What should you know about puva therapy at home?

PUVA means psoralen plus UVA. Psoralen makes treated skin more responsive to UVA, so exposure must be measured and scheduled rather than improvised with a sunbed or outdoor sunlight. It may be prescribed for conditions such as psoriasis when a specialist considers it suitable. Treatment can involve medicine taken by mouth or applied to the skin, followed by exposure using an approved device. Narrowband UVB phototherapy is a different light treatment and may be an alternative for some people.

Use only the device, dose and schedule supplied by your dermatology team. Keep a treatment log and report missed sessions rather than doubling the next exposure. Protect uninvolved skin and wear the specified eye protection during exposure; after taking psoralen, follow instructions about avoiding additional sunlight because sensitivity can continue beyond the session. Do not share the device or change its settings without guidance. Keep follow-up appointments so the clinician can inspect your skin, review symptoms and adjust treatment.

Contact your treatment team for marked redness, blistering, severe burning, persistent itching, new eye discomfort or a worsening rash. Seek urgent care for severe eye pain or vision changes. Do not continue exposure through a significant reaction unless the prescribing team specifically tells you to do so. Tell the clinician about new medicines, pregnancy or plans for pregnancy, because these may change whether PUVA is appropriate.

Ask why PUVA was selected, how your home dose is measured, what protection is required after psoralen, how missed sessions are handled, and which symptoms mean the next session should be postponed.