Psoriasis is a skin disease characterized by scaling and since there are a number of forms of psoriasis, this skin ailment affects about 400,000 Americans. Skin diseases are difficult to treat in general and psoriasis is no exception. While many doctors prescribe topical ointments to treat psoriasis, it may be surprising to the general public who is accustomed to taking pills or using creams for skin problems that phototherapy, or treatment with light, is an effective treatment for a number of skin diseases, including psoriasis.

Phototherapy, according to scientific medical studies at several respected institutions, is able to clear up around 80% of all skin scaling caused by psoriasis. The right kind of light treatment also works well for jaundice, Rosacea, acne and skin fungus. For people who suffer from depression and SAD (seasonal affective disorder), light therapy is very helpful. With SAD, a disorder where a person is depressed during the winter season, a person~s depression is presumably due to lack of sunlight.

To combat lack of light for persons with skin disorders or SAD, merely switching on more lights in your home or lying in a tanning bed does not provide the right kind of light. A special component of light known as UVB needs to be present in the light. While a few manufacturers make light bulbs that give off UVB, most people with a skin disease like psoriasis need to get outside for 3 to 5 exposures to the right kind of light every week or preferably every day. The cost to visit a dermatologist every day for a custom light treatment is very prohibitive for most patients, in spite of its effectiveness.

UVB light is beneficial for anyone, not just for a person with a skin disorder. The benefits of direct sunlight and specialized UVB lighting are clinically proven to reduce stress. Perhaps this explains why going to the beach can be so relaxing! Considering the lack of sunlight that a person gets in most workplaces and the frequent commutes to and from work during the darkness, it~s not so surprising that many workers are grumpy! To help alleviate this problem, many forward-thinking businesses are replacing fluorescent lights with UVB lighting. Other great benefits of UVB lighting in the workplace are this lighting, as opposed to fluorescent lighting, are much easier on the eyes and produces less glares.

When your body is exposed to sunlight, you produce the essential vitamin D. While a person can get synthetic vitamin D from milk or vitamin supplements, these synthetics don~t have the same powerful and healthy effect on your system as natural vitamin D. The first source for this vitamin is from sunlight. In second place is the natural source of UVB lighting.

Phototherapy treatment is not a new phenomenon; this treatment has been around for decades. Purchases of phototherapy units are available online without a doctor's prescription. While the units are safe, directions must be followed closely.