Study on salt water baths for psoriasis

Ralf Schiener et al.

May 2007

Psoriasis / Eczema

Thalasso treatment

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of psoralen in a warm water bath followed by UV-A irradiation (bath-PUVA), compared to salt-water phototherapy (SW UV-B), tap water phototherapy (LW UV-B) or UV-B irradiation alone for psoriasis.

A total of 1241 patients with stable psoriasis vulgaris and a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of 7 or more were divided into 4 groups , receiving four times weekly UV-B, LW UV-B, SW UV-B or bath PUVA, in which baths preceded UV irradiation, for a maximum period of 8 weeks. The UV dose was adjusted to the erythemal reaction.

Patients treated with LW UV-B had a significantly higher rate of therapeutic success than patients treated with UV-B alone. Patients treated with SW UV-B or bath-PUVA had a significantly higher rate of therapeutic success than patients treated with TW UV-B. Bath PUVA was not superior to SW UV-B.

Bath PUVA and SW UV-B are equally effective and superior to UV-B and TW UV-B in the treatment of psoriasis.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Psoriasis
Institution: Department of Dermatology, University of Ulm, Germany
Title: Study on salt water baths for psoriasis
Brief description: The study shows that salt water baths followed by UV-B irradiation provide a significant improvement in the symptoms of psoriasis.
Original title: Bath PUVA and saltwater baths followed by UV-B phototherapy as treatments for psoriasis: a randomized controlled trial
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17519218/