In Europe, ultraviolet (UV) B phototherapy is being increasingly used for the treatment of skin disease. While this is in part due to an increased awareness of the cancer risks of photochemotherapy (PUVA) there is also evidence that a ‘new’ UVB phototherapy source (TL-01) is more effective than conventional broadband UVB sources, and is possibly as effective as PUVA. A working party of the Brit...

This article reviews recent literature on phototherapy for psoriasis, particularly narrowband UVB. The efficacy, safety, tolerability and acceptance of phototherapy are discussed. It focuses in detail on how to improve the efficacy and safety in practice by trying to optimize the protocols, using combination therapy, monitoring the cumulative dose and providing skin cancer surveillance. Careful...

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is estimated to affect 0.6% to 4.8% of the general population. The optimum number of NB-UVB phototherapy sessions is yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to compare therapeutic effects of NB-UVB in treating chronic plaque type psoriasis three times weekly vs. five times weekly. Materials and Methods: This study was des...

affecting 2.6 percent of the US population. It is debilitating both physically and mentally, and there is always a need to develop treatment options with better success rates, not only acutely, but long-term. Despite the wide range of treatment options available, UVB phototherapy remains one of the safest therapeutic modalities for psoriasis. The latest development in UVB phototherapy is the ex...

INTRODUCTION Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is a common idiopathic photodermatosis that typically presents with pruritic papular or papulovesicular lesions on sun-exposed skin between spring and autumn. In many subjects PLE is mild, and can usually be prevented by the use of broad-spectrum topical sunscreens and a gradual increase in sunlight exposure. However, in some individuals, sunlight e...

BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease that affects 2-3% of the world population. Ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy is an effective treatment for psoriasis compared to other systemic treatments. Currently there is a lack of easily accessible online patient educational material regarding this form of treatment. OBJECTIVE To present a freely available online guide and video on...

BACKGROUND/AIM Narrowband UVB (Nb UVB) treatment is commonly used for the management of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and is less often used for vitiligo in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and short-term safety of Nb UVB phototherapy in children diagnosed with vitiligo retrospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 26 patients younger than 18 years with the ...

Background: C-reactive protein is an inflammatory biomarker and its level increases in the serum of psoriatic patients. Its level is also associated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the decrement of serum C-reactive protein level with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy. Methods: C-reactive protein serum levels in psoriasis ...

Melanocytes are found scattered throughout the basal layer of the epidermis. Following hormone or ultraviolet (UV) light stimulation, the melanin pigments contained in melanocytes are transferred through the dendrites to the surrounding keratinocytes to protect against UV light damage or carcinogenesis. This has been considered as a morphological indicator of melanocytes and melanoma cells. Sma...