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UVA-emitting equipment (320 nm-400 nm) is used widely -- to induce tanning and sometimes as treatment. But does it work? In this study in the U.K. of 38 patients with symmetrical chronic plaque disease, UVA tanning bed and canopy exposure was administered to one side of the patients' bodies and placebo (visible light) to the other.
Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores were recorded before and after 12 exposures given over four weeks. At the conclusion of the study, evaluation of the 36 patients who completed the study showed a greater drop in PASI score on the UVA-treated side in 17 patients. In 11 patients, there was no difference between sides, and 8 patients had greater improvement on the placebo side. When plaque improvement w…