title: Notalgia paresthesica successfully treated with narrow-band UVB: report of five cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Notalgia paresthesica is a disorder of unknown origin characterized by pruritus localized to the patients' back. Local pain, burning or paresthesias have also been described. No definite treatments have been found for this disorder and most of those reported to date are anecdotal. Topical capsaicin is the option most widely used among dermatologists. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, gabapentin, oxcarbazepine and botulinum toxin have recently shown promising effects. UVB has been used for decades to treat different pruritic skin diseases, but its benefits in the management of NP have not been stated to date.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the effects of UVB in notalgia paresthesica. Methods We used a course of UVB narrow band to treat five patients with notalgia paresthesica. The treatment was administered following a phototype protocol in a UV 7002 cabinet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We provide the results of a course of UVB narrow-band phototherapy in five patients. Phototherapy contributed substantially to improve pruritus in all of them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the benefits achieved, we stress the interest of UVB narrow-band as a safe and well tolerated alternative treatment for notalgia paresthetica.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérez-Pérez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Allegue
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fabeiro
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Caeiro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zulaica
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001415:Back; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*