Demographic evaluation of successful antipsoriatic climatotherapy at the Dead Sea (Israel) DMZ Clinic

Background Natural balneologic properties, thermomineral springs and unequivocal success in improving psoriasis, attract an ever-growing number of psoriatics to the DMZ Clinic on the shores of the Dead Sea in Israel. Methods This paper analyses the rate of success of this balneotherapy in 740 psoriatics who flew in from Germany specifically for this treatment, during 1995, as a function of sex, family history of the disease, number of previous treatments at the Dead Sea, skin type, skin involvement, joint involvement, duration of treatment, sun-exposure schedule, remission length, and psychologic supervision. Results After 4 weeks, 70% of the patients were completely cleared, this improvement being about the same across both sexes. Family history of the disease, skin type, and psychologic support did not affect the rate of success. On the other hand, previous treatments at the Dead Sea, moderate to severe skin surface involvement, and participation of arthritis, improved the chance of better clearing of the psoriatic condition. Similar improvement was obtained by a longer sun-exposure schedule and a complete 4-week treatment. Conclusion These results indicate that the medical improvement in the psoriatic condition after a 4-week stay at the Dead Sea can be better enhanced and its remission prolonged if additional demographic and anamnestic factors are carefully taken into account.