title: Treatment of psoriasis at a Dead Sea dermatology clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Dead Sea, with its unique optical, chemical, and atmospheric properties, provides an effective alternative treatment for psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 1448 consecutive psoriasis patients treated at a Dead Sea psoriasis clinic were retrospectively evaluated concerning their treatment response and demographic characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clearing of 80-100% was observed in 88% of the patients treated, including almost 58%, who had complete clearing. The demographic data studied that included gender, previous treatment at the Dead Sea, prior history of hospitalization for psoriasis, prior PUVA treatment, or a history of arthritis did not reveal any significant relationships, although overseas patients responded considerably better than Israelis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall response in a large cohort of psoriasis patients treated at the Dead Sea was excellent. Further prospective studies and basic investigations are essential to understand the mechanism(s) involved and the relationships between other demographic data and the treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Mor Institute, Dead Sea Psoriasis Clinic, Israel.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Abels
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bearman
mesh_terms: D001452:Balneology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome