UVB treatments are performed in-office, 2-3 times weekly on a regular schedule. The treatment lasts less than five minutes and requires no special preparation.
During the treatment, patients stand in a light unit that features swinging doors, which completely encircle the body. The treatment area is exposed so that the skin can absorb the UV light rays, but patients can otherwise remain dressed. Patients wear goggles to protect their eyes.
Phototherapy is painless – in fact, many patients find UVB light therapy warm, soothing, and comforting.
Most patients achieve their goals of relief from rash and itching or remission of the underlying condition in 6 to 8 weeks of therapy. Many patients benefit from repeating a UVB series on an as-needed basis to keep a condition under control or to maximize the benefits of phototherapy.