Dead Sea sun versus Dead Sea water in the treatment of psoriasis

Abstract

At the Dead Sea spas, which are 400 m below sea level, both the ultraviolet radiation from the sun and the mineral-rich waters of the lake have special features. The separate influence of these two factors was studied in 81 patients with psoriasis. The condition was assessed during 4 weeks of treatment using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). In subjects who only bathed in Dead Sea water the improvement was 28%, in those who only sunbathed it was 73%, and in those who did both it was 83%. The main therapeutic factor was thus shown to be sun exposure, possibly enhanced by bathing in Dead Sea water. Similar degrees of improvement in spring, summer and autumn led to speculation about the optimum dose of solar radiation needed. ( J Dermatol Treat (1996) 7: 83-86)

The Impact of Salt Water Soaks on Biophysical and Molecular Parameters in Psoriatic Epidermis Equivalents

“…Balneophototherapy (BPT) – combined phototherapy using artificial ultraviolet (UV) sources and salt water baths – has been widely used in Germany and other European countries for the management of psoriasis [4]. Previous controlled trials investigating combined therapy with salt water baths and UV exposures revealed controversial results [1,2,3,5,6]. Researchers from Germany have recently performed excellent randomized controlled trials demonstrating that BPT is superior to monophototherapy of psoriasis.…”

“…The main ionic component is sodium chloride. However, similar to the Dead Sea composition, some treatment modalities include a significant amount of magnesium, calcium and sulphate [1,2,4,11]. In the present trial, we aimed to investigate the impact of water and salt water soaks on psoriatic epidermis equivalents by focussing on the changes of UV transmission characteristics and the expression of antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) and the skin-derived antileukoproteinase (SKALP/elafin).…”

“…Sunlight and salt water are the 2 main components of the therapy regimen at the Dead Sea. Other examples of unique and special places for climatotherapy and spa therapy are the Kangal hot spring in Turkey and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, respectively [1,2,3]. Balneophototherapy (BPT) – combined phototherapy using artificial ultraviolet (UV) sources and salt water baths – has been widely used in Germany and other European countries for the management of psoriasis [4].…”

Psoriasistherapie

“…Es kam zu einer durchschnittlichen PASI-Verbesserung von 72% bei den mit Sonne therapierten Patienten, zur Verbesserung von 28% für Badetherapie und zur Verbesserung von 83% für Patienten, die mit der natürlichen Kombination aus beidem behandelt wurden [11]. Für 62,5% der Patienten konnte bei der Kombinationstherapie eine 80-bis 100%ige Reduktion nachgewiesen werden.…”

An open trial of climatotherapy at the dead sea for patch-stage mycosis fungoides

“…22 It has been demonstrated that it is the sun exposure, and not the bathing in the Dead Sea water, that is the factor mainly contributing to the beneficial results. 23 In recent years accumulating clinical observations suggest that CDS is also a valuable alternative treatment for patch-stage MF (personal communication). As yet, however, no study designed to assess its therapeutic effect has been reported.…”