Phototherapy (UVB) treatment

A course of controlled ultraviolet light, given in a hospital cabinet, to calm widespread skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo when creams alone are not enough.

✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review

In short

Phototherapy uses measured UV light to calm widespread psoriasis, eczema or vitiligo when creams are not enough; it controls rather than cures.
It means attending hospital two or three times a week for several weeks, so it asks for a real time commitment.
UV light ages the skin and adds to lifetime skin-cancer risk, so the total number of treatments you have is recorded and limited over time.
Goggles must be worn to protect your eyes, and this is not the same as, or a reason to use, a tanning sunbed.

A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.

At a glance

TypeLight-based skin treatment

AnaestheticNot needed

How long it takesEach session lasts seconds to a few minutes; courses run over 8–12 weeks

Hospital stayOutpatient

Time off workUsually none, but you attend 2–3 times a week

When you'll see resultsImprovement is usually seen over several weeks of a course

On the NHS?Commonly available on the NHS when clinically appropriate

A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.

Best fit

Can clear or greatly improve widespread psoriasis and some types of eczema

Pause if

People with a personal history of skin cancer or strong photosensitivity may not be suitable, or need extra caution.

Main recovery point

You can go straight back to normal activities. The skin may feel slightly warm or look a little pink, like mild sun exposure.

Good aftercare

An accurate, shared record of total treatment number, including any previous PUVA.

Straight after a session

You can go straight back to normal activities. The skin may feel slightly warm or look a little pink, like mild...

First few weeks of a course

The skin condition usually begins to settle. Some conditions flare briefly at first before improving. The team...

End of the course (around 8–12 weeks)

Many people see a good improvement. The team decides whether to stop, continue or plan future courses, and records...

Between and after courses

Improvement can last for a time, but the condition may gradually return, and a further course may be considered...

Medical line illustration of light and energy skin treatment for Phototherapy (UVB) treatment. — Illustration only - not a diagnosis, medical advice or a promise of result. Your anatomy and treatment plan may differ. Vuemedics does not publish before-and-after photos.

What is phototherapy (UVB) treatment?

Phototherapy uses carefully measured doses of ultraviolet (UV) light to treat the skin. The most common type is narrowband UVB, which uses a specific part of the UV spectrum that calms inflammation and slows the overactive skin-cell production seen in conditions like psoriasis.

It is used for widespread or stubborn skin conditions, most often psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo, when creams alone have not been enough. Treatment is given as a course, usually two or three times a week for several weeks, standing in a cabinet lined with special lamps.

Phototherapy is a hospital treatment, not the same as a tanning sunbed. The dose is prescribed and recorded, and your eyes and certain areas are protected. Treatment is supervised because UV light has real long-term effects on the skin.

It is important to understand that phototherapy controls skin conditions during and after a course rather than curing them. Many people need repeat courses over the years, and the total amount of UV you receive over a lifetime is tracked because of skin-cancer risk.

Types, options & approaches

There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.

Narrowband UVB (TL01)

The most commonly used phototherapy. It uses a narrow band of UVB light and is effective for psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo, given in a stand-up cabinet.

Broadband UVB

An older form using a wider range of UVB. Narrowband UVB has largely replaced it because it is usually more effective and better tolerated.

Hand and foot units

Smaller devices that treat just the hands and feet, used when the problem is limited to these areas, so the rest of the body is not exposed.

PUVA (psoralen plus UVA)

A separate type of light therapy combining UVA with a light-sensitising medicine (psoralen). It is used less often now and carries a higher skin-cancer risk, so narrowband UVB is usually tried first.

Narrowband UVB vs PUVA

	Narrowband UVB	PUVA
Light used	Narrowband UVB	UVA plus a medicine
Medicine needed	None	Psoralen (cream or tablet)
Skin-cancer risk	Lower	Higher with long use
Usual order	Tried first	If UVB not suitable or effective

Most people start with narrowband UVB. PUVA is reserved for selected cases because of its higher long-term risk.

