Here’s a brochure from Philips that I’m sure you’ll find interesting: <CLICK HERE>

A fluorescent lamp or fluorescent tube is a gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor. The excited mercury atoms produce short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, producing visible light. Wikipedia does a much better job of describing fluorescent lights than I ever could. <<Click Here >>

Philips is the sole maker of UVB Narrow Band lamps at this time. Philips lamps with a “/01″ phosphor are the ones you’ll find in the UVB Narrow Band products we sell <<Click Here>>

UVB Narrowband Spectrum

In the graphic to the above, you’ll see two graphs, one depicting the UVB Broadband spectrum and the other is the UVB Narrowband spectrum which is a very narrow group of wavelengths centered around 311 nm, sometimes UVB NB or Narrow Band is called UVB311.

UVB NB or UVB Narrow Band has replaced PUVA and UVB Broadband in the majority of phototherapy applications today.

I decided to do some web surfing and have learned that she might be on the right track.

Elsewhere in this blog at http://www.uvbnarrowband.com/index.php/2010/01/uva1-phototherapy-is-it-effective I did write about UVA-1 and its apparent success with Granuloma Annulare.

First a little reading about the disease.

A little reading from several sites provided this information.
For some images of the disease; See http://tinyurl.com/granuloma-annulare

Overview

Granuloma annulare is a long-term (chronic) skin disease consisting of a rash with reddish bumps arranged in a circle or ring.

Causes
Granuloma annulare most often affects children and young adults. It is slightly more common in girls. The condition is usually seen in otherwise healthy people. Occasionally, it may be associated with diabetes or thyroid disease. Its cause is unknown.

Symptoms
Granuloma annulare usually causes no other symptoms, but the rash may be slightly itchy. Patients usually notice a ring of small, firm bumps (papules) over the backs of the forearms, hands, or feet. Occasionally, multiple rings may be found. Rarely, granuloma annulare may appear as a firm nodule under the skin of the arms or legs.

Treatment
I did find an article at http://tinyurl.com/4phduov discussing the use of UVB Narrow Band with Granuloma Annulare and this study concluded that:

• Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/granuloma-annulare/DS00793
• Medline: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000833.htm
• WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/granuloma-annulare
• Google Health: https://health.google.com/health/ref/Granuloma+annulare

The part of the sun’s spectrum that we concern ourselves with is the Ultraviolet portion which is by definition 200 nM to 400 nM (nM is nano meter or a billionth of a meter). The UV Spectrum is broken up (by definition) into three bands, UVA, UVB and UVC. Science has arbitrarily defined these as

• UVA – Long Wavelength             320 to 400 nm
• UVB – Medium Wavelength       290 to 320 nm
• UVC – Short Wavelength            200 to 290 nm (Sometimes called ‘Germicidal Light’)

UVB Narrow Band is a small slice of the UVB Spectrum at 311 nM and is identified as that part of the UV Spectrum that seems to provide the optimal therapeutic effect with the lowest risks including lower risk of cancer, lower risk of sunburn and very low risk of contributing to premature skin aging.

OK I’m rambling a bit. People ask, how does UVB NB equate to sunlight? This is an impossible question to answer.

This question is impossible to answer as the sun’s measurable output varies depending on:

• Our Latitude.
• The time of day.
• The season.
• The time of year.
• Cloud cover.
• Relative humidity.
• One’s elevation.

Suffice it to say, one of the advantages of UV Phototherapy is the constancy that one can achieve in one’s treatment from day to day.

Sunlight presents a ‘full spectrum’ of UV light whose energy level arriving on the surface of our planet is dependent on all of the above factors and perhaps others.

Hope this helps?

Do you have any suggestions?

See the Video >>

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbrMS6evGFI

Cheryl and I have met April and Lori at several Vitiligo conferences over the years. Lori has written a book called “DIFFERENT -- Just Like Me”

April and Lori are remakable people in an ever changing world.

Please watch the video!

