Home UVB and skin cancer risk.

I would also love to know about this as well as I have my own home UVB unit and want to know how long is safe to use it for. I do wonder why the NHS are so reluctant to refer us, they would much rather throw steroids at us. Also, in the UK we are a lot less exposed to harsh sun like in other countries and, compared to the restricted time limit of the UVB treatments, I cant see it having a horrible impact over time. The only thing I can think of is the different kind of light (specifically UVB instead of natural sunlight) and the close proximity. However, what about the countless amounts of tanning salons around the UK? I cant seem to make sense of the recommendation against frequent light treatments. To me it seems like a no-brainer that it should be one of the first treatments tried. Instead of strong topical steroids! Obviously I'm no doctor but I'm just going of experience and lots of research.

wrosie111: you ask "what about the countless amounts of tanning salons around the UK? " - general medical/health advice is NOT to use them, but they are not illegal.

I understand this, and that the NHS cant stop people doing what they want in their spare time, but where is the limit? All of the research I have done shows UVB to be a safe treatment with next to no side effects, so why is it not being more widely used in place of harmful/ addictive drugs?

One harmful side-effect is burning of the skin - which can exacerbate psoriasis. Extensive exposure to UVB is regarded as a key risk factor in melanoma. I do not of course know what "research" you have carried out that apparently disputes this.

I'm not disputing the fact that there are side effects (i.e "next to no"), that is what we are asking, how many sessions is safe? Being burned while using UVB is down to user mistake, not the treatment. Using the lights correctly (increasing exposure very slowly over a number of months) should not cause burning if done in the right way. My point was that as I have had numerous UVB treatments at the hospital that have been the only thing that has worked for me, and has been the most natural treatment, why is this not being used more widely for treatment of this condition. It seems to me that it is a whole lot "easier" to prescribe creams than to refer patients for UVB treatments.

I was told that UVB does not cause skin cancer and is safe to use. You shouldn't set it so high that it burns your skin and wear proper eye protection. I usually use it for a period until my skin condition improve well and then I leave it for some time.

I bought some UVB 10 (26W) light bulbs to rig up a small, crude light-therapy box. 1) What is the safe/effective distance the bulbs should be from my skin? 2) Should I line the box with reflective Tinfoil to try focus light - so none escapes? I know mirrors won't work - UVB doesn't penetrate glass.