PUVA THERAPY Meaning and
Definition
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PUVA therapy, or psoralen plus ultraviolet A therapy, is a medical treatment method primarily used for managing certain skin conditions, particularly psoriasis, vitiligo, and certain types of eczema. It involves the use of a photosensitizing medication known as psoralen, which makes the skin more responsive to ultraviolet A (UVA) rays from the sun or specific artificial light sources.
The treatment process begins with the administration of psoralen either orally or topically, followed by exposure to UVA radiation within a carefully controlled and supervised environment. The UVA rays allow the medication to penetrate the skin, targeting and affecting the abnormal cells responsible for the skin condition. This combination therapy works by slowing down the rapid cell growth common in psoriasis and by stimulating the repigmentation of white patches in vitiligo.
PUVA therapy is typically conducted in a medical setting, such as a dermatologist's office or a dedicated phototherapy unit, to ensure the precise dosage of both medication and UVA rays. The treatment sessions are carefully tailored to an individual's specific needs and may vary in duration and frequency, depending on the severity of the skin condition being treated.
While generally considered safe and effective, PUVA therapy may have some potential risks and side effects, including skin sensitivity, redness, burning, itching, and an increased risk of developing skin cancer in the long term. Therefore, the treatment is closely monitored by healthcare professionals, and they thoroughly evaluate each patient's medical history and suitability for PUVA therapy before initiating the treatment.
Common Misspellings for PUVA THERAPY
Etymology of PUVA THERAPY
The term "PUVA therapy" is actually an acronym derived from the constituent elements of the treatment itself. It stands for "Psoralen Ultraviolet A" therapy. Each part of the acronym represents a crucial component of the therapy:
1. Psoralen: Psoralens are naturally occurring compounds found in certain plants, such as umbelliferous plants (commonly known as the parsley family). These compounds have the unique property of becoming photosensitizing agents when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.
2. Ultraviolet A (UVA): UVA is a type of ultraviolet radiation that falls within the wavelength range of 320 to 400 nanometers. It is one of the three types of UV radiation emitted by the sun (alongside UVB and UVC), with UVA being the longest wavelength and penetrating deeper into the skin than UVB.
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