About PUVA Treatment for Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a genetic immune system disease that afflicts up to 7.5 million Americans. The disease presents itself as white, scaly patches over red lesions which can cover small to large areas of the skin and scalp. Most cases of psoriasis are mild, but severe cases can have a debilitating affect on a patient's daily life and work. While there is no cure for psoriasis there are treatments than can help, including PUVA.

Function

PUVA treatments are typically performed in a doctor's office or clinic. The treatment utilizes a medication call psoralen to increase the sensitivity of the patient's skin to the effects of light. Psoralen may be taken orally or applied topically. Once the doctor determines that the appropriate amount of time has passed he will expose the sensitized skin to ultraviolet A (UVA) light.

Significance

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation the combination of psoralen and UVA appears to be effective in clearing psoriasis outbreaks for 85 percent of patients. The effects of these treatments can last for more than to a year.

Considerations

PUVA is intended for adult patients suffering with moderate to severe psoriasis. This type of treatment is not typically recommended for teenagers or children unless other forms of psoriasis treatments have failed.

Time Frame

The time of exposure and number of treatments required to obtain satisfactory results vary based on a number of factors including whether the psoralen is taken orally or applied topically, the skin type of the patient, the type of UVA unit being used, and the severity of the psoriasis. Initial UVA exposure may be for less than one minute while later treatments may last longer than 20 minutes. A course of treatment typically requires 25 sessions.

Warning

People with a family history of sunlight allergies are not good candidates for PUVA treatments. People who have been diagnosed with skin cancer, lupus, porphyria and other diseases that require sun avoidance should not use PUVA to treat their psoriasis. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use PUVA treatments.

Side Effects

PUVA does carry some risk of side effects including nausea, itching, and redness of the skin. Patients who use PUVA treatments incur a higher risk for certain types of skin cancer including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.

Resources

• MedicineNet.com