The Photodermatology Unit attends to patients with photodermatoses or "sun allergy". Patients are evaluated based on their medical history, physical examination, phototesting and laboratory investigations. Dermatological conditions treated with various phototherapy or "light therapy" modalities include psoriasis, mycosis fungoides, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, pityriasis lichenoides, eczema of the hands and feet, morphoea, uraemic pruritus, acne and skin cancer.

In phototherapy and photochemotherapy, both UVA and UVB may be used in combination with oral medications such as Acitretin (a retinoid or Vitamin A medication) and Methotrexate. Combination treatments increase the effectiveness in clearing psoriasis. ReNBUVB refers to the combined use of Acitretin and narrowband UVB phototherapy. Similarly, RePUVA is the combination therapy of Acitretin and PUVA photochemotherapy. These 2 combination modalities are very effective for the treatment of generalised and severe plaque psoriasis. They are generally recommended for those who fail to respond to NBUVB and PUVA alone. Acitretin enhances the therapeutic effects of NBUVB and PUVA and reduces the number of phototherapy treatment sessions and the cumulative UV doses.

The Phototherapy division of the Photodermatology Unit provides the following phototherapeutic modalities :

• Narrowband UVB phototherapy
• UVA/Narrowband UVB combined phototherapy
• Systemic PUVA photochemotherapy
• Bath PUVA photochemotherapy
• Soak PUVA photochemotherapy
• Paint PUVA phototherapy
• UVA1 phototherapy
• Excimer lamp targeted phototherapy
• MultiClear targeted phototherapy
• Levia targeted phototherapy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Omnilux Blue phototherapy

The Photodiagnostic division of the Photodermatology Unit provides the following diagnostic methods:

• Phototesting
• Photoprovocation testing
• Photopatch testing
• Systemic Drug Photochallenge