Preparing for your treatment

Tell the team about all your medicines, including ones bought over the counter, as some make the skin much more sensitive to light.
Mention any history of skin cancer, or many moles, as this affects whether phototherapy is suitable.
Say if you have a condition made worse by light, or if you have had radiotherapy or arsenic exposure in the past.
Plan around the schedule: you will usually attend two or three times a week, so think about work and travel.
Do not use sunbeds or sunbathe during the course, as this adds to your UV dose unpredictably.
Men will usually be asked to protect the genital area, and everyone wears goggles in the cabinet.

What happens

Phototherapy is given in a hospital dermatology unit. At your first visit, the team may test a small patch of skin to judge how sensitive you are, so they can set a safe starting dose.

For each session you undress to the area being treated and stand in a cabinet lined with UV lamps. You wear goggles to protect your eyes, and men usually cover the genital area. The treatment itself lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes, with the dose recorded and gradually increased over the course.

You will usually attend two or three times a week for around 8 to 12 weeks. The team checks your skin at each visit, asks about any burning or soreness, and adjusts the dose. The total number of treatments you have, now and in the past, is recorded because lifetime UV exposure matters for skin-cancer risk.

Is this treatment right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

May not be suitable if…

People with a personal history of skin cancer or strong photosensitivity may not be suitable, or need extra caution.
Conditions made worse by light (such as some lupus or photosensitive disorders) can be aggravated.
People who have already had a high lifetime UV dose, or extensive previous PUVA, may have reached safe limits.
Phototherapy is the wrong choice when a condition is better treated with targeted topical or systemic treatment, or when attendance two or three times a week is not practical.

Delay or rearrange if…

You are taking a medicine that markedly increases light sensitivity until it is reviewed.
You have sunburn, an active skin infection or a severe flare needing settling first.
You have an unexplained new or changing skin lesion that should be assessed before UV treatment.
Practical issues mean you cannot reliably attend the full course for now.

Alternatives to discuss

Topical treatments alone for more limited disease.
Systemic tablets or biologic injections for severe disease, weighing their different risks.
PUVA in selected cases where narrowband UVB is unsuitable, accepting higher long-term risk.
Watchful management with moisturisers if the condition is mild.
Targeted treatments such as topical immunomodulators for some forms of eczema or vitiligo.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

What matters most to me?

Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.

What are all my options?

Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.

What would make me pause?

Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.

What happens if I do nothing today?

For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.

Benefits

Can clear or greatly improve widespread psoriasis and some types of eczema
Can help restore colour in vitiligo for some people
Avoids the whole-body side effects of some tablets and injections
Does not suppress the immune system the way some medicines do
Can be repeated as future courses if it has helped before

Risks & complications

More common

Redness or a sunburn-like reaction, sometimes with soreness
Dryness and itching of the skin
Tanning of the treated skin
Cold sores flaring in people prone to them

Less common

Blistering if the dose is too high or you have taken something that increases sensitivity
A temporary flare of the skin condition early in treatment
Polymorphic light eruption (an itchy light-triggered rash)
Eye discomfort if goggles are not worn properly

Rare but serious

Increased long-term risk of skin cancer, related to the total lifetime amount of UV received
Premature skin ageing with repeated courses over many years
Cataracts if the eyes are repeatedly left unprotected

The most important long-term issue is that UV light adds to your lifetime skin-cancer risk and ages the skin, with risk rising as the total number of treatments builds up over the years. This is why your treatment count is recorded and why courses are limited and reviewed. In the short term, the main risk is a sunburn-like reaction. Always wear the goggles provided to protect your eyes, and never use a sunbed as a substitute, as the dose is uncontrolled. Ask your team how many treatments you have had in total and when skin-cancer surveillance might be advised.

Published figures to discuss

How well phototherapy works depends on the condition, its severity, skin type and how consistently the course is completed. Short-term burning reactions are dose-related and usually mild. The key long-term concern, skin cancer, is tied to total lifetime UV exposure rather than any single course, and depends on cumulative treatment number, skin type and other sun exposure. Because individual risk varies so much, exact percentages are not given here; surveillance is guided by total exposure rather than a fixed figure.

