Does PUVA therapy treat psoriasis?

PUVA uses a light-sensitising medicine followed by measured ultraviolet A exposure. The combination can slow the overactive skin-cell and immune activity that produces thick, inflamed plaques. It may be considered when psoriasis affects extensive areas or has not settled with other approaches, but the choice depends on your health, medicines, skin type, and the psoriasis pattern. Treatment is given in planned sessions, with exposure adjusted to your response. Redness, burning, itching, tanning, or increased sensitivity can occur, and psoriasis can return after a period of improvement.

Ask a dermatologist whether PUVA is appropriate for your psoriasis and whether another phototherapy or medicine would be safer or more practical. Provide a complete list of medicines, supplements, creams, and past light reactions. Discuss eye protection, genital protection where relevant, sun avoidance, and how to handle a missed session. Use moisturiser as advised, attend monitoring visits, and never increase exposure yourself.

Contact the treatment unit if treated skin becomes intensely painful, blisters, or remains very red beyond the expected settling period. Seek prompt care for a widespread rash, facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or eye pain and vision change. Urgent review is also needed if psoriasis suddenly becomes widespread with fever or marked illness.

Ask which psoriasis areas are suitable, how the medicine is taken, how the light dose will be adjusted, and how improvement will be assessed. Discuss alternatives, expected skin reactions, sun precautions, eye protection, missed sessions, and what maintenance plan may follow.