A Comparison of UVB-induced Minimal Erythema Dose ( MED ) s to the Skin of the Back and Extremities in Young Adult Koreans

Kim, You Chan; Song, Won Keun

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The erythemal response of the skin to UVB radiation is used as a diagnostic phototest and guideline to phototherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the UVB-induced MEDs to the back, arm, and thigh skin
METHODS
A sunlight fluorescenct lamp(Waldmann UV 7001K) was used as a UVB radiation source. The back, arm, and thigh skin were irradiated with the dose, from 40mJ/cm2 to 180mJ/cm2. The minimal doses for erythema responses to the skin were assessed visually at 24 hours after irradiation.
RESULTS
MEDs of the back, arm and thigh skin were 92.6 +/- 17.3mJ/cm2(mean +/- S.D.), 123.0 +/- 24.2mJ/cm2, and 126.6+/- 28.3mJ/cm2, respectively. The most frequent MED was 100mJ/cm2 for the back skin and 120mJ/cm' for the arm skin and thigh skin.
CONCLUSION
In this study, UVB-induced MEDs to the back, arm, and thigh skin in young adult Koreans were assessed. A significant difference in the MED was found between the back and extremities skin, with a lower value for the back skin(92.6 +/- 17.3mJ/cm2) than for the arm skin(123.0 +/- 24.2mJ/cm2) or for the thigh skin(126.6 +/- 28.3mJ/cm2).