Selective Ultraviolet Phototherapy
Encyclopedia
Ultraviolet light therapy or ultraviolet Phototherapy is a form of treatment for certain skin disorders (including atopic skin disorder and vitiligo
when used with psoralen
to form the PUVA
treatment) It consists mostly of the UVA band of ultraviolet
light (fairly closely matching the ultraviolet output from the sun
) and is usually delivered from a fluorescent bulb specially designed to output this frequency of ultraviolet.
This treatment is similar to the light from good quality solariums but differs from the mainly UVB ultraviolet band used to treat psoriasis
.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but research suggests that it may arise from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress,...
when used with psoralen
Psoralen
Psoralen is the parent compound in a family of natural products known as furocoumarins. It is structurally related to coumarin by the addition of a fused furan ring, and may be considered as a derivative of umbelliferone...
to form the PUVA
PUVA
PUVA is a psoralen + UVA treatment for eczema, psoriasis, graft-versus-host disease and vitiligo, and mycosis fungoides. The psoralen is applied or taken orally to sensitize the skin, then the skin is exposed to UVA. Long term use has been associated with higher rates of skin cancer.Psoralens are...
treatment) It consists mostly of the UVA band of ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
light (fairly closely matching the ultraviolet output from the sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
) and is usually delivered from a fluorescent bulb specially designed to output this frequency of ultraviolet.
This treatment is similar to the light from good quality solariums but differs from the mainly UVB ultraviolet band used to treat psoriasis
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
.