Untitled research work

To the Editor.— Our studies were designed to evaluate the relative contribution of shortwave ultraviolet light (<320 nm) vs longwave ultraviolet light (> 320 nm) to the Goeckerman treatment. We could not demonstrate a therapeutic role for longwave ultraviolet light. In controlled studies, Young could not demonstrate a therapeutic effect for ultraviolet light produced by a high pressure mercury arc lamp and therefore concluded that there is no justification for the use of ultraviolet light in the treatment of psoriasis. Psoriatic lesions in two of our patients did not improve or resolve while receiving 1% crude coal tar ointment and longwave ultraviolet light. Lesions elsewhere on the same patients resolved while receiving 1% crude coal tar ointment and primarily shortwave ultraviolet light. We cannot believe that the response of any given number of psoriatic patients to tar preparations alone would explain our inability to affect psoriatic lesions in two patients