Psoriasis: UV Light Comb for Scalp

A “magic wand” against psoriasis is set to help Germany’s public health insurers save on treatment costs. Two to three million Germans suffer from the genetic skin disease psoriasis. Especially in the area of the scalp, this widespread disease leaves behind unmistakable traces in 70 percent of those affected: massive scaling, reddened disease foci and inflammations. In the treatment of psoriasis in the hair area, dermatologists are increasingly using special UV light combs, whose healing ultraviolet light is directed precisely to the scalp through the optically specially focussed comb teeth. The legal health insurance companies take over thereby the costs for the “magic wands” against Psoriasis to 100 per cent.

Treating psoriasis with UV lamps

Important treatment means against psoriasis and also against neurodermatitis were in the past expensive cure stays in special therapy centers, treatments with cortisone and – with psoriasis – with Salicyl. But even such expensive intensive therapies usually help only temporarily to alleviate the consequences of the disease. Cortisone in particular causes irreparable permanent damage to the skin when used continuously.

Therefore in the past years the Psoriasis home treatment with sunlight-similar UV lamps became generally accepted ever more. From the health insurance companies these economical light applications are strongly advocated. Many patients shun moreover in view of the meanwhile high self participation and the long absence from the job the time-consuming cure stay.

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UV light combs increasingly popular

“Sales of UV therapy suns for convenient, time-saving self-treatment of psoriasis and neurodermatitis have developed very positively in recent years,” reports Manfred Severin of METEC in Munich, Europe’s leading supplier of UV home therapy devices. Hairy head places, above all the head, however are not to be treated also with highly effective dermatological special solariums. With the UV light comb developed by the Munich-based company METEC, however, the hair is parted during application, and the healing UV rays reach the diseased skin directly. “The UV light slows down the abnormal cell division, which is too fast. The disease foci gradually heal,” Severin says.