Minimal Erythema Dose (MED) Testing |
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Authors: | Carolyn J Heckman Rachel Chandler Jacqueline D Kloss Amy Benson Deborah Rooney Teja Munshi Susan D Darlow Clifford Perlis Sharon L Manne David W Oslin |
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Institution: | 1.Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center;2.Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania;3.Department of Psychology, Drexel University;4.Department of Medicine, Fox Chase Cancer Center;5.Cancer Prevention and Control Program, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey |
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Abstract: | Ultraviolet radiation (UV) therapy is sometimes used as a treatment for various common skin conditions, including psoriasis, acne, and eczema. The dosage of UV light is prescribed according to an individual''s skin sensitivity. Thus, to establish the proper dosage of UV light to administer to a patient, the patient is sometimes screened to determine a minimal erythema dose (MED), which is the amount of UV radiation that will produce minimal erythema (sunburn or redness caused by engorgement of capillaries) of an individual''s skin within a few hours following exposure. This article describes how to conduct minimal erythema dose (MED) testing. There is currently no easy way to determine an appropriate UV dose for clinical or research purposes without conducting formal MED testing, requiring observation hours after testing, or informal trial and error testing with the risks of under- or over-dosing. However, some alternative methods are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Medicine Issue 75 Anatomy Physiology Dermatology Analytical Diagnostic Therapeutic Techniques Equipment Health Care Minimal erythema dose (MED) testing skin sensitivity ultraviolet radiation spectrophotometry UV exposure psoriasis acne eczema clinical techniques |
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