PUVA therapy
PUVA is a combination of UVA light and the drug psoralen (the ‘P’ in PUVA) that is taken in tablet form or applied locally as a cream.
What does PUVA therapy involve?
- Oral PUVA therapy: Two hours before the light treatment in the UVA cabinet, you take the psoralen tablets. This drug reaches the intestine via the blood in your skin. The concentration in the skin is at its highest two hours after it has been taken, making this the ideal time to start the UVA exposure.
- Cream PUVA therapy: apply the PUVA cream to the skin to be treated immediately before the UV treatment.
The first time you will be assisted by a nurse, who will explain the procedure to you. For the following sessions, the nurse will contact you in the waiting room as soon as you can go to the cabinet.
How long does the therapy take?
You have to undergo the therapy 2 or 3 times per week for an average of 2 to 3 months. The PUVA therapy cannot be provided on three successive days in order to avoid burning the skin.
The final session is followed by a consultation.
What should you watch out for during the treatment?
- UV light can damage your eyes. So you should always wear protective goggles during the treatment.
- Some drugs make you very sensitive to light. So always discuss the medication that you take with your dermatologist beforehand.
What should you watch out for after the treatment?
- After oral PUVA treatment: protect your skin and eyes from the sun. You will be extra sensitive to all forms of UV light, including daylight, for eight hours. So wear sunglasses.
- After the treatment with PUVA cream: ensure extra protection because the sites where the cream has been applied will be extra sensitive to UV light for 3 to 5 hours.