Chronic eczematous dermatitis of the hands: a comparison of PUVA and UVB treatment.

The efficacy of PUVA and UVB treatment in chronic eczematous dermatitis of the hands was compared in a randomised controlled study including 35 patients who were randomly allocated to PUVA or UVB treatment. One hand was exposed to light and the other served as an untreated control. The dermatitis cleared on the treated hand in all PUVA patients, but in 9 out of 14 there was a relapse within three months. In the UVB group clearing of the skin lesions was not achieved, but compared with the "untreated" hands a statistically significant improvement was found at 12 weeks of treatment. A statistically significant improvement of "untreated" hands was found in both groups. PUVA and UVB treatments are alternative treatment modalities in patients with recalcitrant chronic eczematous dermatitis of the hands. PUVA is superior to UVB.