Ultraviolet light therapy

It consists of irradiation of the skin with the UVA ultraviolet light, from a fluorescent bulb or LED lamps.

Typical treatment regimens involve short exposure to UVB rays 3 to 5 times a week at a hospital or clinic, and repeated sessions may be required before results are noticeable.

Home systems permit patients to treat themselves every other day (the ideal treatment regimen for most) without the frequent, costly trips to the office/clinic and back, mainly when the area is small, and the price of the lamp is low.

To date, there is no link between an increase in a patient's risk of skin cancer and the proper use of narrow-band UVB phototherapy.

Certain fungal growths under the toenail can be treated using a specific wavelength of UV delivered from a high-power LED (light-emitting diode) and can be safer than traditional systemic drugs.