A mathematical model of the biologically effective dose of solar UVA received by patients undergoing oral psoralen photochemotherapy for psoriasis.

A theoretical analysis is presented of the biologically effective dose of the solar long wave ultraviolet radiation (UVA) received by patients who are being treated for psoriasis by oral psoralen photochemotherapy. It is shown that patients treated during the summer months in the UK may well receive a UV dose which is comparable with, or even in excess of, the dose of artificial UVA received in the treatment centre and consequently should be advised about limiting their exposure to sunlight on the treatment days. In the winter months in the UK the UVA intensity in sunlight is such that no unduly restrictive precaution need apply. However, at locations between about 40 degrees N and 40 degrees S, the solar UVA intensity in midwinter is still sufficiently high that unnecessary sunlight exposure on treatment days should be avoided.