engleski

The light in atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, multifactorial, chronic, and often relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Current treatment of severe AD consists almost exclusively of topical and systemic corticosteroid therapy. Because long- term corticosteroid therapy is known to cause a variety of side effects, attempts have been made to develop alternative treatments such as phototherapy with UVB (narrowband) and UVA irradiation. The mechanisms of action of UV light in atopic dermatitis are presented. The application of UV light in the treatment of AD in childhood is discussed. Twenty– one children (7 boys and 14 girls, mean age 11, 5 years) with atopic dermatitis were treated with a combination of UVA and UVB (UVAB) irradiation three or five times a week. All of them had active disease involving at least 40% of the body area despite the use of topical steroids, emollients, antihistamines and antibiotics. Ten of these children had a positive family history of atopy. Six patients had coexisting hay fever. The entire body was irradiated including the face. The cumulative dose of UVB ranged from 1.3 to 10, 42 J/cm2 (mean 6, 14 J/cm2). The cumulative dose of UVA range from 27, 5 J/cm2 to 182 J/cm2. The number of treatments ranged from 9 to 47 (mean 18). Excellent response to UVAB therapy that resulted in almost complete disappearance of eczema and pruritus was observed in nine children (45, 5%). Good and moderate response to UVAB therapy was recorded in five (22, 7%) and seven (31, 8%) patients, respectively. Only minor side effects such mild erythema were observed in four patients. UVA and UVB (UVAB) is useful and acceptable method for treating mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in the childhood.

Atopic dermatitis; topical and systemic therapy; UVB and UVA radiation; mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in childhood

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