PUVA
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© Dr N Raboobee 2010
Patients treated with PUVA therapy at Westville Hospital.
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PUVA
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PUVA (Psoralen and Ultra Violet A light) is a highly specialised type of treatment used mainly for Psoriasis and Vitiligo.
Psoralen capsules are ingested 2 hours before exposure to ultra violet light in a special cabinet. The amount of exposure is determined by skin colour.
Special goggles are worn during treatment. Following each treatment, special UV protective glasses are worn for 24 hours, especially during daylight hours. It is not necessary to wear these glasses inside ones home or office if the curtains are drawn.
For Psoriasis, the treatment is administered three times a week for 7 weeks (21 treatments). Thereafter, treatment is administered once a week as maintenence for about a month, following which treatment is discontinued. Occasionally, longer maintenence periods are required.
PUVA therapy is administered by specially trained staff at our rooms. An assessment is made by Dr Raboobee after every 7 treatments in order to make any changes which may be necessary.
The treatment for Psoriasis is highly successful and results in a remission rate of >80%. Patients have often gone on for a year or two without psoriasis. The treatment can be repeated if the Psoriasis recurs. Please note that this is not a cure.
For Vitiligo, the treatment is administered once a week and requires exposure to light for about one year. An assessment after about 8 treatments determines whether treatment is worthwhile for you or not. Special goggles need to be worn during exposure to light and special UV protective glasses are worn for 24 hours following exposure.
Eczema is treated in a similar way to Psoriasis. However, the success rate in the treatment of Eczema is in the region of 60-70%.
Patients must be at least 12 years of age for PUVA therapy.
Narrow band UVB (TLO1)
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Narrow band UVB is administered in an entirely different unit. Unlike PUVA, the patient does not need to take capsules prior to exposure to light. Also a different type of light is used, resulting in shorter exposure times. TLO1 is more popular with many patients because special glasses do not need to be worn after each treatment as is the case with PUVA. TLO1 is excellent for Eczema but is also used for Psoriasis and Vitiligo especially in children. There is no minimum age for this treatment. Children as young as 2 months of age may have this treatment.
Hand and Foot PUVA
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This small machine is used for localised areas of Psoriasis affecting the palms and soles, elbows or other small areas. Vitiligo affecting the face may be treated with this machine as well.
Scalp PUVA
This is a hand held machine delivering UVA light while parting the hair with its specially designed comb attachment.
Cost of treatment
The cost of each PUVA treatment is R160-00. This excludes the cost of oxoralen capsules, the goggles worn during treatment and the glasses worn after treatment. Both the goggles and the glasses are available from the practice.
To read more about the above treatments, go to
Psoriasis (National Psoriasis Foundation USA