Phototherapy and photochemotherapy of skin diseases

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12479366· OSTI ID:5638253

Parrish, J A

One important aspect of photomedicine is the use of nonionizing electromagnetic radiation with and without exogenous photosensitizers to treat diseases. Phototoxicity (cell injury by photons) is a likely mechanism for phototherapy and photochemotherapy of several skin diseases. The mechanism of action for phototherapy of hyperbilirubinemia and of uremic pruritus appears to be photochemical alteration of extracellular metabolites. Psoriasis is an example of a disease benefitted by several forms of phototherapy and photochemotherapy with varying relative effectiveness and safety. Two successful forms of treatment are oral psoralen photochemotherapy and UVB plus topical adjunctive agents. New information about UVB therapy of psoriasis includes data about the therapeutic action spectrum and about the relative roles of various topical agents such as coal tar, mineral oil, ''lubricants'' and steroids. Although there are many surface similarities, phototherapy and psoralen photochemotherapy have fundamental differences which may alter longterm risks in quantitative and qualitative ways.

• OSTI ID: 5638253
• Journal Information: J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States) Vol. 77:1; ISSN JIDEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANTICOAGULANTS
BODY
CHEMOTHERAPY
COUMARINS
DISEASES
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
HEMATOLOGIC AGENTS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PSORALEN
PSORIASIS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SKIN
SKIN DISEASES
THERAPY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION