Dermatology deals with diseases of the skin. One of the most common forms of skin disorders is psoriasis. Phototherapy is a treatment for psoriasis, available at Holzer Clinic.

What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder. Plaque psoriasis, the most common form, is characterized by dry, inflamed lesions topped with silvery white scales. In contrast, pustular psoriasis, one of the rare forms, is characterized by inflamed blister-like lesions filled with non-infectious fluid.

What Causes Psoriasis?
No one knows what causes the skin's accelerated growth, and there is no cure for the disorder. Psoriasis can be controlled with a variety of treatment options.

Who Gets Psoriasis?
Psoriasis affects millions of men, women, and children of all ages and race. All parts of the body can be affected. About 150,000 to 200,000 new cases are diagnosed yearly.

Is Psoriasis Contagious?
No.

Is Anyone Ever Safe From Psoriasis?
It is not possible to predict who will get psoriasis. Heredity plays a role, but the mode of inheritance is not clear. Environmental factors, such as physical trauma to the skin, infections, and stress can trigger the onset of psoriasis, even in people without an apparent family history of psoriasis.

I Think I have Psoriasis, What Should I Do?
See a doctor. Diagnosis is made entirely by a physician's observation of the skin, supported by study of psoriatic plaque cells under a microscope. There is no medical test for psoriasis.

What is Phototherapy?
The use of Ultra Violet Light (UVL) to clear skin diseases, especially Psoriasis.

Two Types of Ultra Violet Light:

• UVB (sunburn rays) - skin protects by hyperplasia (thickening of upper skin layer)
• UVA (tanning rays) - skin protects by melanogenisis (tanning)

Facts about Phototherapy:

• Is therapeutic alone and has been used in its natural form for centuries, and has been used for phototherapy since the 1930's.
• Requires no oral medication and carries no systemic effects.
• Is the usual choice for therapy and is the first choice for patients who tend to respond well to natural sunlight.
• Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers can be treated safely.
• Requires an interaction with a photosensitizer. It has been used since early 1970's in Europe and since 1974 in the US.

Phototherapy, as in all medication, is dose related. All UVL doses are individualized per patient. CONSISTENCY is the KEY to SUCCESSFUL treatments.