Phototherapy in Childhood Dermatoses

The study on phototherapy in childhood dermatoses included 113 patients aged 3-17 years treated between 1985 and 2005. The most common treatments were narrow-band ultraviolet-B (34.6%) and ultraviolet-B (33.1%). Phototherapy was primarily used for psoriasis (53.5%), vitiligo (20.5%), pityriasis lichenoides (14.2%), and alopecia areata (7.9%). High response rates were observed in psoriasis patients (92.9% with narrow-band UVB, 83.3% with psoralen plus UVA, and 93.3% with UVB) and pityriasis lichenoides chronica patients (100% with narrow-band UVB and 77.8% with UVB). Vitiligo patients had lower response rates (57% with psoralen plus UVA and 50% with narrow-band UVB). Only 2 out of 10 alopecia areata patients responded to psoralen plus UVA. Erythema was the most common adverse effect. Phototherapy was concluded to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment, particularly for psoriasis and pityriasis lichenoides chronica.