Figure	Reported range	How to interpret it	Source / confidence
Short-term redness or sunburn-type reaction	Common enough to require dose adjustment protocols	Phototherapy units increase dose gradually and should ask about burning, new medicines and missed sessions.	Guide sourcesClinical context
Treatment burden	Often two to three visits per week for several weeks	Travel and adherence are major determinants of whether the course is worthwhile.	Guide sourcesClinical context
Skin-cancer surveillance threshold by exposure	Surveillance has been suggested at roughly 58 to over 400 narrowband UVB sessions depending on skin type and other sun exposure	From a study modelling mutation burden; the safe number varies widely by individual, so this is a guide for monitoring, not a guaranteed limit.	Guide sourcesClinical context
Relapse after a successful course	Recognised	Phototherapy can induce remission, but many inflammatory skin conditions recur and need a maintenance plan or alternative systemic treatment.	Guide sourcesClinical context

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

What happens afterwards

There is no physical recovery after each phototherapy session, but the skin condition improves gradually over a course, and the treated skin needs sun protection between sessions.

Straight after a session

You can go straight back to normal activities. The skin may feel slightly warm or look a little pink, like mild sun exposure.

First few weeks of a course

The skin condition usually begins to settle. Some conditions flare briefly at first before improving. The team adjusts your dose at each visit.

End of the course (around 8–12 weeks)

Many people see a good improvement. The team decides whether to stop, continue or plan future courses, and records the total treatment count.

Between and after courses

Improvement can last for a time, but the condition may gradually return, and a further course may be considered later if it helped before.

What's normal — and not a worry

Mild pinkness or warmth of the skin after sessions
Gradual fading of plaques or patches over several weeks
Dry skin that needs regular moisturising
A short-lived flare early in treatment for some conditions
Some tanning of the treated areas

Aftercare

Moisturise the skin regularly to reduce dryness and itching.
Protect treated skin from extra sun: cover up, seek shade and use sunscreen on exposed areas.
Do not use sunbeds during or between courses.
Report any soreness, blistering or marked redness before the next session so the dose can be adjusted.
Keep wearing goggles every session and follow the genital-protection advice.
Tell the team about any new medicines started during the course, as some increase light sensitivity.
Keep a note of how many treatments you have had, especially if you move clinics.

Before your treatment

Realistic plan for attending 2–3 times a week
List of all current medicines shared with the team
Moisturiser and sunscreen at home
Transport and time off work arranged for sessions
Record of any previous phototherapy or PUVA courses
Clinic contact details for sunburn-like reactions

⚠ Get urgent help if…

A painful, blistering sunburn-like reaction after a session
Marked redness or soreness that is getting worse rather than settling
Eye pain, gritty or watery eyes after a session (possible UV eye injury)
A spreading flare of the skin condition rather than improvement
A new, changing or non-healing skin lesion, mole or sore
Signs of skin infection: increasing heat, swelling, pain or pus

Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A good result is clearer, more comfortable skin by the end of a course, often allowing a break from heavier treatments. For psoriasis and some eczema this can mean substantial clearing; for vitiligo it can mean some return of colour, though results here are more variable and gradual.

Phototherapy cannot cure these conditions or stop them returning, and it cannot undo the underlying tendency. It also cannot be repeated indefinitely, because total UV exposure is limited over a lifetime to keep skin-cancer risk acceptable.

How long it lasts

How long the benefit lasts varies. Some people enjoy months of clearer skin after a course; for others the condition returns sooner. Because lifetime UV exposure is tracked, there is a limit to how many courses can be given safely over the years, so phototherapy is one tool used alongside others rather than a permanent solution.

Related tests, treatments or support

Phototherapy is often combined with moisturisers and topical treatments to improve results. It is not usually combined with PUVA or used at the same time as some medicines that increase light sensitivity. People may move between phototherapy, topical treatment and systemic medicines over time depending on how their condition behaves.

Follow-up & long-term care

Your skin is checked at each session and the dose adjusted. At the end of a course the team reviews how well it worked and plans next steps. Because of the long-term skin-cancer link, your total number of treatments is recorded, and skin checks or surveillance may be advised once exposure builds up, particularly after many courses or previous PUVA.

