Comparative Studies of Treatments for Pityriasis Lichenoides

Thirty patients with pityriasis lichenoides were divided into three groups. The first group was treated twice daily with applications of topical 0.02–0.1% triamcinolone cream. The second group was given the same regimen but in combination with oral tetracycline, one to two grams daily in divided doses. The third group was treated with oral psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA). The average durations of treatment in the three groups were 6, 7 and 2 months, respectively. The results of the treatment in the first group included two patients with complete remission, two with partial response and four with no response. In the second group, there was one patient with complete remission, eleven with partial response, and two with no response. Significant therapeutic results were observed in the third group; there were five patients with complete remission, two with partial response, and one with no response. Skin lesions of patients in the third group cleared completely or were markedly reduced with an average of 26 treatments at an average UVA dose of 68.80 joules/cm2. We therefore concluded that PUVA is more effective than the other modes of treatment for pityriasis lichenoides.