The Evaluation of Narrowband UVB Therapy in Neurodermatitis and Idiopathic Pruritus Patients

INTRODUCTION: Pruritus and neurodermatitis are very frequent diseases that usually require muitiple treatment approaches. Narrow-band UVB therapy is one of the effective and safe treatment option for pruritus and neurodermatitis that are resistant to topical treatment. This study aims to evaluate treatment responses of narrowband UVB phototherapy in patients diagnosed with neurodermatitis and idiopathic pruritus.


METHODS: Twenty-two patients diagnosed with idiopathic pruritus and 16 patients diagnosed with neurodermatitis at the department of dermatology in Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty were included in this study. Patients were evaluated at the end of phototherapy sessions.
RESULTS: The mean age of patients diagnosed with idiopathic pruritus and neurodermatitis were 58,6 and 50,6 respectively. The mean decrement in pruritus score following narrowband UVB therapy was %53,5 in idiopathic pruritus patients and %65 in neurodermatitis patients. There were no significant relation between phototherapy response and age, gender, duration of disease and number of therapy sessions in both groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The narrowband UVB is safe and effective treatment option both in pruritus and neurodermatitis patients.