PUVA is a combination of medication and long-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVA) that is used to treat many different skin conditions, most commonly psoriasis. Psoralen, a drug taken by mouth, makes the skin more responsive to ultraviolet light.

Psoralen has been used in combination with sunlight for the treatment of skin disease for centuries and is taken one hour before ultraviolet light treatment. One to two days after treatment, the skin becomes red. Light treatment is given 2-3 times per week for 12-15 weeks. After 15 weeks, maintenance therapy is often required once a week.

A typical PUVA session consists of coming into the office, removing clothes to expose the affected body areas and standing in a five-foot square by seven-foot high light box. The lights are then turned on for 1-10 minutes. The length of each session is increased by a small amount over the previous session. One must wear protective goggles and groin protection (underwear or towel) while in the light box. Patients must wear UVA-absorbing, wrap-around sunglasses for twenty-four hours following a PUVA treatment. These glasses must be worn outside and indoors if any sunlight is coming into the room through a glass window. You must also avoid sunlight on the skin for 24 hours after a PUVA treatment.

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