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  To enhance the effects of phototherapy or ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy, patients with psoriasis may be instructed to take a tar bath prior to exposure. Or the physician may prescribe other additional topical agents to be used with UVB therapy. Soaking in warm water 30 minutes before phototherapy can also loosen the psoriatic scales and allow more light to penetrate the skin. How long does it take before any improvement is seen? How long can the patient expect to be free from psoriasis? Provided the right dose is given, UVB therapy can clear the lesions in five to six weeks. "A clearance or remission initiated by UVB therapy can range from a few days to a year or more, depending on the individual patient and their response to a particular UVB regimen. Usually it will take 20 to 30 UVB treatments to clear psoriasis and the average number of treatments is the same whether they are given three, five or seven times per week. Any lesser treatment times (less than three per week) generally produce a poor response however. Therefore it is important to understand that treatment given too infrequent­ly or discontinued prematurely are the two most common causes of treatment failure," according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) in Portland, Oregon Once the skin clears, UVB treatment can stop and resume when the lesions reappear. But those who receive photothe­rapy regularly - even in the absence of lesions - appear to enjoy longer plaque-free periods. "A study seems to indicate UVB maintenance can increase the remission time. This study showed that even when administered at a modest frequency (an average of six treatments per month), UVB management increases the length of remission by at least one and a half months," the NPF said. Successful treatment also depends on the skills of the therapist. If too little UVB is given, the patient may get a good tan but have no improvement of symptoms. With too much, too soon, the patient may suffer from painful burns in the skin and itchiness. "If tar is used with the UVB, folliculitis can occur. This is when the skin pores are clogged with tar and small pimple-like eruptions appear on the treated skin. These will go away but generally this means that the tar is being improperly applied," the NPF said. Like sunlight, overexposure to phototherapy can lead to premature aging and skin cancer, especially in those with fair skin or a family history of the disease. Therefore, in the course of treatment, one should be wary of any skin growth that increases in size or a wound that doesn't heal. These may indicate skin cancer and should be reported to a doctor immediately. (Next: Ultraviolet A therapy for psoriasis.) To strengthen your body, take Immunitril – your first line of defense in maintaining a healthy immune system. For details, visit http://www.bodestore.com/immunitril.html. Read also buy ketoconazole online