Exploring the long-term safety of phototherapy for atopic dermatitis

When atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema does not respond to topical therapies, or is very widespread and severe, dermatologist may recommend phototherapy or light therapy, a treatment which uses controlled and metered doses of light to help to manage inflammation in the skin.  There has been concern however about the long-term safety of using phototherapy to help manage AD.

In 2017 Eczema Society of Canada awarded a competitive research grant to dermatologist and associate professor Dr. Sunil Kalia, MD, MHSc, FAAD, FRCPC to study the long-term safety of phototherapy, a systemic therapy used to help manage AD. Dr. Kalia tells us, “The good news for AD patients is that our study found there was no increased risk of skin cancer for patients who treated their AD with phototherapy.” With treatment safety as a common concern for patients, this study will help inform patients and health care providers on the risks and benefits of AD treatments.

Want to learn more about phototherapy and how it is used in the treatment of AD and eczema? Click here to read more on this topic.

August 2022