liquor carbonis distillate + narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy

Liquor carbonis distillate (LCD) combined with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is a therapeutic regimen primarily used for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. This combination approach, often referred to as a modified Goeckerman regimen, utilizes the synergistic effects of topical coal tar and specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light. LCD, a coal tar preparation such as Psorent, is applied topically to the skin to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects, largely mediated through the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). This is followed by exposure to NB-UVB radiation (311–313 nm), which suppresses cutaneous cell-mediated immune responses and inhibits DNA synthesis in hyperproliferative keratinocytes. Clinical evidence suggests that the combination significantly reduces the time to skin clearance compared to NB-UVB monotherapy.

Brand names

Psorent

Other names

coal tar + NB-UVBLCD + NB-UVBmodified Goeckerman regimen