Oral methoxsalen photochemotherapy of recalcitrant dermatoses of the palms and soles

PUVA therapy successfully cleared various dermatoses mainly confined to the palms and soles in 18 of 20 patients treated. The conditions treated were: plaque-type psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, endogenous eczema and persistent palmoplantar pustulosis. Seventeen patients were treated in a controlled study of PUVA therapy versus no treatment at all and in 16 of these patients the disease was cleared in the PUVA-treated areas while the untreated areas remained unchanged or deteriorated. Twelve of the 18 patients were maintained in a clear state by continued maintenance PUVA treatment over 6--31 months while 3 patients had a spontaneous remission and are free of disease off all treatment.