A woman holds the hands of a psoriasis patient

Study on thermal treatment & UVB phototherapy for psoriasis

Jenna Huld Eysteinsdóttir et al.

December 2013

Healing & thermal therapy

Psoriasis / Eczema

Skin / Allergies

In a six-week study, the University of Iceland investigated the short and long-term effects of a combined treatment of thermal therapy and UVB phototherapy (NB-UVB) on psoriasis.

The sample of 68 subjects with psoriasis was randomly divided into three groups with different treatment plans: bathing three times a week in geothermal seawater with NB-UVB treatment(3T-UVB), intensive daily treatment with geothermal seawaterand NB-UVB therapy (T-UVB) or NB-UVB therapy alone (UVB).

Before, during and after the study, the severity of the disease (PASI score, Lattice System Physician's Global Assessment Score), quality of life and disease progression were assessed.

The data showed that after six weeks, the scores in the 3T-UVB and T-UVB groups improved significantly compared to the UVB group. Geothermal seawater therapy in combination with NB-UVB therapy is therefore more effective in the treatment of psoriasis than NB-UVB therapy alone.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Psoriasis
Institution: Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland; Department of Dermatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
Title: Study on thermal treatment & UVB phototherapy for psoriasis
Brief description: The study shows that a combined treatment of thermal treatment and UVB phototherapy is more effective for psoriasis than NB-UVB alone.
Original title: Psoriasis treatment: faster and long-standing results after bathing in geothermal seawater. A randomized trial of three UVB phototherapy regimens
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24255991/