UVB Treatment
This treatment basically involved standing in an up-right
sun bed and being subjected to UVB rays for a period of time which is increased
as the sessions go on. The period of time which you start at is depicted from
the test done to acquire what your skins sensitivity is. This is often done by
strip placed onto your forearm that contains circles with different light intensities;
they're held onto the skin and then left to develop over a day or so. The one
which doesn’t leave a red mark on your skin is then calculated (somehow) to
decide how long you start off inside the “sun bed”.
When I was still at secondary school, in years 10, 11 and 12
I used to have UVB treatment. Can’t say that I was ever really a fan of it, but
in the winter when my skin was worse due to the cold weather, I used to want to
go.
It was a lot of hassle, for not a lot of benefit. I used to
have to go 3 times a week and the sessions I used to start with (as I have sensitive,
pale skin) used to be about 5 seconds. Seriously. Eventually they would build
up, but I never got close to being in there for a long period of time. My skin
used to go red and itchy, sometimes sore as well. I used to then to into school
being self conscious of my now red skin. It seemed like I just replaced one
thing with another and was always paranoid that people were wondering “why is
she so red, it’s not sunny”!!
I guess that having the redder skin was good, as it made me
want to moisturise a lot more to try and take away the redness, like you do if
you get sun-burnt on holiday, so in turn this would have helped my psoriasis anyway.
BUT the relapse rate of UVB treatment, for me, was always quick and within a
few weeks I was back to normal, and in some instances new patches would decide
to make an unwanted appearance. Eventually I realised that whilst it was a
quick fix in the months where it is often the worst, it was not worth the
hassle and depression when the psoriasis returned.
Also, whilst the treatment was good for my body, it never
ever seemed to tackle the psoriasis on my scalp, which is one of the areas that
I am most conscious of.
Since stopping UVB treatment, I have not been tempted to use
sun beds. I don’t really view them as an alternative and the risks for me are
too substantial. I would not be impressed with myself if I worked my entire
life to stop my psoriasis, to then be faced with the reality of having skin
cancer. Plus, if I know from having UVB treatment that sometimes when you stop
more patches of psoriasis appear so I’d hate to have ‘natural’ skin from sun
beds to then a week later have my psoriasis come back with a vengeance. The
leather look that you skin develops with too much exposure is not something
that I want later in life either, I would rather find a ointment or crème that
works well and have smooth, natural skin.
Of course on holiday to sunny places - as the sun is amazing
for psoriasis - you should soak it up as much as possible. Even in England when
the sun blesses us with its rare presence get out there and get in it. Just
remember to moisturise during and afterwards, as to be honest, with psoriasis
there really isn't a possibility to over moisturise your skin (I don’t think).
Again, this is just me so if you have had UVB treatment and
it has worked for you, I would love for you to let me and anyone reading know!
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