The Eczema Site

PUVA has been used since 1972 and is a well known and proven method. PUVA is given primarily to the difficult psoriasis patients but also for chronic eczema and other skin diseases which are difficult to control. More severe forms of sun eczema and other photosensitivity can often be successfully treated with PUVA.

What Is PUVA Treatment?

PUVA treatment is a combination of psoralen pills (P) and long-wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA). The drug is activated in the skin under lights, 1-2 hours after tablet intake. If you lighten the skin for too long, you are burnt. Therefore, the treatment is given only by trained staff in special light treatment facilities. Special consideration is given to light-skinned people who easily become scorched by the sun.

How Is The Treatment Being Done?

There are different kinds of psoralen pills and also a bath method. The doctor chooses the appropriate treatment in your case, considering which of the skin disease you have, and how widespread it is. Psoralen pills are dosed by body weight. All tablets are taken at once, with food, 1-2 hours before light treatment depending on the tablet you received. The treatment is given 2-3 times a week. PUVA is sometimes combined with other medicines, known as retinoids (neotigason), to be even more effective. Blood samples are taken as routine check before and during PUVA treatment. PUVA is not given during pregnancy or breast-feeding, and not for children under 15 years. You should have normal liver and kidney function and not take any medications that are unsuitable together with tanning or light therapy.
Look at all the medicines you are taking or that may be prescribed in ongoing treatment. Be careful with alcohol during the treatment period.

What Should I Think About?

Psoralen medication remain in the body for up to 24 hours. You may therefore not be in the sun or tanning beds during that time. Sunglasses should be worn at all times you are being outdoors, and indoors if you work right next to a sunny window or have a strong fluorescent light directly in front of your eyes. Use the goggles you may be given during the treatment and protect your lips with vaseline or zinc paste. It is unnecessary to highlight the genitals, and protect your face if you do not have a skin disease there. Use the moisturizing creams during treatment. Psoriasis patches should be cleared as much as possible. Thick scaling prevents the light to come through and heal the skin.

Risks And Side Effects

Common side effects that may occur are nausea, especially if the tablets are not taken together with food. Redness and even blisters can sometimes occur but are transient and relieved with corticosteroids. Some itching is common during treatment because the skin becomes dry. Intensive so called PUVA itching, however, is unusual. PUVA treatment going on regularly for many years (hundreds of treatments) can cause  freckled and pigment spots in the skin, and as other excessive tanning increased wear and tear on the skin with the risk of the formation of skin tumors. How much PUVA that will be or should be given must always be assessed on a case by case basis and related to the severity of the disease.