UVA-1 for Sclerotic Skin Disease: More Is Not Better

A moderate approach balances the therapeutic efficacy of enough UVA-1 exposure against the tanning effects of too much exposure, which can block its benefits.

Physicians have few options for treating sclerotic skin diseases. Recent reports suggested that UVA-1 phototherapy (340–400 nm) reverses excess production of types I and III collagen and increases synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), proteins that degrade collagen. The typical UVA-1 treatment schedule for sclerotic disease is three to five sessions per week for up to 14 weeks. Three dosing regimens have been tried: low- (20 J/cm²), medium- (50–70 J/cm²), and high-dose (110–130 J/cm²). Which one is most effective remains controversial.

These investigators administered the high-dose regimen to 12 patients three times per week for 14 weeks. After treatment, they observed a mean decrease in induration of 30%. UVA-1 therapy causes a mar…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)