Phototherapy in the elderly

Powell J, Gach J

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2015;40(6):605-610. doi: 10.1111/ced.12626.

Treating elderly patients who are diagnosed with psoriasis can pose many challenges. The skin of an elderly patient will not present in the same appearance, structure or physiology of a younger patient, and therefore it does not react the same to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Elderly patients tend to be prescribed more medications so looking for alternative options of treatment that do not interact is also important. In a survey conducted by Powell and Gach, “phototherapy appears to be well-tolerated, safe and efficacious.”