Clearance of ichthyosis linearis circumflexa with balneophototherapy

We report a 13-year-old boy suffering from severe ichthyosis linearis circu mflexa. Evidence of hair shaft abnormalities and impaired immunity could no t be found. The patient was treated with salt water baths and artificial UV B radiation (balneophototherapy) 3-5 times weekly. After 40 treatments with balneophototherapy the skin lesions were almost completely cleared and mai ntenance UVB monotherapy was performed twice weekly for 2 months. After 4 m onths, however, the disease relapsed. Balneophototherapy presents a potenti ally effective and well tolerated phototherapeutic option for ichthyosis li nearis circumflexa. As only short periods of remission may be expected, int ermittent balneophototherapy would be probably necessary to control the dis ease.