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Among all contemporary effective methods of psoriasis treatment in the world, the key place occupies phototherapy - therapy by Ultraviolet (UV) light.
The ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, which possesses cytostatic (inhibiting cellular growth) and anti-mitotic (inhibiting the development of tumors) effect, in erythemal (erythema (abnormal reddening of skin)) and sub-erythemal doses is used for treating people with psoriasis in the stationary stage of psoriasis and in the stage of regression. The result of the UV light can be increased by preliminarily applying, onto psoriatic plaques, fresh coal Tar or Dithranol (Anthralin). Since powerful parakeratotic (parakeratosis - process of psoriatic skin that continuously forms and scales off) stratifications with psoriasis are an obstacle for the UV radiation, the removal of stratifications with the aid of the enumerated keratolytic (promotes the softening and peeling of the epidermis (outer layer of skin)) means help the effectiveness of UV procedures.
Psoriasis usually reacts well to the natural sunlight, and a vacation to a hot climate usually helps many patients. The part of the solar energy, known as Ultraviolet light (UV radiation) is divided into three types: A, B and C depending on the wavelength. In the medical practice for psoriasis the treatment adapts a medium-wave (B) - UVB rays and long-wave (A) - UVA rays. With psoriasis treatment they use UVB rays, by use of special lamps; this method of treatment is called Selective Ultraviolet Phototherapy (SUP).
Specific drugs - Psoralenes, make skin more sensitive to the long-wave Ultraviolet light (UVA). These chemical substances were discovered in some plants and were used in the treatment of Vitiligo (disease, with which on the skin there appear white spots). On this principle is based PUVA - therapy (Photo-Chemotherapy), with which are adapted Psoralene and the UVA rays.
The procedure of treatment consists of the internal administration of Psoralene and the subsequent (after 2 hours) irradiation by UVA rays. PUVA causes reduction in the rate of formation of the psoriatic cells. UVA rays are emitted by fluorescent lamps, installed in a compartment where the patient stands. The design of PUVA lamps can be different - usually lamps are placed vertically, but in some models lamps are located horizontally, and a patient lies down under them. Patients usually like PUVA, since it is an effective method of psoriasis treatment, and as well the people obtain an even suntan. PUVA - therapy if necessary can be combined with a topical use on the affected sections with ointments like Psorcutan (Dovonex, Generic Calcipotriene). In this case they increase the effectiveness of both - PUVA-therapy and Psorcutan. Furthermore, this combination makes it possible to reduce the dosage of Ultraviolet light.
However, it is necessary to remember that the ultraviolet always unfavorably acts on the skin of a human, as it ages it. But in this case this is a small price to pay, for the deliverance from this ailment.
It is also necessary to remember that an overdose of UV light can cause burns which may lead to severe flare-ups of psoriasis.
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