INTRODUCTION

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Ultraviolet radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation derived from the sun and can be produced artificially from welding torches and tanning beds.
They are medically important for the treatment of some impairments like cancer, etc.

Types of ultraviolet radiations and their wavelength, and uses.

Types	wavelength	uses
UV A	315-400nm	used to aid tissue growth as in the case of external ulcer.
UV B	280-315nm	it is inbetween UV A and UV C
UV C	100-280nm	used in killing bacteria

Uses of ultraviolet radiations

Ultraviolet radiation can be used in the treatment of the following;
i. Ricket
ii. Osteoporosis
iii. External ulcer
iv. Acne vulgaris
v. Psoriasis
vi. Alopetia

Sources of ultraviolet radiation

Natural source

• Sun

Artificial sources

• Air cool mecury vapour lamp:

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this is a U-shaped tube made of quats material. Filled with argin and a minimal quantity of mecury.

Mechanism of ultraviolet radiation production
When an alternating current is passed in to the aircool mecury vapour lamp, argon is heated up, and the ionization of the argon leading to mecury ionization and vaporization causing emmision of radiation.

• Kromayer lamp:

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This is another machine that produces ultraviolet radiation, it has a small water that aid in cooling it during heat production.
It can be used directly on the skin.
It has the same mechanism of ultraviolet radiation production as aircool mecury vapour lamp

• Florescent tube :

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Its component includes;
Tracting tunnel, psoralinultraviolet A.
It can be used for treatment of large part of the body.

DOSIMETRY

This is the study of the dosage of UV light to be passed through a patient's body in respect to his/ her body's reaction to the modality.

UV dosage, timing, distance and uses

Dosage	timing	distance	effect
E1	15 minutes	50cm	minimal eritimal reaction.
E2	E1 time×2.5	50cm	mild redness of the skin.
E3	E1 time ×5	50cm	marked reddening alongside peeling
E4	E1 time ×10	50cm	severe blistering, exudation peeling along with pain.

Procedures for Ultraviolet radiation application.

There are steps you must take while treating a patient with ultraviolet radiation. They include;

• Wash the body part to be treated in order to remove grease and dust.
• Explain to the patient what you want to do and seek for his or her permission to go ahead.
• Keep the patient in the most convinient position for treatment, exposing the part to be treated.
• Apply petroleum jelly on soft areas to prevent burns.
• Apply your ultraviolet radiation.

Physiological effects of ultraviolet radiation.

• UV radiation is cancenogenous. i.e it aids proliferation.
• Pigmentation in the case of impaired melanin production
• Thickening of epithelium
• Disquamation in diseased skin.
• Aids vitamin-D production

Contraindications of UV radiation.

• Eczema
• Demertitis
• Hyperswnsitivity to sunlight
• Deep x-ray
• Skin grafting