This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Home phototherapy may be suitable treatment option for psoriasis

The use of phototherapy at home may be a viable treatment option for patients with psoriasis who are unable to access office-based phototherapy in order to improve patient satisfaction and compliance, according to study findings.

Researchers utilized current guidelines for treatment to define the appropriate patient for at-home phototherapy, and literature and reviews from phototherapy providers were used to determine the appropriate type of light, unit, treatment regimen and insurance claim processes.

The researchers determined home phototherapy to be appropriate for patients who were unable to attend outpatient treatment; patients who had cleared using office-based therapy or just started the treatment regimen; or in individuals with localized lesions who either had failed topical treatment, preferred not to use topical treatment or used topical treatment as an adjunctive therapy.

The types of unit and treatment schedules varied because of different types of ultraviolet light used; the prescribing physician; the patient; and the severity, extent and location of the psoriasis, according to the researchers.

Obstacles with at-home use of phototherapy included safety measures in need of closer physician monitoring, the need for physician training in prescribing the unit and ease of the insurance process, according to the researchers.

“The process of purchasing a unit can be made easier on the provider and patient by working closely with a home phototherapy unit supplier to help navigate the process of getting insurance coverage for the unit, or formulating a payment plan to ease the cost of burden,” the researchers concluded. – by Kristie L. Kahl

Disclosure: Anderson reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.