Psoralens

What are Psoralens?

Psoralen is a light-sensitive drug that absorbs ultraviolet (long wave – UVA) light and acts like ultraviolet radiation. Psoralens are used together with ultraviolet light (PUVA therapy) to treat skin conditions such as vitiligo, eczema, psoriasis and skin problems related to certain lymphomas.

Psoralens are either taken orally or applied topically where the patient soaks in a bath containing the psoralen, then UVA light is applied to treat the skin condition.

A substance from plants that is sensitive to light (or can be activated by light). Psoralens are used together with UV light to treat psoriasis, vitiligo, and skin nodules of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. They are also being studied in the treatment of graft-versus-host disease.

Psoralens boost the amount of ultraviolet light your skin absorbs. This lets the light into your skin. The ultraviolet radiation helps treat severe skin diseases like psoriasis, vitiligo, polymorphic light eruption, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a type of cancer.

Psoralens such as 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) reversibly bind to receptors in the membranes and cytoplasm in responsive cell types forming a complex. Following exposure to UVA light, the complex becomes activated. The activated complex initiates the biologic actions of the psoralens.

A type of photodynamic therapy used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and skin nodules of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The patient receives psoralen (a drug that becomes active when it is exposed to light) by mouth or applied to the skin, followed by ultraviolet A radiation.

The medication should be taken 1 hour before your scheduled appointment. Occasionally the Psoralen causes nausea. To help prevent this, take the capsules with food.

If you are soaking both your hands and feet, you will need to use two separate bowls (one for your hands and one for your feet). 2. Gently squeeze all the contents of the psoralen syringe into the water. You should use 1.3 mililitres (mls) for hands and 1.3mls for feet.