UVB phototherapy and photochemotherapy (PUVA) in the treatment of polymorphic light eruption and solar urticaria.

Forty subjects (36 with polymorphic light eruption and four with solar urticaria) were treated during the spring and early summer of the years 1982 to 1985 with either UVB phototherapy (a total of 54 treatment courses in subjects with polymorphic light eruption) or photochemotherapy (PUVA) (18 treatment courses in polymorphic light eruption and eight in solar urticaria patients). Both forms of prophylactic therapy were found to be effective in 90% of those with polymorphic light eruption, and PUVA in all those with solar urticaria. The optimum duration of treatment was 5 weeks. Adverse reactions, although common, were usually slight and rarely required alteration of the treatment regimen.