Three Cases of Ofuji's Papuloerythroderma Successfully Treated with Narrow-Band UVB

Abstract

Three elderly male patients aged 55, 76 and 91 years presented with widespread eruptions of erythematous, flat-topped confluent red to reddish-brown papules that spared the skin folds. They had each undergone various unsuccessful treatments (oral antihistamines, topical and oral corticosteroids). We diagnosed these patients as having Ofuji's papuloerythroderma. These eruptions were not associated with malignant tumors. Their eruptions and subjective symptoms started to reduce after approximately 4-7 narrow-band UVB treatments, and the eruptions virtually disappeared after approximately 10 treatments. They had slight exacerbation but the eruptions subsided. We conclude that narrow-band UVB is more useful for papuloerythroderma than other treatments because of its convenience and limited side effects.