Drugs containing chemicals called psoralens, which occur in some plants and are present in some perfumes. When absorbed into the skin, psoralens react with ultraviolet light to cause skin darkening or inflammation. Psoralen drugs may be used in conjunction with ultraviolet light (a combination called PUVA) to treat psoriasis and vitiligo. Overexposure to ultraviolet light during treatment, or to too high a dose of a psoralen drug, may cause redness and blistering of the skin. Psoralens in perfumes may cause photosensitivity.
Psoralen drugs |
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