Home UVB

[morb]

Hi
My Name is Ron Hannant. I have had plaque psoriasis for 7-8 years and I really hate it. The only thing that seems to help is the sun, but we don't much of that in the winter, so I usually get all over my body and face.
My doctor has recomended that I buy a home UVB booth but they are more that I can afford. So I was wondering if anyone has built their own? and how did you go about building it?

Thanks
Ron

[LillyPie]

I don't know if that is possible or not... guess it depends on if companies sell kits. Do you have health insurance that could help cover the cost? If not, you could try going to a tanning bed. It may help some. Hopefully someone else will have more answers for you. Good luck.

[madelph]

I would also like to have my own uvb unit. Due to similiar constraints I don't have one either. My dermatologist does not have one as well. He recommended that I go to a Tanning Salon. I have been going for three weeks now and am noticing some change but not as dramatic as one would hope. Here is why, Tanning Salons by law can not have their bulbs emit pure UVB like in a Dr's office. The bulbs primarily emit UVA. Some UVB is still emitted depending on the bulbs age. If you consider going be patient because of this factor. I have found it is cheaper than going to the DR. three times a week. I used to get UVB years ago and had to pay my $ 30.00 copay each and every visit. I am saving a lot of money now. For 10.00 I get 30 min. of time in a 30min bed. (times are the equal to a full day spent in the sun its a measure they use in the industry) Call around to get the best deal. Just take care and find one that sanatizes the beds after use and provides a bottle of sanitizer for you if you would like to wipe it down before use. Also disinfect the goggles too even if they say they did.
I really don't think one could build a home unit unless you have good knowledge of electrical devices and lighting fixtures and know where to find it.
Hope I have been a help. Sorry for being long winded.
Happy Holidays!

[craigador]

I was fortunate to find a second hand UVB unit, which I began using in June, it has been nothing short of miraculous, with only my ankles retaining some spots, while one year ago today I was quite literally 80-85% covered with angry scales, and had been for the last 6-8 years. Today I am a free man.
I found one on a local swap site similar to craigslist.org (which you also might want to try), I have been vigilant about safety, and now use it 1-2x per week for 3 minutes. You could also try ebay? I know they are expensive, and the one I have, though older, is quite a complicated little piece of equipment. Barring serious electronic experience, I don't know if you would want to attempt to build one given some inherent risks.
If you look on ebay right now there is an auction for a small handheld UVB lamp, if you respond well in sunlight like you said, as I did, then UVB is possibly the safest and most efficacious method there is. May I ask what city you are in? Best of luck

[morb]

Thanks for the replies
The reason I asked is that I read somewhere that the National Psoriasis Foundation had plans for constucting a UVB booth, but they aren't available anymore. I have been looking at booths online and it doen't seem to any harder than wireing a fluorescent light...but things always arn't always what they seem lol. I seen some lights online that have the same ends as a regular luorescent light, so I got to thinking.
Craigador, I live in Yorkton, Saskatchewan Canada


Ron

[TJM718]

I remember at some point seeing the instructions for building a home UVB unit. This is years and years ago. I don't know how or where or why, and I'm certainlly not skilled enough to build one. It had amps and volts and all that stuff you would need to know. I may have come from the NPF.

Basically the machine holds four bulbs that should have the same ends as a regular flourescent light. Years ago someone helped me to see if my machine broke or if the bulbs were dead. The put in regular bulbs, which fit, and they lit right up. But there may be variations in bulbs.

It seems the only special thing on my unit is a timer and a key to make sure no kids accidentally turn it on. Besides that it holds four bulbs and has an extension cord.

I wish you luck in finding plans. Keep us updated.

[KatieScarlett]

Ron, I wish I could help with instructions but I barely know how to hammer a nail into a wall.

However, when I was first diagnosed w/psoriasis my mother hired a carpenter to build a UVB box for me. This was 25 years ago & cost less than $500. If you know a reputable carpenter see what you can find out--I suspect the majority of the cost would be in purchasing the bulbs.

