Cancer Risks From UVB Lamps
UVB treatments for treating skin diseases (Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Atopic Dematitis, etc) are given in a very low dosage. The treatments take only few minutes. The maximum dose of Broadband UVB is 0.5 Joule per treatment. The maximum dose for Narrowband UVB is 3 Joule per treatment. This low dosage does not increase skin cancer, as demonstrated in these statistics: UVB phototherapy remains a very safe treatment. Research at ten year experience of phototherapy in Yonsei Medical Center, had not found any malignancy in the skin
In contrast to exposure to UVB light given at low dosage, it was found that UVA light increases the risk of skin cancer because it is given in a much higher dosage. Too much UV ultraviolet radiation may lead to direct DNA damage, sunburn, and skin cancer.
UVB light is a short wavelength that does not penetrate deeply into the epidermis (skin layer.) The first layer of the epidermis blocks UVB light. As a result of this, the UVB light does not reach the dermis (under the skin) and it cannot cause DNA damage to the sensitive dermis.
PUVA treatments (UVA + Psoralen) and tanning beds (UVA only) provider a longer wavelength, and are also given in higher dosage of 10-100 Joules. The UVA light penetrates the skin and reaches the dermis, which can cause DNA damage.
Read more about this topic: UV-B Lamps
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