Combined UVA-UVB versus UVB phototherapy for atopic dermatitis: a paired-comparison study

In a paired-comparison study 30 patients with atopic dermatitis underwent treatment with a combination of UVA and UVB radiation (UVAB) on one side of the body and UVB on the other. Treatment was administered three times a week for a maximum of 8 weeks. Each patient was evaluated with respect to eight effect variables. Statistically significant differences in favor of UVAB were observed for all analyzed variables, namely total score (p = 0.002), pruritus score (p = 0.04), and overall evaluation score (p = 0.03). No statistically significant differences in healing rate were seen; 25 of 30 UVB-treated, and 26 of 30 UVAB-treated, body halves healed or were considerably improved. Patient preference was overwhelmingly in favor of UVAB; 23 of 24 patients who completed an evaluation form preferred this treatment. Only 1 of 24 preferred UVB.