xzema
Research map, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor, especially for infants.
All treatments
STRONG EVIDENCE

Phototherapy (UVB/UVA)

Also discussed as: phototherapy, Phototherapy, light therapy, UVB therapy, UVB treatment, UVB light therapy

Phototherapy is recognized as an effective treatment for eczema, particularly for moderate to severe cases. However, its availability may be limited in certain regions, such as Latin America. While it is an option for children aged 12 and older, caution is advised for younger patients.
Evidence grade · papers only

STRONG EVIDENCE

8 level-I · 21 level-II · 4 level-IV · 1 level-VI · 3 level-III · 2 level-VII

Research base (design-resolved): 8 systematic review/meta-analysis, 21 randomized trials, 8 observational/descriptive.

Community interest · posts only

high · 6,255 mentions

Most discussed for: other, lifestyle_change, environmental_change

What the research says

Phototherapy is an effective and safe method but is not widely used for dermatitis in Latin America. (n=2)

Soares et al. (2023), Journal of Clinical Medicine. doi:10.3390/jcm12103419 · verified

Phototherapy is an option for adult patients and children aged 12 and older.

Kulthanan et al. (2021), Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology. doi:10.12932/ap-010221-1050 · verified

NB-UVB has been considered for the treatment of mild-chronic forms of AD.

Wollenberg et al. (2018), Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. doi:10.1111/jdv.14891 · verified

NB-UVB has been considered for the treatment of mild-chronic forms of AD.

Wollenberg et al. (2018), Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. doi:10.1111/jdv.14888 · verified

Phototherapy significantly reduces pruritus in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Franz J. Legat (2018), Frontiers in Medicine. doi:10.3389/fmed.2018.00333 · verified

Narrow band UVB light therapy showed superiority over placebo.

Nankervis et al. (2016), Programme Grants for Applied Research. doi:10.3310/pgfar04070 · verified

Phototherapy can be useful for moderate to severe AD patients and narrowband ultraviolet B is the most effective option.

Kim et al. (2015), Annals of Dermatology. doi:10.5021/ad.2015.27.5.578 · verified

What the community reports

Experience reports, not evidence. Volumes from 1.1M triaged posts.

  • other
  • lifestyle_change
  • environmental_change
  • topical_prescription
  • biologic
  • topical_otc

Safety and side effects

There are some concerns regarding safety, including risks of photosensitization and skin cancer. However, specific details about these risks are not provided.

For infants and children

Phototherapy is recommended for children from the age of 10 years, but it is not recommended for underage patients.

Studied protocols

As reported in the papers, not recommendations.

frequency: three times a week

Wollenberg et al. (2018), Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

dose: 90 J/cm2; frequency: daily for 4 weeks; route: topical; duration: 4 weeks

Sadowska et al. (2021), Life

dose: 42 J/cm2; frequency: 3 times per week for 4 weeks; route: topical; duration: 4 weeks

Sadowska et al. (2021), Life

dose: 28.9 J/cm2; frequency: 2-5 cycles of 5 daily irradiations over 6 months; route: topical; duration: 6 months

Sadowska et al. (2021), Life

frequency: as needed; route: topical; duration: as needed

Katayama et al. (2017), Allergology International

Drawn from 35 papers · generated 2026-06-11T12:40:43.457080+00:00 · phrasing by gpt-4o-mini, every number computed from the database and every citation machine-verified.