The measurement and analysis of UV radiation and its use in optimizing treatment protocols for photoclimatherapy of psoriasis at the Dead Sea medical spas

The Dead Sea basin offers a unique site to study the attenuation of solar ultraviolet radiation, as it is situated at the lowest terrestrial point on the earth, about 400 m below sea level. In view of its being an internationally recognized center for photoclimatherapy of various skin diseases, it is of interest to study
both its UV intensity and attenuation as a function of wavelength relative to other sites. In order to provide a basis for inter-comparison of the solar radiation intensity parameters measured at the Dead Sea, a second
set of identical parameters are measured simultaneously at a second site (Beer Sheva), located at a distance of ca. 65 km to the west and situated above sea level. The existing database consists of measurements from January 1995 to the present. The results of this on-going research project are discussed on three levels: (1) a detailed description of the analysis of the solar UVB, UVA and global radiation databases; (2) the relevance of these findings with regard to the success of photoclimatherapy at the Dead Sea medical spas and (3) the application of these findings to optimize the photoclimatherapy treatment protocols at the Dead Sea medical spas.