Sunshine for Eczema and Psoriasis

Being a beauty salon, we see a few people with eczema or psoriasis who are looking for ways to get rid of or at least alleviate the problem.

Some of our clients have mentioned that safe use of the tanning beds or getting regular sunshine in small doses, helps to relieve and considerably reduce their symptoms.

I was curious about this and came across this article from the Lancet medical journal featured on Dr Mercola’s site:

Eczema, atopic dermatitis, is a common skin disease that usually arises in childhood, runs a relapsing and remitting course, frequently persists into adult life, and can result in significant discomfort.

Emollients and topical steroids form the basis of treatment, but response is often incomplete. Patients with atopic eczema often report improvement after sun exposure, and results from a series of studies suggest that ultraviolet B (UVB; wavelength 280-315 nm), ultraviolet A (UVA; 315-400 nm), and combined UVA-UVB are effective treatments.

Narrow-band ultraviolet B (UVB) is frequently used for psoriasis, and open studies suggest that thisphototherapy might improve atopic eczema.

Previous studies have shown that high dose UVA1 (340-400 nm) is as effective as moderately potent topical steroids for acute, severe atopic eczema. However, special irradiation devices, which are only available in specialist centers, are needed for this type of treatment.

A narrow-band (311 nm) UVB fluorescent lamp (TL01, Philips, Utrecht, Netherlands) has been developed that is effective in the treatment of psoriasis. Results of open, uncontrolled studies suggest that narrow-band UVB phototherapy might improve chronic, severe adult atopic eczema.

The researchers provided 12 weeks of this type of UV treatment for atopic dermatitis and noted improvements disease activity seen during treatment and were maintained 3 months after phototherapy had been stopped.

The type of UVA fluorescent lamp that we used is typical of lamps available in most sunbeds in UK and is widely used for psoralen photochemotherapy.

Lancet June 23, 2001; 357: 2012-16

Read the full article, including Dr Mercola’s comments.

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For a natural approach, we also recommend the following for more information on being

Psoriasis Free for Life

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The Summer Sun is still shining

It’s officially Autumn here in Australia, but in Melbourne we’ve still got some fabulous warm weather ahead of us leading into the weekend.

Remember the sooner you book in for any or all of the beauty services we offer, the sooner you’ll be looking as gorgeous as the models strutting their stuff at the Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival this week.

Enjoy the sunshine and the fashion