Narrow-band ultraviolet B (TL-01) phototherapy is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with severe seborrhoeic dermatitis
✍ Scribed by D. Pirkhammer; A. Seeber; H. Hönigsmann; A. Tanew
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2000
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 333 KB
- Volume
- 143
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0007-0963
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✦ Synopsis
Background:
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a common papulosquamous dermatosis affecting 2-10% of the adult population. current treatment options are limited and not always satisfactory. objectives we aimed to investigate the efficacy of narrow-band ultraviolet (uv) b (tl-01) phototherapy as an alternative treatment for seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Methods:
Eighteen patients with severe disease were enrolled in an open prospective study. treatment was given three times weekly until complete clearing or to a maximum of 8 weeks. a clinical score assessing erythema, scaling, infiltration and pruritus was performed at baseline and every 2 weeks thereafter. additionally, the patients were asked to rate the intensity of pruritus on a visual analogue scale. after completion of the study the patients were followed up to determine the median time interval until recurrence.
Results:
All patients responded favourably to treatment, with six showing complete clearance and 12 marked improvement. the median clinical score decreased from 7.5 (range 4-8) at baseline to 0.5 (range 0-3) after 8 weeks of treatment (p = 0.005). the median pruritus score decreased from 4.5 (range 0-8) at baseline to 0 (range 0-3) at week 8 (p = 0.008). relapses occurred in all patients after a median of 21 days (range 12-40). no side-effects of treatment were observed except occasional episodes of a moderate erythemal response.
Conclusions:
Narrow-band uvb phototherapy appears to be a very effective and safe treatment option for patients with severe seborrhoeic dermatitis.