[Treatment of psoriasis by UVB and PUVA phototherapy]

PUVA has definitely proved effective in outbursts of extensive psoriasis vulgaris. Efficacy is enhanced by combination with retinoids. The pharmacokinetics of psoralen, which lead to adjustment of dosage to each case, is a concrete improvement which facilitates treatment. The side-effects of PUVA, and notably the risk of carcinogenesis, are well known and can be alleviated. UVB phototherapy, successfully used for a long time against psoriasis, has benefited from technical advances in the field of artificial sources of UV. In its conventional modality (wide UVB band), the adjunction of greasy excipients is necessary for efficacy. SUP and narrow-band phototherapy (311 nm lamp), more recently developed, are of considerable interest but ought to be further evaluated.