Effect of availability of at-home phototherapy on the use of systemic medications for psoriasis

Click J, Alabaster A, Postlethwaite D, Lide W

Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2017;33:345-346. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12349

A study published in the journal of Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine examines the impact of patients utilizing phototherapy treatments at home. The report investigated changes in prescription use of biologic therapies after the home phototherapy unit had been prescribed. Results of this study proved that the discontinuation rate of biologic agents were higher in patients who tried phototherapy treatments at home (24.9%) in comparison to those who did not start home phototherapy (10.6%). “This study showed that affordable home phototherapy coverage may lead to lower use of biologic agents… and reduce the cost of treating psoriasis.”