Enhanced response of psoriasis to UVB therapy after pretreatment with a lubricating base. A single-blind controlled study.

Abstract

Forty-three out-patients with stable plaque-type psoriasis involving 10-30% of the skin participated in a single-blind controlled study. The psoriasis lesions on one half of the body were treated with a lubricating base of the oil-in-water type before UVB exposure, while those on the other side of the body received UVB only. The rates of improvement of scaling, infiltration and erythema were compared in 127 symmetrical pairs of psoriasis plaques. The scores for the three variables were then summed to yield a total score for the effect of treatment. After only 2 weeks of treatment and throughout the treatment period the rate of improvement in the total score was significantly (p less than 0.001) accelerated on the body half treated with the emollient compared with the control side. Pretreatment with a suitable lubricating base can thus result in shorter treatment periods, which means that the surrounding skin will be exposed to smaller doses of UVB, with a diminished risk of actinic damage.