Issue Date: August 10, 2008
Easing eczema
Light therapy can help this chronic condition.
We keep telling people to stay out of the sunlight to avoid ultraviolet radiation and the risk it poses for skin cancer, but there's a medical condition that actually improves with such treatment.
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Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, can feel itchy, dry and flaky.
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Atopic dermatitis (AD), a form of eczema, is usually inherited. The inflammation created by AD causes the skin to become itchy, dry and flaky. It can lead to cracking of the skin, which in turn allows bacterial infections to occur. It often affects the face, wrists, elbows and knees, and while the problem occurs most commonly in young children (some of whom outgrow it), it also can be a chronic problem for adults.
That's where ultraviolet treatment comes in. It's called phototherapy, and in adults it's generally recommended for mild to moderate cases; in children it's only used in severe cases. Photo-therapy can include both UVA and UVB light. The patient stands in a booth, wearing protective gear as needed. Tubes that give off UV light are turned on, and the treatment time varies from seconds (UVB lights) to several minutes (UVA lights).
The main short-term risk of exposure to UV light is sunburn, so the treatments need to be monitored. Longer-term risks include skin cancer and cataracts (which is why protective goggles are a must). It's also important to know that although AD responds favorably to this therapy, other skin conditions (including general "aging" of the skin) can be made worse.
Those with AD who wish to explore this option further should discuss it with their allergist or dermatologist. It may be one occasion in which the doctor actually wants to bring the sunlight to you.
Contributing Editor Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president of Dallas' Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmart every week.
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