What is Goeckerman therapy?

Goeckerman therapy, named in honor of Dr. William H. Goeckerman, who developed it in 1925, is UVB phototherapy used in combination with topical coal tar to treat psoriasis. The therapy is administered by having patients apply crude coal tar or tar derivatives to the skin and removing the excess tar before exposure to UVB. After treatment, the patient takes a bath or shower to remove any remaining tar or scale. With each visit, the dose of UVB administered is gradually increased, with the treatment being administered three or more times per week for 3 to 4 weeks or longer. This extremely safe treatment can be supplemented with topical corticosteroid preparations or descaling agents. Once remission is achieved, patients may stay in remission for 12 to 18 months or longer. Long remission rates and relative safety have made this the therapy of choice in many psoriasis treatment centers. Disadvantages include its inconvenience, messiness of the tar, and need for numerous office visits.