Most types of eczema involve an immune system response and have no known cause², but there is evidence that a compromised immune system plays an important role^3,4,5. When threatened, the immune system’s white blood cells release substances that cause inflammation, burning sensations, and itchiness. With itch comes scratching, often sub-consciously at night, which worsens the condition in the so-called itch-scratch cycle resulting in sleeplessness, irritability, and ever-more patient stress. In severe cases, the skin will thicken, crack, bleed, and weep fluid; which can allow bacteria to enter and a secondary infection to develop.

The treatment options for eczema depend heavily on the exact type of eczema, so it is important to consult your physician for a proper diagnosis and the recommended treatment. The advice of your physician always takes precedence over any information provided by Solarc, including this webpage.

Topicals

The treatment of eczema almost always begins with simple moisturizers to help the skin barrier heal, with oatmeal baths and lotions being successfully used for many decades. To reduce itch, sometimes topical antihistamines are used. For more severe cases, topical steroid drugs or the topical calcineurin inhibitors Protopic (tacrolimus) and Elidel (pimecrolimus) may be prescribed by your doctor. Topical drugs can be effective but may result in complications such as skin atrophy (skin thinning), rosacea, irritation, and tachyphylaxis (loss of effectiveness). These topical drugs can also be rather expensive, with a single tube costing up to $200 and sometimes a tube or two required every month for extensive eczema. this section

Systemic Immunosuppressants

For the unlucky few that do not respond to any of the standard therapies, a systemic immunosuppressant such as methotrexate and cyclosporine may have to be used temporarily to halt the itch-scratch cycle and allow the skin to heal. These drugs are taken internally, affect the entire body, and have significant side effects including increased risk of infection, nausea, and kidney / liver damage.

In-home UVB-Narrowband phototherapy is effective because, although the devices used are typically smaller and have fewer bulbs than those at the clinic, the devices still use the exact same part numbers of the important Philips UVB-Narrowband bulbs, so the only real difference is somewhat longer treatment times to achieve the same dose and the same results.

An in-home phototherapy session typically begins with a bath or shower (which washes away some loose UVB-blocking dead skin, and removes foreign material that might cause an adverse reaction), followed immediately by the UVB light treatment, and then, as necessary, the application of any topical creams or moisturizers. During treatment the patient must always wear the UV protective goggles supplied and, unless affected, males should cover both their penis and scrotum using a sock.

For eczema, UVB-Narrowband treatments are typically 2 to 3 times per week; never on consecutive days. The maximum dose is that which results in slight skin pinkness up to a day after the treatment. If this does not occur, the time setting for the next treatment two or three days later is increased by a small amount, and with each successful treatment the patient builds tolerance to the UV light and the skin begins to heal. In-home UVB-NB treatment times per skin area range from well under a minute for the first treatment, to several minutes after a few weeks or months of diligent use. Significant clearing can often be achieved in 4 to 12 weeks, after which the treatment times and frequency can be reduced and the eczema maintained indefinitely, even for decades. 

Compared to taking UVB-Narrowband treatments in a clinic, in-home treatments have many advantages, including: 

• Time and travel savings
• Greater availability (fewer missed treatments)
• Privacy
• Lose-dose maintenance treatments after clearing is achieved, instead of being discharged by the clinic and letting the eczema flare-up again

The potential side effects of UVB phototherapy are the same as with natural sunlight: sunburn, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. Sunburn is dosage dependent and controlled by the device’s built-in timer used in conjunction with the eczema treatment protocol in the SolRx User’s Manual. Premature skin aging and skin cancer are theoretical long-term risks, but when only UVB light is used and UVA excluded, many decades of use and several medical studies⁷ have shown these to be of only minor concern. UVB phototherapy is safe for kids & pregnant women⁸, and can be used together with most other eczema treatments.

Is UVB Phototherapy for Eczema Safe to Use All Year Round?