Psoriasis and PUVA

A common skin condition that is characterized by red, dry patches of thickened skin caused rapid skin cell reproduction is known as Psoriasis. The dry flakes and skin scales are thought to result from the rapid buildup of skin cells. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp. It is known to be autoimmune, non-curable, and genetically acquired. Psoriasis can be classified as localized or mild (affecting smaller area, less than 10% of total skin surface), and moderate to severe or generalized (more than 20% of total skin surface largely affected).

This is a relatively common disease affecting one to two percent of the population worldwide. Society has a general lack of awareness with regard to this condition and this causes social stigma to patients who leads to social withdrawal and poor quality of life. That’s the reason why psoriasis treatment goes beyond clearing the skin lesions; there should be a change of the misinformed perspective. Misconceptions include skin-to-skin contact to patients, or bathing in pools with people with this condition may lead to acquiring the disease.

Much time, money, effort and ingenuity have been placed for the research of the cure for psoriasis itself. Yet, treatments focus on palliative measures or alleviating symptoms because there is no specific treatment for this specific condition.

The goal of treatment is to quickly gain control of the disease and then sustain the improvement on a long term basis. Treatments with the least side effects should generally be tried first and more aggressive treatments instituted when resistance is demonstrated – for example, opting for milder ointment for psoriasis like shampoo or creams before resorting to corticosteriod lotions as psoriasis scalp treatment.

Psoralen plus UVA psoriasis treatment, more commonly known as PUVA, is one of the new health plans for moderate to severe cases of generalized psoriasis. Although this psoriasis treatment is highly recommended to treat severe generalized psoriasis, studies are continually done because research has shown that it causes malignancy in cells which could cause cancer. It is basically because UVA, commonly emitted by the sun, which in larger dosage or exposure has been known to cause skin cancer is the main component of this treatment.