title: Recovery from tanning induced by narrow-band UVB phototherapy in brown-skinned individuals with psoriasis: twelve-month follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pigmentation induced by narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) phototherapy can cause complaints by psoriasis patients, especially those with brown skin. Nevertheless, the recovery process from tanning after the completion of NBUVB treatment is not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of tanning recovery after the end of NBUVB treatment and determine the time required to recover from the fully tanned state.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen psoriasis patients with brown skin were observed. The skin color changes on the lower back were measured before beginning phototherapy, upon completion of NBUVB treatment, and subsequently every month for the first one-half year, then bimonthly for the second one-half year, using two different reflectance spectrophotometers. The results are presented as the erythema index (EI) and melanin index (MI), L*a*b* values as recommended by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairge, and the individual typology angle (ITA degrees).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean L* value reached 64.4 by the 10th month after the end of NBUVB treatment, with no significant difference from the value before beginning phototherapy. The mean ITA degrees approximated the initial angle at the 8th month after completing NBUVB treatment with no significant difference, thus representing recovery to the original intermediate skin color. The MI recovered to the initial values earlier than the L* value and ITA degrees. The EI appeared the earliest recovery value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the recovery process from tanning induced by NBUVB treatment will improve the patient's compliance for treatment and bring higher efficacy and safety to the retrial of phototherapy in brown-skinned individuals with psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28-Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Seung Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Jung Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyuck Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jai Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Youn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D004890:Erythema / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D055108:Sunbathing; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins