To assist patients currently using or considering home phototherapy for chronic skin conditions like psoriasis and vitiligo, we previously outlined five "musts" for effective home phototherapy. This edition highlights five "don'ts" for your reference.
Recommendation 1: Do not arbitrarily alter light therapy dosage. Light dosage directly impacts efficacy and safety. Self-adjusting doses may compromise treatment outcomes—insufficient doses yield no effect, while excessive doses risk sunburn reactions that interrupt therapy.It is essential to accurately determine initial dose levels and follow proper escalation protocols. Due to the phenomenon of phototolerance in UV phototherapy, each treatment session must incrementally increase the dose until reaching the maximum single-session dose. The erythema reaction following exposure is the sole parameter for determining individual dose adjustments. Before each session, confirm whether erythema occurred after the previous treatment and its severity. Mild erythema at the lesion site is generally considered an indicator of appropriate dosage.
Recommendation 2: Do not arbitrarily alter phototherapy frequency
The frequency of light exposure must be appropriate; too frequent or too infrequent sessions will compromise efficacy.Although three sessions per week may yield faster results than two, sessions must not be too frequent. The interval between sessions must be >24 hours to prevent adverse reactions. Irregular treatment patterns, such as inconsistent attendance, must also be avoided. Improper practices—such as increasing frequency to hasten results, skipping sessions, or compensating with daily exposure or multiple sessions on the same area within a day—are strictly prohibited.
Recommendation 3: Do not arbitrarily expand, reduce, or change the body areas exposed to light
During treatment, if new lesions appear on other areas, do not apply the current light dose directly to these new areas. Adjust the dose according to the specific condition. Also, during each session, do not switch between different areas. Complete exposure to one area before setting the timer for the next.
Recommendation 4: Do not abandon treatment prematurely.
Phototherapy effects are not immediate. Many patients discontinue treatment after 1-2 weeks without visible results, which is regrettable as it negates prior progress. Treatment efficacy correlates with cumulative exposure—a certain number of sessions is required to achieve therapeutic benefit. Therefore, patience and persistence are essential.Before concluding that continuous phototherapy is ineffective, based on the condition and individual circumstances, a minimum number of sessions or even a longer course should be completed and confirmed by a doctor. Only if there is absolutely no response should phototherapy be discontinued.
Recommendation 5: Do not rely solely on phototherapy
Home phototherapy is primarily used to treat conditions like vitiligo and psoriasis. These chronic skin diseases often require comprehensive treatment, with phototherapy being just one component.Therefore, actively combine it with treatments like water baths, topical medications, systemic drugs, and lifestyle/emotional adjustments. Combining phototherapy with other methods often yields synergistic effects (1+1>2) and can simplify treatment for conditions previously considered stubborn or difficult to manage.
Founded in 1992, Shanghai Sigma High-Tech Co., Ltd. is a medical instrument company specializing in the R&D and production of phototherapy products in China. For over two decades, guided by the mission of "Advancing photomedicine technology to serve human health," the company has transformed proven photomedicine methods into medical products through technological innovation. Strictly adhering to the requirements for medical devices to be safe, reliable, and effective, it has established a high-standard production quality management system.
Shanghai Sigma High-Tech Co., Ltd. has developed multiple series of professional phototherapy products for hospitals, including full-body, half-body, and localized units, as well as photomedicine diagnostic products such as sunlight ultraviolet simulators and Wood's lamps. These solutions meet the diverse phototherapy needs of dermatology departments across various disease types and treatment levels.Simultaneously, Sigma pioneered the development of China's first home-use portable phototherapy device, the SS-01, which received regulatory approval from the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). This product remains a classic, consistently popular home phototherapy solution in the domestic market. Building upon this foundation, the newly developed SH series further expands the home phototherapy product line, offering patients more tailored options based on their specific symptoms and treatment needs.
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