how long before you see any results with UVB?

[busilizi6]

Hi folks,
I'm currently doing home UVB (i'm fully aware of all the risks) I just wanted to know how long it is before i'm supposed to see results? I've had UVB before just after I recovered from erythrodermic psoriasis, so my skin was pretty clear, but the UVB zapped any new spots immediately. So obviously I can't compare to then. I'm on my 6th week, 3 x a week and i've gradually worked up. It hasn't cleared any yet, and sometimes i see new spots coming. Although its not getting any worse I must add.
Liz x

[Eveloftus]

Hi Busi, everyone is different with respect to time until you see results. I have a homelamp too. For me it takes about 3 weeks for the scaling to stop, and then 3 or 4 more weeks to start getting noticeable clearance. But I take about 2 months to get 95% clearance. It varies every time I do it. I think taking vitamin D as well as some of the other supplements in bj's formula helps to clear faster (especially the ibu).

How many minutes do you do now, and what type of lamp do you have? I have a panasol 2 with side panels. I am doing now 5 minutes on each side, but usually need up to about 8 min to clear.

[busilizi6]

Well the tubes currently in it are not actually uvb, they are philips medical tubes but i looked on the philips website and it looks like its what they use for puva. So this could be why i'm not seeing great results and perhaps i'm not experiencing any worsening because they do contain some narrowband uvb but not enough? I'm at 2 and half minutes now, I do take vit d but not consistently. I'm in the process of adding philips uvb but can only add 2 at a time, I dont know wether to stop until i get the uvb tubes and then start again from 30 seconds, should i be seeing results by now if it is working?
Liz x

[Eveloftus]

hi Liz, UVA by itself without the psoralen medication does not work very well, maybe that's why you're not improving. Yes, if it was working I would expect some improvement by now. Is there any decrease in the scaling at least? I don't think your tubes contain anything else than UVA.
I would stop and wait until you get all the UVB tubes then start at 30 seconds again. How long will it take until you replace all the tubes? Are the new tubes nbuvb, or broad band uvb?

[busilizi6]

This is what I was thinking, strangely enough my scalp p has cleared and some spots have stopped scaling majorly but show no signs of clearing. My leg P stands no chance of being defeated, it seems to be improving, not as scaly but still little improvement. I will be getting the philips narrowband uvb, i should think in 2-3 weeks i will have all of them.
Thanks Eve x

[Eveloftus]

Good luck Liz, I would be interested to hear how you get along when you get all your tubes!

[steelem]

what sort of uvb system are you working - full blown bed??? is this NB ?? how many mins are you up to..

would be really interested to see your diet...

[deb54]

Eveloftus, So glad you posted the amount of time you use on each side. I've been using my inhome nbuvb for 3 yrs and need at least 8 minutes per side to control any guttate outbreaks. I have never succeeded in clearing all plaque scales but close...was relunctant to go for more time. I generally go for the longer time once every couple weeks, then cut back on the rest of treatment days.

Liz, When I first started treatment, I remember my itching stopped on the 3rd treatment, but the bumps didn't start drying up for another week. Plaque was slow to respond, especially on the short start up times. I've never burned and rarely turn pink, as I was told I needed to do. This doesn't seem necessary for me. So hope you get good results soon....

deb...

[Eveloftus]

Hi Deb, I also never clear completely, there are always some spots on the lower legs and back of thighs that are resistant  to the light. I have a mixture of guttate and plaque. I find that I cannot stop the light otherwise the P comes back pretty quickly. Do you have any kind of remission when you stop after clearing? Do you do some kind of maintenance once you clear? How often are you doing the light at the moment?

[busilizi6]

Thanks for all the responses,
ive just ordered some nuvb bulbs. When i had uvb before i didnt get a single patch for about 3/4 months. So im hoping i'll get a kick start for the summer and i wont have to use uvb until next winter.
I'll let you know how i get on
liz