Our hospital is the only center in Ordu providing PUVA (Phototherapy).
What is PUVA?
Psoralen (P) is a treatment method in which ultraviolet A rays (UVA) are used together with the photosensitizing agent.
What is the reason for taking this treatment?
This method has been shown to be useful in the treatment of many skin diseases, mainly psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, chronic itching and mycosis fungoides (a type of skin cancer).
Will this disease completely cure with this treatment?
With this treatment, your disease may not be completely eradicated, but existing disease symptoms will improve, new lesions will be reduced and a significant improvement will be achieved and controlled. You can have a disease-free life through treatment. Not all patients may have complete recovery. Treatment is usually terminated when improvement is achieved. Sometimes continuation therapy (maintenance therapy) may be applied with decreasing frequency.
How long will I be coming for treatment?
The average duration of treatment is usually 2-3 months. This time is much longer in mycosis fungoid. As the total treatment time may vary from patient to patient, your attending physician will advise you on the average time needed to treat your disease. Your treatment program will be administered at intervals of 2, 3 or 4 sessions per week, depending on the extent of your disease, your social status and the patient density in the unit.
How is this treatment applied?
Treatment sessions start with just a few seconds of light exposure and the periods are gradually increased in each session, taking into account various criteria such as redness and itching.
Treatment will be done in a closed cabin. The cabin door will not be locked so you can leave at any time. During treatment, you need to stand in the middle of the cabinet so that the UV can be evenly distributed throughout your body.
On treatment days, drink the recommended dose 2 hours before your scheduled appointment. This drug will usually be Geroxalen capsules. Try to take the drug at the same time each day of application, after a light breakfast or a light meal. It is important for you to drink the drug at the same time each day of administration and to consume a similar meal beforehand. The drug may cause nausea, headache and fatigue. Keep your medicine away from light and heat. Do not share with other patients. Keep out of reach of children.
Can I use any medication during treatment?
Before starting treatment, your doctor will ask you about the medications you are taking. Please try to tell your medication completely. During your treatment, if you need to make any changes to the medications you are taking or if you need to use a new medication, you must inform your nurse or doctor. This is because some medicines can increase your skin's sensitivity to light and cause easy reddening.
Can I have cream?
Since PUVA treatment, like the sun, will cause your skin to dry out, it is very important that you wear regular moisturizers recommended by your doctor during the treatment.
Therapeutic creams will be offered to you by your doctor if necessary.
Why should I wear glasses on treatment days?
UV light can damage your eyes and increase the risk of cataracts. However, this can be prevented by using protective goggles while in the cab. Due to the increased sensitivity of the light in the eyes, depending on the medication, patients receiving PUVA treatment should continue to be protected by wearing their UV-protected glasses, which will be prescribed for 24 hours, even in the fluorescent lamps and on the windowsill, after the treatment session. It should be borne in mind that patients who do not wear sunglasses on treatment days will be excluded from treatment. Your doctor will ask you to have an eye examination when starting treatment and, if necessary, during treatment.
What should I pay attention to?
Do not use shaving lotions, colognes, perfumes or scented cosmetics on treatment days. These can increase the sensitivity of your skin to light.
After exiting treatment and on days not treated, apply sunscreen cream (with a minimum of 30 protection factors) to the sun-exposed areas. The exposed parts of the body with hats and similar clothing should be protected from the sun.
It should not be in the sun on the treatment days and care should be taken not to stay in the sun except coming and going to the hospital.
No artificial (solarium) or natural (sunbathing) additional light should be applied during treatment.
If your face does not require any signs of treatment, you can cover your face with a white towel while you are in the cabin.
In men, prolonged exposure of the genital area to UV light without protection may cause an increase in the incidence of genital cancer. Therefore, all male patients should wear protective athletic underwear during treatment and protect this area by using aluminum foil. This laundry should be the same throughout the entire treatment period. Different types of underwear to wear, burn easily