Clothes-on PUVA in psoriasis: Single blind randomized comparative trial on 21 patients

Background: PUVASOL therapy has an inherent drawback of patient compliance in that Indian female patients with psoriasis lesions on covered parts of the body are reluctant to expose themselves. In this study we tried to evaluate a new method of administering PUVA therapy wearing a fabric. Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of PUVA administration with and without wearing clothes in psoriasis. Method: We first found the UV transmissibility of plain woven, lightweight cream colored cotton fabric with 30 x 30 threads per square cm. area and calculated its sun protection factor (SPF). A single blind, randomized, comparative, clinical trial was then conducted on 21 patients with psoriasis vulgaris who were treated with bath PUVA. The study group received ultraviolet light while wearing a gown made up of the above cotton fabric and the control group received ultraviolet light without wearing the gown. The study group was given an UV dose higher in proportion to the SPF of the worn fabric so that blockage caused by cloth could be neutralized. The cloth-uncovered areas were covered with a sunscreen. UVA from artificial light source was used for better patient monitoring. Results: After 12 PUVA treatments both the treatments were found to be equally effective, and there were no differences in the side effects. Conclusion: Thus we conclude that PUVA can be given wearing a fabric provided the UV dosage is increased proportional to the SPF of the fabric. The same fabric may be used for PUVASOL therapy.