Puva Light Treatment For Psoriasis

Puva treatment is a very effective and safe treatment option for patients whose psoriasis is not well controlled on topical therapies alone.

Puva light treatment for psoriasis.

Eczema psoriasis graft versus host disease vitiligo mycosis fungoides large plaque parapsoriasis and cutaneous t cell lymphoma using the sensitizing effects of the drug psoralen. Puva psoralen and ultraviolet a is an ultraviolet light therapy treatment for skin diseases. Targeted uvb therapy with excimer lasers is the preferred treatment method for. The light slows down the production of skin cells and is an effective treatment for some types of psoriasis that have not responded to topical treatments.

But it takes about 16 to 19 puva treatments to put a psoriasis outbreak into remission. Because of that it s typically only recommended for severe cases. It involves exposing the skin to controlled amounts of natural or artificial light. Topical puva is the preferred treatment method for palmoplantar psoriasis although bb uvb has been proven effective.

This process called puva slows down excessive skin cell growth and can clear psoriasis symptoms for varying periods of time. An estimated 75 percent of people using narrow band ultraviolet b uvb therapy which is the most common type. Puva requires patient compliance with consistent treatments for 9 15 weeks to achieve maximal results. 686 the psoralen is applied or taken orally to sensitize the skin then the skin is exposed to uva.

Each session only takes a few minutes but you may need to go to hospital 2 or 3 times a week for 6 to 8 weeks. Repeated treatments are necessary. Puva is a tried and true phototherapy treatment for chronic plaque psoriasis. Light therapy is effective for reducing or clearing up the symptoms of psoriasis.

Puva may also be a viable option for patients who have failed uvb therapy. But using it for a long time can raise your chances of skin cancer. Light therapy is a first line treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis either alone or in combination with medications. The sensitized skin affected by psoriasis can then be treated by ultraviolet a radiation.

Talk with your doctor about whether home phototherapy is an option for you. Puva clears up psoriasis quickly with long lasting results. In this combination therapy the psoralen taken internally acts as a skin sensitizer.