Psoralen and Ultraviolet A Light Therapy for Psoriasis

A 52-year-old man with psoriasis seeks treatment for his skin condition. Treatment with psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) is recommended. PUVA has been used since the 1970s for the treatment of psoriasis, although few randomized studies and clinical trials comparing this treatment with no treatment or with other forms of treatment have been conducted. PUVA therapy increases the risks of both nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma.