Phototherapy treatment of psoriasis today.

The use of the various forms of phototherapy remains an essential treatment option for psoriasis vulgaris. Expertise concerning the mechanisms involved with the actions of therapeutic ultraviolet light and the proper delivery of office-based treatments resides within the specialty of dermatology. New therapies for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis will soon become available which have specific actions on the cutaneous immune system. A better understanding of the known mechanisms of action for ultraviolet light therapy makes it appropriate to include this area of treatment with new biologic agents. Photochemotherapy and various forms for delivery of narrow band ultraviolet B can be used as treatments, either as monotherapy or in combination with other agents, to effectively treat moderate and severe psoriasis.