Practical pearls in phototherapy. (15th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsui, Cindy L.; Levitt, Jacob
• Is Part Of: International journal of dermatology. Volume 52:Number 11(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1395
• Page End: 1397
• Publication Date: 2013-05-15
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05835.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-9059

Abstract

Abstract: The following tips are suggested for phototherapy: (i) calibrate the unit with a radiometer every 2–4 weeks; (ii) change all bulbs at the same time every 8–10 months for regularly used machines or when the UV meter shows that the power has reached 3 or 4 mW/cm 2 ; (iii) avoid phototherapy sessions on consecutive days to prevent burn on burn; (iv) in the event of a burn, reduce the last PUVA or UVB dose by 50%, reinitiating when erythema has fully disappeared, which might take two days to two weeks; (v) nausea from oral psoralens can be avoided by taking it with a fixed amount of milk or food, taking an antiemetic with this meal prior to dosing, taking five ginger tablets 15 minutes before dosing, or dividing the dosage; (vi) to achieve 0.03% concentration of 8‐methoxypsoralen for hand and foot soak PUVA, dissolve a 10‐mg tablet or 1.0 cc of Oxsoralen ® solution 1% in 3 l of water; and (vii) to achieve 0.000075% concentration of 8‐methoxypsoralen for full‐body soak PUVA, dissolve 60 mg 8‐methoxypsoralen in 80 l of water (i.e. a bath tub).