Heliotherapy improves vitamin D balance and atopic dermatitis

Abstract

A 2-week course of HT significantly improved vitamin D balance by increasing serum calcidiol concentration, and caused a marked healing of AD. These parallel positive responses should be taken into account when the benefits of HT are considered.

Narrowband ultraviolet B course improves vitamin D balance in women in winter

“…When making a comparison with sun exposure, it is of interest that in the present study the increase in serum calcidiol after seven NB-UVB exposures was about the same as that achieved by patients with atopic dermatitis during a 2-week heliotherapy course in winter in the Canary Islands. 13 In the present study the response in serum calcidiol was almost the same whether NB-UVB was given on the whole body or only on the head and arms. This was surprising, as the latter consists of only one-fourth of the total body area.…”

“…13 A 2-week heliotherapy course in the Canary Islands healed atopic dermatitis and at the same time significantly improved serum calcidiol concentration. 13 Artificial UVB irradiation is also able to induce vitamin D synthesis. Broadband UVB exposures have earlier shown to increase serum calcidiol in healthy subjects and in postmenopausal women with psoriasis.…”

“…13 Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is common in winter in healthy adults in the Nordic countries and in Britain. [8][9][10][11]13 In agreement with this, as many as 88% of the women in the present study had serum calcidiol < 50 nmol L )1 before the NB-UVB exposures. The women were doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who have better knowledge than most people about healthy food and the need for vitamin D in winter.…”

“…Calcidiol concentration was analysed in duplicate by using radioimmunoassay (Immunodiagnostic Systems, Boldon, U.K.) as in our previous study. 13 A calcidiol concentration < 50 nmol L )1 was regarded as vitamin D insufficiency and < 25 nmol L )1 as deficiency. 6 The dietary intake of vitamin D was determined by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire 22 before and 1 month after the study.…”

Epidermal Permeability Barrier Defects and Barrier Repair Therapy in Atopic Dermatitis

“…The mechanism of action in AD has not been elucidated; however, the proper UV dose has positive effects on the epidermal permeability barrier function by immunomodulating apoptosis of inflammatory cells, reducing the number of cutaneous nerve fibers, inhibiting the Langerhans cells and altering cytokine production 67. In addition, a suberythemal dose of UVB on the skin exerts beneficial effects on the SC barrier function by activating the cutaneous vitamin D system 68,69. In addition, UV initiates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responses including downstream activation of the transcription factor, NF-κB 70.…”