Superficial X-ray therapy in the treatment of constitutional eczema of the hands

Summary Twenty‐four patients with chronic symmetrical constitutional eczema of the hands were treated with a combination of topical therapy and conventional superficial X‐ray therapy. In a double‐blind fashion one hand was irradiated with 100 rad (1Gy)* at 50kV on three occasions at intervals of 21 days and the other hand was given a placebo treatment. Each hand received the same topical medication, which was adjusted as necessary at each visit. The patients were seen 6, 9 and 18 weeks after X‐ray therapy commenced. A significantly better therapeutic result, as assessed independently by both the patient and the observer, was recorded on the hand which had received active X‐ray treatment. The advantage bestowed by active X‐ray therapy was greatest 6 to 9 weeks after the start of treatment, but was still present after 18 weeks.