Ongoing moisturising and sun protection of treated skin
Keeping an accurate record of total phototherapy (and any PUVA) treatments
Regular skin self-checks for new or changing lesions
Skin-cancer surveillance if advised after high cumulative exposure
Reviewing whether further courses remain appropriate over time

Repeat, follow-on and what comes next

Many people need repeat courses over the years as the condition returns.
There is a lifetime limit on total UV exposure, so phototherapy cannot simply be repeated indefinitely.
If a course does not help enough, treatment is usually switched rather than escalated with more UV.

Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.

What good aftercare looks like

An accurate, shared record of total treatment number, including any previous PUVA.
Clear advice on sun protection and avoiding sunbeds.
A named contact for sunburn-like reactions between sessions.
Skin-cancer surveillance arranged once cumulative exposure builds up.
Regular review of whether further courses remain appropriate.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

The number of sessions in a course, and whether more than one course is needed
The type of unit used (whole-body cabinet, or hand and foot units)
Specialist nurse and dermatologist supervision
Any initial light-sensitivity testing before starting
Skin checks and surveillance arranged because of cumulative UV exposure
Travel and time costs of attending two or three times a week

Make sure your written quote includes

How many sessions are included and the cost if more are needed
Supervision by a dermatologist and trained phototherapy staff
Whether initial test dosing is included
Arrangements for skin monitoring over time
What happens, and the cost, if your skin reacts and the course pauses
Whether your total lifetime treatment count is recorded and shared

On the NHS? Phototherapy is commonly available on the NHS when topical treatments are not enough; private access may be used for speed or convenience, but the same UV-exposure limits and safety monitoring apply.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.

Choosing a specialist safely

Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Questions to ask your medical professional

Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.

Is narrowband UVB the right type for my skin condition, or would another treatment suit better?
How many treatments have I had in total, including any previous courses or PUVA?
When would you advise skin-cancer surveillance based on my exposure?
Do any of my current medicines increase my sensitivity to the light?
What should I do if I get a sunburn-like reaction between sessions?
How will we decide whether to repeat a course in future?
Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
Will you be the specialist who carries out my treatment, and who looks after me afterwards?
What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
What does a realistic result look like — and what can this treatment not achieve?
What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Frequently asked questions

Is phototherapy the same as a sunbed?

No. Phototherapy uses a specific, measured medical dose of UV under supervision, with your eyes protected and your total exposure recorded. Tanning sunbeds are unregulated for treatment and should not be used as a substitute.

Does phototherapy cure psoriasis or eczema?

No. It can clear or greatly improve the skin during and after a course, but these are long-term conditions that can return, so further courses or other treatments may be needed.

Will it give me skin cancer?

A single course carries a small added risk, but UV adds to lifetime exposure, so risk rises as the total number of treatments builds up over the years. This is why your treatment count is recorded and courses are limited and reviewed.

Why do I have to wear goggles?

UV light can damage the surface of the eyes and, with repeated unprotected exposure, increase the chance of cataracts. Goggles protect your eyes and must be worn for every session.

How long before I see results?

Improvement is usually seen over several weeks of a course. Some skin conditions flare briefly at first before settling. Your team will judge progress and adjust the dose along the way.

Is phototherapy available on the NHS?

Yes, it is commonly provided on the NHS when clinically appropriate. Private access may be used for convenience or speed, but the same UV-exposure and safety limits apply.

Find a verified specialist for phototherapy (uvb) treatment

Every consultant is GMC-checked and independently reviewed. Search by postcode and distance, or switch to a map. Ordered by rating, relevance and recency — never by who pays.

No verified consultants list this procedure yet — browse the full directory.

See all specialists for phototherapy (uvb) treatment →

How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NHS — Psoriasis: Treatment (includes phototherapy) British Association of Dermatologists — Phototherapy (patient information) Newcastle Hospitals NHS — Narrowband UVB treatment leaflet University Hospitals Sussex NHS — NB-UVB phototherapy information Mutation burden of NB-UVB in human skin (skin-cancer surveillance) — PMC

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.