Phototherapy is an essential option for adults in the treatment of certain skin diseases such as psoriasis, a chronic, non-communicable disease known for its reddish, inflamed lesions with silvery, or sometimes whitish, scales of dead skin. Phototherapy can also treat cases of atopic dermatitis, a chronic, skin problem characterized by skin inflammation and itchiness, as well as vitiligo, the loss of skin cells responsible for skin color, resulting in white patches on the skin. While skin phototherapy is useful, it may cause complications.
Acute Sunburn
According to the DermNet NZ.org, an online publication of New Zealand Dermatological Society, overexposure of the skin to the ultraviolet rays used in phototherapy can sometimes cause acute sunburn. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin, can temporarily relieve the pain and severity of acute sunburn. Other medications, such as topical steroids and emollients, can also alleviate the pain.
Ocular Toxicity
Ocular toxicity, or damage to the eyes, can be seen in patients undergoing phototherapy. This can be in the form of photokeratitis, the UV-induced inflammation of the front part of the eye, which can result in intense eye pain and in severe cases, impaired eye sight, as stated in DermNet NZ.org. Use of artificial tears can temporarily ease the eye discomfort.
Polymorphous Light Eruption
Polymorphous light eruption is a kind of skin irritation that occurs on skin that is usually not exposed to the sun, and can result from phototherapy. According to DermNet NZ.org, treatment includes emollients and topical steroids, and reducing the UVB dose in increments.
Worsening of Skin Disease
Worsening of the actual skin disease being treated by phototherapy rarely occurs, but if it does, phototherapy must be discontinued, according to DermNet NZ.org. Other treatment options should to be considered.
Photo-aging
Photo-aging, which can include skin wrinkling, freckling, drying of the skin, and elastosis, or lack of elasticity of the skin, may occur with long-term use of phototherapy.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer, including solar keratoses, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, can also be a long-term complication of phototherapy.
Bronze Baby Syndrome
Bronze baby syndrome can occur in infants with neonatal cholestatic jaundice when exposed to UV rays used in phototherapy, according to an article published in February 2008 in the "New England Journal of Medicine." This syndrome may manifest as brownish discoloration of the skin and urine. However, when exposure to phototherapy is stopped and the cholestatic jaundice resolves, the brownish discoloration also disappears.
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