Oxsoralen

Oxsoralen: Give Your Skin The Light Treatment It Deserves

If you are considering treatment for psoriasis, you will definitely want to take a close look at Oxsoralen. Psoriasis is a non-contagious skin disorder that affects thousands of people all over the world. Besides the normal topical treatments that already exist on the market, medical science has come up with ultraviolet light therapy for psoriasis treatment. Here is some information about a special drug that makes the skin more sensitive to light.

Facts About Oxsoralen

Oxsoralen medication is a very strong medicine that increases the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.  In addition to causing serious sunburns if not properly used, it has been reported to increase the chance of skin cancer and cataracts.  Also, like too much sunlight, PUVA can cause premature aging of the skin. 

Therefore, Oxsoralen medication should be used only as directed by your doctor and it should not be used simply for suntanning.  Before using this medicine, be sure that you have discussed its use with your physician.
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medication must be weighed against the good it will do.  This is a decision that only you and your doctor will make.  For Oxsoralen medication, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to Oxsoralen medication.  Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.
Breast-feeding—It is not known whether Oxsoralen medication passes into breast milk.  Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding.  Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children—Some of the side effects are more likely to occur in children up to 12 years of age, since these children may be more sensitive to the effects of Oxsoralen medication.
Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people.  Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people.  There is no specific information comparing use of Oxsoralen medication in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.  In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.  When you are using Oxsoralen medication, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are using the following:

• Arsenicals or recent treatment with x-rays, or cancer medicines or plans to have x-rays in the near future—Arsenicals, x-rays and cancer medicines increase the chance of side effects from treatment with PUVA

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of Oxsoralen medication.  Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems.

Precautions While Taking Oxsoralen

Your doctor should check your progress at regular intervals to make sure this medicine is working and that it does not cause unwanted side effects.  In addition, eye examinations should be included. This medicine increases the sensitivity of your skin and lips to sunlight.  Therefore, exposure to the sun, even through a window or on a cloudy day could cause a serious burn.  If you must go out during the daylight hours:

• Before each treatment, cover your skin for at least 24 hours by wearing protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, full-length slacks, wide-brimmed hat, and gloves.  In addition, protect your lips with a special sun block lipstick that has a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.  Check with your doctor before using sun block products on other parts of your body before a treatment, since sun block products should not be used on the areas of your skin that are to be treated. 
• After each treatment, cover your skin for at least 8 hours by wearing protective clothing.  In addition, use a sun block product that has a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 on your lips and on those areas of your body that cannot be covered. 

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