Psoriasis is a skin condition that is caused by the immune system. Patients with psoriasis have an overactive immune system that attacks their skin cells. This actually causes the skin cells to divide more rapidly than usual, causing "plaques" made up of extra cells that accumulate on the skin's surface. Psoriasis can be treated with ultraviolet light, either from the sun or from artificial light. Although this type of treatment can be administered by a dermatologist, special lamps can also be purchased and used at home to treat psoriasis.
Step 1
Get a lamp that emits UVB rays and is specially calibrated for psoriasis. It should indicate on the packaging that it is safe for psoriasis treatment.
Step 2
For at-home therapy: Start by exposing your skin to the UVB light for 30 to 60 seconds. Expose your skin for the same amount of time each session until your skin no longer turns red.
Step 3
Once your skin does not turn red in response to 60 seconds of UVB light, expose the effected areas for 75 seconds each time. Continue until your skin again does not turn red after a light therapy session and add 15 seconds to future sessions.
Step 4
Treat your skin with artificial light daily, until your psoriasis has cleared. Make sure that you get the treated areas examined once or twice per year by a dermatologist to check for skin damage and cancerous growths.
