How does PUVA Stack Up as a Psoriasis Treatment?
November 15, 2009 Psoralen plus ultraviolet A light therapy (PUVA) has been widely used to treat chronic plaque psoriasis, but researchers’ ability to evaluate its effectiveness especially compared to other psoriasis treatments was limited. So to advance PUVA research, the scientists tested the treatment taking oral psoralen, a light-sensitizing medication, then receiving UVA radiation from a light box against UVA therapy plus a placebo in a study that used gold standard scientific methods. The conclusion: PUVA is indeed a highly effective treatment that helps clear skin affected by psoriasis. The results also roughly estimate how PUVA may stack up against other psoriasis treatments. Compared to narrow band ultraviolet B light therapy, PUVA may be similarly effective or more effective, according to several studies. Based on results of this trial, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, PUVA also may be comparable to the systemic psoriasis medications infliximab
