Study: Phototherapy Effective in Reducing Various Itchy Skin Conditions

A recent study found the efficacy of phototherapy in reducing itchiness across different skin conditions, phototypes and genders. The findings of this study was published in the recent issue of Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine highlights the nuances in the effectiveness of phototherapy for various dermatological ailments.

This research observed a total of 102 patients over a span of 4 weeks by allowing for on-demand treatment with topical medications like the corticosteroids and antihistamines along with phototherapy. The outcomes revealed a significant reduction in itch intensity, with 78.3% of patients reporting a signifiant decrease on a 0–10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The patients experienced a marked improvement in their itch-related quality of life, as measured by the German version of the ItchyQoL scale. This improvement was quantified by a change of 7.3 points that underscored the profound impact of phototherapy beyond just symptom relief.

Also, this study found that the most substantial improvements which were observed in patients with pruritus on non-diseased skin, followed closely by those with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. There were no significant differences in treatment response among different Fitzpatrick phototypes by indicating the promise of phototherapy across a diverse range of skin types.

Gender disparities were also examined which revealed that women tended to experience higher itch intensities at baseline and the response to phototherapy did not significantly differ between genders. This suggests that the efficacy of phototherapy transcends gender-specific factors that offers hope to individuals regardless of sex. Overall, this study underscores the crucial role of phototherapy for various itchy skin conditions and its ability to deliver meaningful itch reduction and improve quality of life.

Source:

Merkel, T., Navarini, A., & Mueller, S. (2024). The impact of phototherapy on itch intensity and itch‐related quality of life amongst different skin diseases, skin phototypes and genders – A prospective study with 102 patients. In Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine (Vol. 40, Issue 1). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/phpp.12948