UVB Side Effects

UVB Broadband

Early side effects of UVB broadband are erythema and skin dryness. The maximum erythema occurs 8-24 hours after irradiation. The therapeutic effectiveness of UVB broadband is the highest close to erythemogenic doses. This means that erythema is likely to occur (1). No evidence yet on differences between the effect of UVA, UVB broadband and UVB Narrowband on skin aging. No significant increase in the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma has been associated with long term exposure to UVB. A 10 year follow up study of patient exposed to UVB broadband or Narrowband showed no significantly increase in the risk of skin cancer(2).

UVB Narrowband

Early side effects of UVB Narrowband are erythema and skin dryness. The maximum erythema occurs 8-24 hours after irradiation. However compared to broadband UVB Narrowband UVB has been shown to be effective is the sub-erythemogenic doses. Therefore, erythema and DNA damage is less likely to occur with UVB Narrowband phototherapy(3). No evidence yet on differences between the effect of UVA, UVB broadband and UVB Narrowband on skin aging. No significant increase in the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma has been associated with long term exposure to UVB. A 10 year follow up study of patient exposed to UVB broadband or Narrowband showed no significantly increase in the risk of skin cancer(4).

References

  1. B.E. Johnson, C. Green, T. Lakshmipathi and J. Ferguson, “Ultraviolet Radiation Phototherapy for Psoriasis: The use of a new Narrowband UVB fluorescent lamp”, Light in biology and medicine, p. 173, Plenum Press, NY and London (1988).
  2. Elman M, Lebzelter J. Light therapy in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Dermatol Surg. 2004;30(2 Pt 1):139-46. Review
  3. Berneburg M, Roecken M, Benedix F. Phototherapy with Narrowband vs broadband UVB. Acta. Derm. Venerol. 2005; 85: 98-108.
  4. Weischer M, Blum A, Eberhard F, Roecken M, Berneburg M. No evidence for increased skin cancer risk in psoriasis patients treated with broadband or Narrowband UVB phototherapy: a first retrospective study. Acta Derm Venereol 2004; 84: 370–374.
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