Ultraviolet B Therapy for Various Forms of Psoriasis
Title: Narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy
in patients with psoriasis: for which types of psoriasis is it
more effective?
Authors: Gokdemir G, et al.
Publication: J Dermatol. 2005 Jun;32(6):436-41.
Although it is becoming increasingly popular, treatment of psoriasis
using narrow-band ultraviolet B light with Philips TL-01 lamp
has not been evaluated for its effectiveness. The authors wanted
to determine the effectiveness and safety of narrow-band ultraviolet
B therapy for different clinical forms of psoriasis.
In this study, the authors enrolled 53 patients with psoriasis
vulgaris, with skin types II to IV were enrolled. The patients
were classified as having 4 types of psoriatic lesions:
- Guttate: small, salmon-pink drop-like lesions
with diameter of 1 to 10 mm. These lesions usually have fine
scales.
- Nummular: disc or coin-shaped lesions.
- Plaque: scaly, circular to oval red patches.
This is the most common type of psoriasis.
- Mixed: multiple types of lesions.
Evaluation of the efficacy of treatment was performed by comparing
their Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) before and after
treatment.
The authors found that although all patients with the guttate
form of psoriasis were cleared of their lesions, this result was
not statistically significant. Although patients with nummular
and plaque psoriasis received more dose of uv light and had more
sessions, they did not have significant results.
Side effects were reported in five (11%) of the patients, although
the authors did not elucidate specifically what happened.
The authors concluded that the efficacy of narrow-band ultraviolet
therapy decreased as lesion size increased. Combination therapy
(uv light and medications) may be more effective than uv light
alone, especially for patients with large plaques.
Editor’s Note: Skin Type refers to Fitzpatrick Skin Type
Classification:
Skin Type |
Sensitivity to
Sun or UV Light |
Type I (very white or freckled) |
Always burn |
Type II (white) |
Usually burn |
Type III (white to olive) |
Sometimes burn |
Type IV (brown) |
Rarely burn |
Type V (dark brown) |
Very rarely burn |
Type VI (black) |
Never burn |