Rejuvenate, Refresh, Repair

PUVA Therapy

What is PUVA Therapy?

"PUVA" is the name of a treatment used to control certain diseases such as psoriasis, vitiligo cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and mycosis fungoides.  In the name PUVA, P stands for psoralen, a photoactive chemical, and UVA stands for long wave ultraviolet "A" light.  The combination of psoralen and long wave ultraviolet light exerts certain effects on the skin that help control the skin condition being treated.  PUVA therapy entails the patient taking a prescribed amount of the psoralen drug orally 1 to 1½ hours prior to being exposed to long wave ultraviolet light.  This is performed in our clinic and treatments generally are given 2 to 3 times weekly until satisfactory clearing of the skin is achieved. 

What is UVA?

UVA is the specific wave length of light used in PUVA therapy.  This wave length is not screened out by clouds or by window glass and the amount of UVA from the sun does not vary greatly with the season of the year.  Artificial or man-made light sources are now available that produce the specific wave length – ultraviolet “A” – necessary for PUVA therapy.  A light cabinet provides a measured and controlled source of UVA.  The light cabinet is like a closet lined with special light bulbs which emit UVA. 

What is Psoralen?

Psoralen (Oxsoralen-Ultra®) is the photosensitizing drug taken prior to treatment.  The drug makes your skin sensitive to UVA light.  The drug alone does not help your skin condition, but in conjunction with specific amounts of UVA light produces a photochemical reaction resulting in a suntan. 

How is PUVA Administered?

The physician determines the correct amount of psoralen to be taken based upon the patient’s body weight.  Because peak sensitivity occurs 1 to 2 hours after taking psoralen capsules, the medication is taken 1 to 1½ hours before the scheduled phototherapy appointment.  Depending on the area of skin to be treated, the patient receives the UVA therapy by standing unclothed or partially unclothed in the light cabinet. 

The amount of light exposure is determined by how well a patient tans.  Your exposure time will start with seconds and increase each treatment until clearing or burning.  Treatment times generally are not longer than 30 minutes. 

What is the Treatment Schedule?

Each patient will be treated 2 to 3 times a week for the initial “clearing” treatment program.  The average patient will clear in about 25 visits within 9 to 15 weeks.  At the time the patient is deemed to have achieved a satisfactory level of clearing, they will be placed on a “maintenance” schedule for continuing treatment.  Should the condition flare while on the maintenance schedule, the patient will be returned to a clearing schedule and treatments continued until the patient again achieves a satisfactory level of clearing.

Patient Education