Home UV Phototherapy

Jason Jacob; Adrian Pona; Abigail Cline; Steven Feldman

doi:10.1016/j.det.2019.09.001

Home UV Phototherapy

Dermatol Clin. 2020 Jan;38(1):109-126. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2019.09.001.

Authors

Jason Jacob¹, Adrian Pona², Abigail Cline², Steven Feldman³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102, USA; University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Internal Medicine Residency, Farmington, CT, USA. Electronic address: jasonjac@gmail.com.
² Center for Dermatology Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston- Salem, NC, USA.
³ Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston- Salem, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

PMID: 31753183
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2019.09.001

Abstract

Phototherapy is an effective treatment for multiple dermatoses. However, patient inconvenience and poor access to office-based phototherapy may jeopardize adherence and treatment outcome. Home phototherapy offers a convenient, accessible, and effective therapy. We describe the history of home phototherapy, the devices available, and associated costs. A literature review used PubMed. Keywords included: "home phototherapy," "tanning beds," "narrowband ultraviolet B." In a randomized control trial, home phototherapy had similar efficacy to office-based phototherapy. Home phototherapy is associated with significant cost savings treatment and increased adherence. Home phototherapy should be considered for its economic value, good tolerability, adherence, and efficacy.

Keywords: Eczema; Home-based phototherapy; Narrowband ultraviolet B; Psoriasis; Tanning beds; Vitiligo.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Home Care Services / organization & administration*
Humans
Phototherapy / methods*
Skin Diseases / therapy*