Comparison of the antipsoriatic efficacy of heliotherapy and ultraviolet B: a cross-over study.
Ten psoriasis patients who underwent a 4-week heliotherapy period in the Canary Islands were treated with ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy at relapse, 2-24 months later. In both settings, psoriasis improvement was monitored using a psoriasis severity index (PSI), and UV exposure was recorded with polysulphone films. In the 8 patients that could be evaluated, a median healing rate of 94% was recorded in the heliotherapy period, with a median cumulative UV dose of 46 erythemal units (EU). In the UVB phototherapy, a median improvement rate of 86% was found after a median cumulative UV dose of 112 EU. It is concluded that, on an erythemal UV dose basis, heliotherapy was more effective than UVB phototherapy in treating psoriasis.
Snellman
E
E
Social Insurance Institution in Helsinki, Finland.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006370:Heliotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy