This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Psoralens with ultraviolet A

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

This is a form of photochemotherapy. It combines the use of a psoralen e.g. the photosensitizing drug methoxsalen with ultraviolet A phototherapy (PUVA) in the range of 320 to 400 nm.

The proposed mechanisms of action of PUVA include:

  • suppression of cell-mediated immunity
  • suppression of cell proliferation by interference with DNA synthesis

PUVA is highly effective in the treatment of psoriasis with resolution of skin lesions in over 85% of patients after 20 to 30 treatments combining drug use and ultraviolet A irradiation.

  • oral psoralen can cause nausea - patients must wear protective eyewear on the treatment days to prevent cataract formation
  • topical PUVA - patients apply psoralen paint or gel to the skin or soak in a bath of psoralen solution prior to light exposure
    • does not require wearing eyewear or taking tablets
  • there is a risk of nonmelanoma skin cancers associated with prolonged PUVA therapy
  • PUVA therapy is often combined with other treatments such as retinoids and vitamin D analogues to reduce the number of exposures required for clearance

Reference:

  1. Prescriber (2005); 16(8).
  2. Wood AJ, (1995). Treatment of psoriasis, NEJM; 332 (9): 581-7.

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.