Ultraviolet A1 phototherapy for the treatment of localized scleroderma

Ultraviolet (UV)A1 phototherapy is effective for T-cell-mediated skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and mast cell-mediated skin diseases such as mastocytoma. UVA1 phototherapy is also effective against the sclerotic lesions of systemic sclerosis and morphea. Currently, in Japan, access to UVA1 phototherapy is limited because the UVA1 phototherapy device has not yet been approved. On the basis of our experience, we report three patients with localized scleroderma who responded successfully to UVA1 phototherapy. Efficacy was assessed by histological analysis and elastography. UVA1 successfully ameliorated sclerotic lesions, including morphea, linear scleroderma and morphea lesions in a patient with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. No side-effects were observed during UVA1 phototherapy.