PhotoMedex, Inc. announced the results of a pilot study indicating that the use of the company's XTRAC Excimer Laser is effective in treating patients with moderate to severe cases of psoriasis. Psoriasis, a non-contagious, common and chronic condition that causes patches of itchy, scaly and sometimes inflamed skin.

The XTRAC Laser was previously proven to be very effective in patients with mild to moderate cases of psoriasis. The XTRAC Excimer Laser has the highest UV power delivered of any medical excimer laser on the market for the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo. It is being used effectively for the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis, and because of its unique ability to deliver high power UV, it allows for faster treatment of large surface areas. The ability to deliver high therapeutic doses of energy is necessary in order to quickly and conveniently treat large areas of psoriasis as commonly seen with severe psoriasis.

The study measured patients at the beginning and end of a 12-week period of average twice-weekly treatment with the XTRAC Excimer Laser. The study concluded that, at week 12, more than 77% of those patients exhibited a greater than 75% improvement in their Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, a measure which involves BSA as well as other factors. The study also concluded that, at week 12, 44% of the patients studied exhibited a greater than 90% improvement in PASI score. Clearing was achieved with approximately 10 treatments with the XTRAC Excimer Laser versus the 30 to 40 treatments often needed for traditional phototherapy.
According to the study, the XTRAC Excimer Laser may be appropriate for the majority of moderate to severe psoriasis sufferers. It also allows dermatologists to treat those patients with a high level of safety, as opposed to the use of many systemic products. Other phototherapy treatments such as broadband or narrow band UVB can also be used; however, undesirable aspects of these treatments include exposure of healthy skin to UVB light, and the inconvenience of extended treatment periods, which are often necessary for moderate to severe patients.

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