Chris

A question that comes up quite often is “Should I use Protopic?” or perhaps “Should I use Elidel?” and then the question continues “… while using UVB Narrow Band?”.

Generally speaking, any drug or cream should be avoided and not be applied immediately before or during UVB Narrow Band treatment. Elidel and Protopic and most other things you apply to your skin, change the skin’s sensitivity to UV light. Some drugs increase your sensitivity (Psoralens & others) while others reduce your skin’s sensitivity (sun blocks and the like). All of these should be avoided UNLESS SPECIFICALLY PRESCRIBED by your Dermatologist.

I do recommend that if Protopic, Elidel or other Corticosteroid has been prescribed that you use it following UV treatment or on the alternate days. Do not apply these creams before treatment UNLESS SPECIFICALLY PRESCRIBED by your Dermatologist. It is not safe to apply these creams before treatment as they can increase your skin’s sensitivity to UV light and increase the risk of severe erythema (sunburn).

Do no assume that you know more than your dermatologist!

Avoid sunlight, sun lamps, tanning beds, and phototherapy treatments with UVA or UVB light. If you must be outdoors, wear loose clothing over the skin areas treated with Protopic. Do not use sunscreen on treated skin unless your doctor has told you to.

• Read more: http://www.drugs.com/protopic.html
• Read more: http://www.drugs.com/elidel.html

They report, Compared with broadband UVB:

• Exposure times are shorter but of higher intensity.
• The course of treatment is shorter.
• It is more likely to clear the skin condition.
• Longer periods of remission occur before it reappears.

They also mention that “This range of UV radiation has proved to be the most beneficial component of natural sunlight for psoriasis. Narrowband UVB may also be used in the treatment of many other skin conditions including atopic eczema, vitiligo, pruritus, lichen planus, polymorphous light eruption, early cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and dermographism.”

The original can be found at http://dermnetnz.org/procedures/narrowband-uvb.html - Enjoy!

The Dermalight 80 is made here in the USA by National Biological Corporation under licence to Hoenle and of course by Hoenle the developer of the Dermalight 80. The Dermalight 80  is made in two configurations:

• 110V – 60 Hz (USA, Canada, Japan, Ecuador, Brazil)
• 220V – 50 Hz (Europe and many countries around the world)

There are a few countries around the world that have 220 V – 60 Hz power and we’ve found out the hard way that the 220V – 50 Hz units do not work well in these countries, including Korea, Saudi Arabia and one or two others. When I say the hard way, we have shipped 220V 50 Hz power units to 60 Hz countries and we’ve had to replace them with 110V 60 Hz units with a step down transformer.

The converse is not true. The 110V – 60 Hz unit when used with a step down transformer works well in countries with 220V – 50Hz power.

You can read about our recommendations at < Dermalight – International >

If you live in the USA or Canada or any other country using 60 Hz power then I do recomemnd that you purchase a 60 Hz – Dermalight 80 unit that will work in your country. If you’re in Saudi Arabia, Korea, The Philippines or other country using 220V – 60 Hz power then buy one of the USA models with a step-down transformer. I do recommend that you read this page carefully!

See http://www.dermalight80.com/international.htm#Line_Voltage_&_Frequency__

As somone once said! Caveat Emptor

The new Dermalume 2X uses the National Biological Corp CPT or Controlled Prescription Timer to help the doctor and the patient work together for optimal treatment.

It’s interesting to see the sales of our Dermalight 80 drop slightly as our sales of the Dermalume ramp up.

The Dermalume 2X arrives ready for use in a handy briefcase type case allowing the user to easily pack it away between treatments and carry it with them while traveling.

The unit allows the user to treat only affected areas – and use comb to maintain consistent distance from skin or separate hairs for scalp psoriasis treatment.

The clever hinge allows multiple wand positions can be held where you want while the two lamps with the large output window allow for faster treatment. The DermaLume is shipped fully assembled with an optional comb attachment (includes) , goggles, and carrying case.

You can learn more about the Dermalume 2X at our website. Please visit http://www.homephototherapy.com/dermalume2X.htm for more information.