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Optimal Narrowband Ultraviolet B Light Phototherapy for Psoriasis

Treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B light three times a week clears psoriasis faster than twice a week.

Dr. H Cameron and colleagues at the Photobiology Unit, Department of Dermatology, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, studied 113 patients. The researchers had previously established that three times weekly narrowband ultraviolet B light was preferable to five times weekly treatment in their population of psoriasis patients.

The study was an observer-blinded, randomised comparison of whole-body narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy on outpatients who attended the clinic. Their objective in the current study of chronic plaque psoriasis was to compare twice-weekly treatment with three times weekly treatment. Treatment continued until clearance or until the fourth treatment after minimal residual activity.

Forty out of the 58 patients in the twice weekly group reached clearance or minimal residual activity. Forty-four patients out of the 55 patients in the three times weekly group reached clearance or minimal residual activity. It also took 1.5 times longer to reach clearance or minimal residual activity with twice weekly treatment. This amounted to a mean of 88 days rather than 58 days (P<0.0001).

Dr. Cameron concluded, "Three times weekly narrowband ultraviolet B clears psoriasis significantly faster than twice weekly treatment, and therefore is preferable for most patients."
Br J Dermatol 2002;147(5):973-8. "A randomized, observer-blinded trial of twice vs. three times weekly narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for chronic plaque psoriasis."

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