What does PUVA therapy treat?

PUVA stands for psoralen plus UVA. A psoralen medicine makes the skin more responsive to UVA light, allowing a supervised light treatment to affect abnormal or overactive skin cells. It may be considered when topical treatment is insufficient, when disease covers larger areas, or when a specialist needs a targeted phototherapy plan.

Treatment can involve oral or bath psoralen depending on the protocol. Because the medicine increases light sensitivity, timing, dose, eye protection, and follow-up are part of the treatment rather than optional extras. PUVA is not appropriate for every person with a rash or scaly skin condition.

Give the clinician a complete list of medicines, supplements, eye conditions, liver problems, and previous light reactions. Attend sessions exactly as scheduled and protect treated skin and eyes from unplanned sunlight for the period advised after psoralen. Do not add tanning or home light exposure. Moisturiser may help dryness, but use products recommended by the treating team.

Tell the phototherapy team about marked redness, blistering, severe burning, eye pain, new vision changes, or a widespread reaction after a session. Get urgent help for facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or severe illness. A treatment reaction may need the next session or dose reviewed.

Ask why PUVA is being chosen, whether oral or bath psoralen is planned, how to protect your eyes and skin, and what symptoms should delay a session. Ask whether [Narrowband UVB Phototherapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/narrowband-uvb-phototherapy/) could suit your condition and what monitoring will be used.