OBJECTIVE: To study whether oral psoralen-UV-A (PUVA) with a portable tanning 
unit at home is as effective as hospital-administered bath PUVA in patients with 
chronic hand eczema.
DESIGN: Open-label randomized controlled trial, with a 10-week treatment period 
and an 8-week follow-up period.
SETTING: Two university hospital dermatology departments in the Netherlands, 
specializing in hand eczema.
PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-eight patients with moderate to severe chronic hand 
eczema (more than 1 year in duration).
INTERVENTIONS: Oral PUVA using methoxsalen capsules and a simple portable 
commercial facial tanning unit, or hospital-administered bath PUVA with 
trioxsalen.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was clinical assessment by a hand 
eczema score (evaluation of desquamation, erythema, vesiculation, infiltration, 
fissures, itch, and pain, each on a 4-point scale) after 10 weeks of treatment. 
The secondary outcome was hand eczema score at 8 weeks of follow-up, after 
completion of treatment. The tertiary outcome was travel cost and time off work.
RESULTS: Both groups showed a comparable and substantial decrease in hand eczema 
score (meaningful clinical improvement). This decrease was maintained during the 
follow-up period. Patients treated with oral PUVA at home had lower travel costs 
and less time off work.
CONCLUSIONS: Oral PUVA at home has a clinically relevant efficacy, similar to 
that of hospital-administered bath PUVA. This effect was maintained during an 
8-week follow-up period. It resulted in lower travel costs and less time off 
work.