[Ultraviolet-A1 (UVA1) phototherapy in lichen sclerosus et atrophicus]

Two patients, a nine year old girl and a 59 year old woman, presented with extensive and recalcitrant lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA). Both patients were treated with low-dose ultraviolet-A1 (UVA1) phototherapy (340-400 nm) for ten weeks. The cumulative UVA1 dose was 800 J/cm(2), the single UVA1 dose was 20 J/cm(2). After 40 treatment sessions, the previously sclerotic skin lesions had almost completely cleared in both patients. In addition 20-MHz ultrasound examination and histological specimen revealed no further signs of sclerosis. UVA1 phototherapy seems to be a new and effective treatment for LSA with optimal patients' acceptance due to the absence of systemic side effects. UVA1 should be therefore considered as therapeutic option for LSA.