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Phototherapy: a Review and Update of Treatment Options in Dermatology

  • Photodermatology (B Adler and V DeLeo, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper is intended to review common uses of phototherapy in the treatment of dermatologic disease and to highlight recent updates in the field.

Recent Findings

Phototherapy is effective in the treatment of several dermatologic conditions and offers a safe alternative to systemic treatments. Overall, limited studies on the use of phototherapy have been conducted. However, recent studies have demonstrated superior efficacy of various phototherapy options in comparison with other systemic or topical treatments for diseases such as psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, mycosis fungoides, pityriasis versicolor, and palmoplantar pustulosis.

Summary

Dermatologic conditions are associated with high disease burden. With multiple treatment options available, phototherapy remains an effective treatment modality in a number of these conditions and often carries a lower side effect profile and lower cost. While studies evaluating the efficacy of phototherapy alone and in combination with various systemic and non-systemic therapies do exist, insufficient studies are available to derive definitive prescriptive treatment guidelines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1071, USA

    Amanda Krenitsky, Rima I. Ghamrawi & Steven R. Feldman

  2. Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Steven R. Feldman

  3. Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Steven R. Feldman

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Steven R. Feldman

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  1. Amanda Krenitsky
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  3. Steven R. Feldman
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Correspondence to Amanda Krenitsky.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Steven Feldman has received research, speaking, and/or consulting support from a variety of companies including Galderma, GSK/Stiefel, Almirall, Leo Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Mylan, Celgene, Pfizer, Valeant, Abbvie, Samsung, Janssen, Lilly, Menlo, Merck, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi, Novan, Qurient, National Biological Corporation, Caremark, Advance Medical, Sun Pharma, Suncare Research, Informa, UpToDate, and National Psoriasis Foundation. He is founder and majority owner of www.DrScore.com and founder and part owner of Causa Research, a company dedicated to enhancing patients’ adherence to treatment.

Ms. Ghamrawi and Ms. Krenitsky have no conflicts to disclose.

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Krenitsky, A., Ghamrawi, R.I. & Feldman, S.R. Phototherapy: a Review and Update of Treatment Options in Dermatology. Curr Derm Rep 9, 10–21 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-020-00290-6

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