The Clinical Efficacy of a Monochromatic 308-nm Excimer Lamp for the Treatment of Various Skin Diseases

Abstract

Phototherapy has become a widely used treatment for a variety of skin diseases. In particular, 311-nm narrowband ultraviolet B (nb-UVB) is commonly used and quite effective in the treatment of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, prurigo, mycosis fungoides and many other dermatoses. However, the use of this modality is limited because it irradiates uninvolved surrounding skin in addition to the affected area and is thought to increase the risk of long-term adverse effects such as photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Shielding of the surrounding normal area is time-consuming, and therefore, patients with mild localized lesions tend to be excluded from phototherapy. The development of 308-nm xenon-chloride (XeCl) lasers and lamps as targeted nb-UVB treatment devices has provided a new and promising therapeutic option for these patients. These devices deliver high-intensity light selectively to individual lesions, thus limiting the exposure of normal, unaffected skin to unnecessary radiation. Therefore, higher doses of irradiation can be used during a single treatment, resulting in faster clearing and fewer exposures, as compared to conventional nb-UVB. Several reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of the XeCl excimer laser and lamp in the treatment of psoriasis, vitiligo and other skin diseases. Here, we examine the clinical efficacy of a monochromatic 308-nm excimer lamp for the treatment of various skin diseases, including psoriasis, vitiligo, localized scleroderma, nail lichen planus, multiple lymphocytomas/ plasmacytoma, alopecia, systemic sclerosis and complex regional pain syndrome. Our results indicate that this excimer lamp method is effective in the treatment of many dermatoses.