Treatment of atopic dermatitis with the xenon chloride excimer laser.
BACKGROUND
Narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy is an effictive and safe treatment for atopic dermatitis. We have previously found that the 308 nm xenon chloride excimer laser was more effective than the narrow-band ultraviolet B light for the treatment of psoriasis, suggesting that ultraviolet B laser might offer advantages over narrow-band ultraviolet B.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the 308 nm excimer laser in atopic dermatitis.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with atopic dermatitis (less than 20% body area involvement) were treated with a xenon chloride excimer laser (XTRAC laser, Photomedex Inc.) twice weekly. The severity of the atopic dermatitis was assessed via (i) a clinical score characterizing the intensity of erythema, infiltration, lichenification and excoriation; (ii) the quality of life, determined by means of a questionnaire; and (iii) a visual linear analogue scale, with which the patients scored the severity of their pruritus.


RESULTS
After 1 month of laser therapy, the clinical scores were significantly lower than the initial values. Similar decreases were observed for the quality of life and pruritus scores. No serious or unpleasant side-effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the xenon chloride excimer laser is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for localized atopic dermatitis.
Baltás
E
E
Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, H-6701, Szeged, PO Box 427, Hungary. baltas@derma.szote.u-szeged.hu
Csoma
Z
Z
Bodai
L
L
Ignácz
F
F
Dobozy
A
A
Kemény
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002712:Chlorides; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014978:Xenon
D002712:Chlorides; D014978:Xenon; C048006:xenon chloride