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Updated: Sep 25, 2026
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of psoriasis: induration-based dosimetry
Atul Taneja1, Manju Trehan, Charles R Taylor
1Gange Photomedicine Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Objective:
To determine the response of stubborn psoriatic plaques to the 308-nm excimer laser.
Design:
Controlled study with a before-after design.
Setting:
A university-based clinical research center.
Patients:
Adult subjects with recalcitrant plaque psoriasis that have not responded to other therapies for at least 2 months.
Interventions:
Selected psoriatic plaques were treated with the 308-nm excimer laser. One lesion was left as a control. Each plaque was treated 2 times a week, with an initial dose based solely on the induration component of the modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score for that lesion. Subsequent treatments were twice a week with dosage increments up to 50%, based on the change in induration. Four final consolidation doses were given once the induration score was reduced to zero.
Results:
Eighteen subjects were treated. There were 4 dropouts because of various scheduling problems. In the remaining 14 subjects, 44 plaques received a mean of 10 treatments (range, 4-14). Treatments were quick and well tolerated. The mean cumulative dose was 8.8 J/cm2 (range, 2.2-22.8 J/cm2). Compared with controls, treated plaques showed significant improvement (P<.001). The only adverse event was a mild sunburn-like reaction in 2 subjects after 1 treatment.
Conclusions:
Selective targeting of laser-generated 308-nm excimer radiation with this convenient subblistering dosage schedule based on induration allows for individualized treatment plans for each plaque. Clearing of stubborn psoriatic lesions occurs rapidly and safely.
