Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Psoriasis - Phototherapy

Table of Contents

Side effects of UVA radiation can be severe. Protective measures are needed during, before, and after treatment. Patients should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun for 24 hours before the oral treatment starts.

Protective Measures During Treatment:

  • Patients should wear specially designed goggles to protect the eyes from UVA radiation.
  • Sensitive areas, such as the genitals, abdominal skin, and breasts should be covered until the exposed areas tan, which usually occurs after about a third of the treatment period. Because PUVA is associated with a high risk for genital skin cancers, male genitals must be covered throughout the process.

The following safety features should be available in the PUVA chamber:

  • Lamps with protective shields
  • A viewing window for a health care professional to check the patient periodically
  • A door that can be opened by the patient easily and with little pressure
  • A timer that ends the session automatically
  • An accessible alarm device

Protective Measures After Treatment. The drugs used in PUVA make patients more likely to get a natural sunburn for a few hours after treatment. Patients should take the following precautions:

  • Wear UVA absorbing wrap-around sunglasses that are designed to completely block out stray radiation. Patients should begin wearing them as soon as they take the drug, and for at least 12 hours after the treatment. This is important to prevent a PUVA reaction around the eyes that can cause cataracts. There is no need to wear these glasses after sundown.
  • For about 8 hours after taking the drug, avoid exposure to daylight, even if the day is cloudy or exposure is only through windows.
  • Wear heavy opaque clothing (clothes that do not let light through) outside, including hats and gloves.
  • Apply sunblock over all exposed areas, including the lips. The sunblock should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of more than 15 and include ingredients that block both UVB and UVA radiation.
  • Do not spend a long time in sunlight for at least 2 days after the combined treatment.

UVB Therapy

Ultraviolet B is another part of sunlight, and is the main cause of sunburn. It generally affects the outer skin layers. UVB radiation reduces the abnormally rapid skin cell growth that occurs with psoriasis.

Types of UVB therapy:

  • Broadband UVB
  • Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB)
  • Laser treatments

Broadband Ultraviolet B (UVB) Radiation

Review Date: 10/21/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)