PUVA

In medicine, treatment used for psoriasis that has failed to respond to other forms of treatment. The method involves the administration of a psoralen (P) to sensitize the skin to the effects of irradiation. About two hours later, the skin is irradiated with long-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVA).

A course of PUVA is usually given twice weekly for four to six weeks. PUVA is only available in specialist centres and has to be regulated carefully because of the short-term hazard of severe burning and the long-term hazards of cataract formation, premature ageing, and the development of skin cancer.