PUVA and minimisation of skin cancer risk

Last edited 10/2020 and last reviewed 10/2020

NICE suggests guidance how to minimise skin cancer risk with PUVA:

• do not use PUVA in people with psoriasis of any type and a genetic predisposition to skin cancer for example, xeroderma pigmentosum or familial melanoma
  
  
• do not use PUVA when other appropriate treatments are available in:
  • people with a personal history of skin cancer or
  • people who have already received 150 PUVA treatments or
  • children
    
    
• use PUVA with caution or consider other treatment options in:
  • people at risk of skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma type)
  • people with lighter skin types, such as skin types I or II on the Fitzpatrick scale12
  • people who are likely to require ciclosporin or long-term methotrexate
  • young people
    
    
• offer lifetime skin cancer surveillance to people treated with PUVA who have:
  • had more than 150 PUVA treatments or
  • developed skin cancer

Reference:

• NICE (September 2017). Psoriasis - the assessment and management of psoriasis