Phototherapy in Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory, recurrent and chronic disease that occurs in 2–10% of the population. Therapy of AD could be divided into topical (corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors) and systemic (cyclosporine, methotrexate, azathioprine or biological treatment). Phototherapy is taken into consideration as a second-line treatment, when topical therapy is unsuccessful. We distinguish many types of phototherapy, e.g. narrowband UVB (311–313 nm), UVA-1 therapy (340–400 nm), UVA/B combination, UVA therapy plus 8-methoxypsoralens (PUVA), 308 nm excimer laser (EL) and blue light. Phototherapy is effective in many cases, whether in adults or in children. It should be remembered that during therapy possible side effects may occur. Among them the risk of carcinogenesis is the most severe.