Monochromatic excimer light (308 nm) for the treatment of skin diseases

Abstract

As a kind of monochromatic ultraviolet B, 308-nm monochromatic excimer light (MEL) is one of the first choice treatments for vitiligo. There is no significant difference in the therapeutic effect on vitiligo between 308-nm MEL and 308-nm excimer laser. Recent studies have shown that 308-nm MEL can also serve as the treatment of choice for some other chronic skin diseases, such as psoriasis, palmoplantaris pustulosis and alopecia areata. Furthermore, there have been case reports on the use of 308-nm MEL for the treatment of achromic naevus, mycosis fungoides, CD30 + lymphomatoid papulosis, lichen sclerosus, prurigo nodularis, localized scleroderma, granuloma annulare and plasma cell cheilitis. Compared with conventional phototherapy, 308-nm MEL has the advantages of less cumulative radiation dose and lower risks of skin cancers. The main adverse reaction to 308-nm MEL is transient erythema. The therapeutic mechanism of 308-nm MEL is still unclear. Key words: Skin diseases; Lasers, excimer; Vitiligo; Psoriasis; Alopecia areata