Photodermatology provides expertise on the effects of light on skin disease. Our unit has 2 functions:
Photodermatosis service
For the diagnosis, specialist investigation and treatment of patients who suffer skin disorders caused by sunlight, eg:
-
polymorphic light eruption
-
actinic prurigo
-
chronic actinic dermatitis
-
cutaneous porphyria
-
xeroderma pigmentosum
We offer a highly specialist service including complex diagnostic testing (phototesting) which, due to its complexity and technical difficulty, is available at very few centres nationally. We also provide a national cutaneous porphyria clinical service, and a national xeroderma pigmentosum clinical service|.
Phototherapy service
We provide the full range of phototherapy, with ultraviolet light being used to treat patients with skin diseases including:
-
psoriasis
-
eczema
-
vitiligo
-
polymorphic light eruption
In addition to all the regional and whole body therapies with PUVA, broadband UVB and narrowband UVB, we are also 1 of 2 centres in England to provide high output UVA1 therapy, a valuable new treatment for a different set of skin diseases.
Our unit is also acting as the hub and lead for a network of phototherapy units in hospitals throughout south east England.
Research
We have an active research programme as part of the Biomedical Research Centre|, and in collaboration with the King's College London (KCL) Photobiology Unit|.
Referrals
We accept referrals from Dermatologists and also GPs.