can be repeated after an interval if necessary. This is less
damaging to the skin than continuous therapy without a break.
There is no evidence that UVB therapy given in this way causes skin
cancer, but you should remember that it is similar to natural sunlight,
and therefore the amount of sunbathing or sun exposure you have
had will affect the safety of the treatment.
Because the treatment involves a shorter wavelength of light than
commercial sunbeds, it is possible to develop sunburn as a side
effect of UVB. This normally does not happen because the increase
in dose during your course of treatment is very carefully controlled.
However, if you feel that a particular treatment was too much for you
(for instance, if you notice discomfort or redness) it is important that
you tell the nurses next time you attend, as the dose can then be
adjusted.
We are able to offer treatment times from 08.00 to about 19.30
Monday to Saturday. Waiting times to start treatment are usually
from 2 to 4 weeks but may be longer, especially if you need early
morning or late evening times as these are popular.
Points to remember:
• Be careful about additional sun exposure on the day of your
treatment, as the dose of UVB will be close to what your skin
can tolerate.
• Tell the nursing staff about any medication you are taking, as
some medicines may make you more sensitive to ultra-violet
light.
• It may be appropriate for you to continue to use your treatment
creams while having therapy. Check with the nursing staff.
• Do not use tar-based treatment before UVB therapy. This can
make you burn more easily.
• Avoid perfumed cosmetics while having treatment, as they can
make you more sensitive to ultra-violet light.
• You will be issued with goggles to wear in the cabinet. It is
essential that you do not remove these during treatment.
• For the treatment women normally remove all their clothes but
men usually keep their briefs on to protect genital skin from
ultraviolet light. It is important to remember that if you do protect
any part of your skin from the light during treatment, you will
have to continue to protect exactly the same area of skin for
all future treatments in that course, otherwise you will be much
more likely to burn in that area. If you wear briefs, they must
cover exactly the same areas of skin on each occasion.
• It is possible to miss occasional treatments provided you inform
the nursing staff, but the treatment will not work well if you miss
a great deal. If you miss more than 3 or 4 treatments without
telling the staff, your treatment time will be given to someone
else, as there are many patients waiting for treatment.
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Author Dermatology Department
Approved by Dermatology Business Meeting
Date of Publication 05/03/2024
Review Date 01/03/2027
Reference No PL/217 (v6)