A couple of problems: the thing was huge so if you live in a small place it's not a great option. Also was toting that thing around with me every time I moved--after about 11 moves in 20 years it was so beat up I ended up throwing it out & just joining a tanning salon. Finally, you have to track the use of the bulbs & replace them maybe once a year, which is very costly.

And I will point out a couple of things about tanning. You can stay in a tanning booth much longer than in a UVB booth--you fry after about 3 minutes in a UVB booth. The tanning salon I use now has a UVA/UVB combo that I use quite frequently. Also I worked out a deal w/the owner where I pay about $75 a month for unlimited tanning (my last place gave me a $500 a year deal which was much more cost effective, so I'd suggest asking about that first). It works out to about $6 per session. A lot of these places have unpredictable cash flow so are willing to work something out if it puts something in their bank account on a regular basis.

[twinieten]

In this post someone told me how they built their own light box. I don't know if this person visits the forums so you can ask more details about construction.

http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21127

Have you checked with NPF about buying a used machine. I think they might keep a list.

[dlruss]

Drea is right.

I actually purchased a used unit through a member of the NPF this summer. It has been an absolute God-send..

I was looking into building a unit, at first.. But believe it or not, it would have been more expensive than getting a used unit...

To be honest, though it's been posted before I cannot recall where exactly to ask for the list of used units.. But if you would send an e-mail to getinfo@psoriasis.org I'm sure you would get the list fairly quickly. You might even end up saving a few hundred dollars in the process, too.

Hope this helps!
-Dave

[RichJ]

hi ron,
sorry i can't help much but welcome to the p family. you have met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good night all

richard

[morb]

Thanks for the welcome
I hope you all had a good Christmas. I have done some more thinking about building my own uv booth, and I'm going to give it a try. I found some used bulbs for a good price, so if it dosn't work I won't be out much$$
I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Have a happy and healthy new year

Ron

[CuriousMom]

Does it work?? Is it worth it?? My dd has severe scalp psoriasis...
Please share if you have had any experience with the UV-B Comb.

Thanks.

[SCCatman]

The hard part is that you need a goo dtimer on the bulbs.
I did nb uvb and after my first dose of seven seconds, I was tosted.
eating a couple of stalks of celery before a few hours before going to the tanning solon my help. Celery contains psorlien, the same thing they use for PUVA, it make you more sensitive to the wavelenghts used in comercial tanning beds.

I have kasier permente HMO, so my insurance and doctor are the same, so UV treatments do not require any copay.

I would be very afraid of building my own unit, an exposure of just a couple of seconds too long will burn and cause more psoriasis that you have ever imagined.

Sometimes there are people on the list giving the booths away for free, you pick up or pay shipping.

Dennis

[morb]

Well I got my bulbs last week, got a timer and now I have a home UVB unit. I saved over $1000. making my own. I usually clear up quite fast in the summer, so I'm hoping things go as fast with the light. I do have a spot on my hand that seems to be clearing.
My kids are excited, they want me to go to the pool with them. That is somthing I wouldn't even consider in the winter time but now, maybe I can 8v)

[lenraphaelcpa]

said the same thing: the locking switch, an accurate timer and in the real expensive units, a dosimeter" are the only value items added to your basic box with flourescent light sockets and balasts. no rewiring needed to switch from uvb to nbuvb, just expensive bulbs. probably get that the fixtures at your local hemp grow shop.

considering the uvb unit at my derm' office is an inaccurate ancient wind up device which the nurses have to manually turn off, as long as you have a good loud accurate timer, you're better equipped than my derm. (some of the time i have to cough very loudly to remind the nurse to turn off the light. i bring my own timer now.)

[lenraphaelcpa]

what kind of ballasts did you use? are there two kinds, magnetic and electronic? where did you buy the bulbs, type, size and price.

[morb]

lenraphaelcpa
I sent you a pm