Treatment of acquired perforating dermatosis with narrowband ultraviolet B

Acquired perforating dermatosis is difficult to treat. We describe effective therapy of acquired perforating dermatosis with narrowband UVB in 5 patients. Phototherapy was given 2 or 3 times weekly. The dose was started at 400 mJ/cm 2 and increased to a maximum of 1500 mJ/cm 2. All lesions disappeared completely after 10 to 15 exposures without adverse effects. Two patients with diabetes mellitus but without chronic renal failure experienced no recurrence until 5 and 10 months after stopping the phototherapy. One patient undergoing hemodialysis for chronic renal failure experienced a recurrence of pruritus and small papules after 1 month. Two patients undergoing hemodialysis showed no recurrence during narrowband UVB maintenance therapy until 7 and 8 months.