[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-404924-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-404924-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","about-your-phototherapy-procedure","About Your Phototherapy Procedure","","This patient and caregiver education material explains phototherapy, also called light therapy, and what to expect before, during, and after treatment. It describes the goal of reducing skin cell growth and treating skin inflammation using ultraviolet (UV) light. It lists conditions commonly treated, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, lichen planus, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and itchy skin, and outlines how UVB and PUVA approaches differ. It also covers planning, safety checks, medical history questions, pregnancy and medication considerations, and whether treatment occurs in a dermatologist’s office or at home.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/about-your-phototherapy-procedure/404924/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/about-your-phototherapy-procedure/404924.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Rhys","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-07","2026-09-27",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",14,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is phototherapy and what is it meant to do?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Phototherapy, also known as light therapy, uses ultraviolet (UV) light on the skin. Its goal is to reduce the growth of skin cells and treat skin inflammation.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What types of phototherapy are there, and how do UVB and PUVA differ?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"There are two main types: UVB and PUVA. UVB includes broadband and narrowband (NB-UVB), while PUVA uses UVA light plus an oral medicine called psoralen that makes skin more sensitive to light.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What should be done before starting phototherapy?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"A doctor decides whether phototherapy is safe by doing a total body skin exam, reviewing reactions to sunlight, checking skin cancer and photosensitizing history, and asking about pregnancy or breastfeeding. The patient must also tell the doctor about all medicines they take, and PUVA requires an eye exam before starting.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},404924,1790795467,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":102,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},687207024643,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","PATIENT & CAREGIVER EDUCATION  \nAbout Your Phototherapy Procedure  \nThis information explains what phototherapy is and what to expect before, during, and after your procedure.  \nThe goal of phototherapy is to reduce the growth of your skin cells and to treat skin inflammation (swelling) . Phototherapy, also known as light therapy, does this by putting ultraviolet (UV) light on your skin.  \nPhototherapy is used to treat a few skin conditions, including:  \n Psoriasis (suh-rahy-uh-sis) , which is raised, red, scaly patches on your skin  \n Vitiligo (vit-i-li-goh), which is loss of color on patches of your skin  \n Eczema ( ek-suh-muh), which is a condition that makes your skin red and itchy)  \n Lichen planus (LY-ken PLAY-nes) , which is small bumps on your skin)  \n Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (a type of lymphoma that appears as patches or scaly areas on your skin)  \n Itchy skin  \nHow phototherapy works  \nPhototherapy uses UV light, which is also found in sunlight. Phototherapy can also be used along with other topical (applied on the skin) therapies.  \nPhototherapy can be used on one area of your body. It also can be used on all of your body if more than 5% of your skin is affected.  \nAbout Your Phototherapy Procedure 1/6  \nThere are 2 main types of phototherapy:  \n Ultraviolet B (UVB)  \n There are 2 types of UVB phototherapy, including broadband and narrowband (NB-UVB) . NB-UVB gives off a shorter wavelength of UV light.  \n Psoralen-UV-A (PUVA)  \n This type of therapy uses UVA light and an oral (by mouth) medicine called psoralen that makes your skin more sensitive to light.  \nBefore your phototherapy  \nYour doctor will decide if phototherapy is safe for you. To do this, they will:  \n Do a total body skin exam by looking at all your skin. They will also ask about your reaction to sunlight.  \n Ask you about your personal and family history of skin cancer and photosensitizing disorders. These are conditions that make your skin more  \nsensitive to the sun.  \n Ask if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.  \nTell your doctor what medicine you’re taking. This includes patches, creams, herbal supplements, and over-the-counter medicine you get without a prescription. Some medicines can make your skin more sensitive to UV light. Examples are retinoids (including tretinoin) , and some antibiotics and cancer medicines.  \nIf you’re having PUVA light therapy, you must visit your ophthalmologist ( eye doctor) to have an eye exam before you start.  \nPlanning your phototherapy  \nPhototherapy is done in your local dermatologist’s (skin doctor) office.  \nIf you need long-term therapy, you can talk to your local dermatologist about  \nAbout Your Phototherapy Procedure 2/6  \ndoing phototherapy from your home.  \nPhototherapy in your dermatologist’s office  \nMSK does not offer this procedure. If you’re having phototherapy in a doctor’s office, you must find a local dermatologist who does this procedure.  \nWe can recommend a dermatologist. If they do not accept your health insurance, [you can find a dermatologist at](you can find a dermatologist at www.psoriasis.org/health-care)[ www.psoriasis.org/health-care](you can find a dermatologist at www.psoriasis.org/health-care)[providers/physicians-directory](providers/physicians-directory or www.aad.org/for-the-public Your)[ or](providers/physicians-directory or www.aad.org/for-the-public Your)[ www.aad.org/for-the-public](providers/physicians-directory or www.aad.org/for-the-public Your)[ Your](providers/physicians-directory or www.aad.org/for-the-public Your)[ ](providers/physicians-directory or www.aad.org/for-the-public Your)healthcare provider can also give you a list of dermatologists that do phototherapy in their office from the www.aad.org website.  \nYour dermatologist will explain what you need to do and for how long you will get phototherapy.  \nGive your MSK dermatologist your local dermatologist’s information. You can send them a message through MSK MyChart ( our patient portal) or call their office.  \nPh","cbCaivrnLh3my8Zf","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaivrnLh3my8Zf","pdf",51088,"English","# About Phototherapy\n## How Phototherapy Works\n## Types of Phototherapy\n# Before Your Phototherapy\n## Safety Decisions and Skin Cancer Risk\n## Medication, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding\n## PUVA Eye Exam Requirement\n# Planning Your Phototherapy\n## Office-Based Treatment\n## Home Phototherapy Planning\n# Giving Yourself Phototherapy at Home\n## Preparation and Skin Care\n## Protective Goggles and Eye Safety\n## Distance and Treatment Dose","[{\"question\":\"What is phototherapy and what is it meant to do?\",\"answer\":\"Phototherapy, also known as light therapy, uses ultraviolet (UV) light on the skin. Its goal is to reduce the growth of skin cells and treat skin inflammation.\"},{\"question\":\"What types of phototherapy are there, and how do UVB and PUVA differ?\",\"answer\":\"There are two main types: UVB and PUVA. UVB includes broadband and narrowband (NB-UVB), while PUVA uses UVA light plus an oral medicine called psoralen that makes skin more sensitive to light.\"},{\"question\":\"What should be done before starting phototherapy?\",\"answer\":\"A doctor decides whether phototherapy is safe by doing a total body skin exam, reviewing reactions to sunlight, checking skin cancer and photosensitizing history, and asking about pregnancy or breastfeeding. The patient must also tell the doctor about all medicines they take, and PUVA requires an eye exam before starting.\"}]","About Your Phototherapy Procedure | PDF",1790552160,15]