Ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) Light Therapy in the Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Conditions

The purpose of this investigation is to study the effectiveness of longer wavelength UVA1 (340-400nm) or shorter wavelength UVB (290-320nm) irradiation in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions. Inflammatory dermatoses refer to conditions like atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis in which circulating leukocytes (T cells, neutrophils, and monocytes) infiltrate the skin. The infiltrating cells may be of malignant phenotype as in mycosis fungoides (cutaneous T cell lymphoma-CTCL). Up to 50 patients with one of these diagnoses or related conditions will participate in this study. The affected areas on the body will be treated with UVA1 or UVB for up to 5 times per week for 16 weeks. The UVA1 dose will be up to 130 J/cm2. The maximum UVB dose will be 4000 mJ/cm2. This UVA1 dosing schedule has been safely used in Germany for treating patients with atopic dermatitis, mycosis fungoides, granuloma annulare, scleroderma, and urticaria pigmentosa. Subjects will be evaluated clinically at baseline, weeks 1, 2, 4, and then at monthly intervals. More frequent evaluation may be required depending on the condition being studied. Paired skin biopsies may be taken from involved and uninvolved (or treated and untreated) areas before and during UV therapy.