Cochrane Skin is pleased to announce the publication of a new review, Phototherapy for atopic eczema. This review was led by dermatologists from Amsterdam University Medical Centers, and supported by a key stakeholder: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The AAD provided funding for this systematic review (32 studies, 1219 people with clinically diagnosed atopic eczema), which enabled publication of the protocol and full review within 13 months of title registration.

Key messages

• Narrowband (NB) ultraviolet B (UVB), compared to placebo (a sham treatment), may improve eczema severity (including itch) and may not affect the number of people leaving a study because of unwanted effects.
• We were unable to confidently draw conclusions for other phototherapy (light therapy) treatments.
• Future research needs to assess longer term effectiveness and safety of NB-UVB and other forms of phototherapy for eczema.

This Cochrane Review will be used to inform the AAD’s update to their guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis (expected in the fourth quarter of 2023).

Read more or see full review in the Cochrane Library.