Phototherapy

For the last two centuries sunlight has been used therapeutically. It has been used in a treatment of smallpox, as a disinfectant of contagious clothing, as a treatment for rickets, scrofula, scurvy and rheumatism. It was believed that UVR produced vitamin D in the body, and that it might have many other good effects on the body, such as building a strong immune system and a good constitution. This is contrary to the findings of later research.

Sunshine was found to be a slow treatment compared with ultraviolet therapy from artificial sources. Modern phototherapy is used in physiotherapy, and dermatology for problems such as acne and psoriasis. Therapeutic UVR lamps emit either UVA or UVB. Treatment exposure time with UVB typically last less than a minute to reduce risk of skin damage. When treatment involves UVA and the use of psoralen (a photosensitiser) it is known as PUVA therapy.