The nurse is preparing a patient with a history of psoriasis for ultraviolet light therapy with psoralen (PUVA).What is important for the nurse to teach the patient prior to initiating therapy?

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Oral psoralen tablets (a photosensitizing agent)followed by exposure to UVA is called PUVA therapy.PUVA therapy temporarily inhibits DNA synthesis,which is antimitotic.Because psoralen is a photosensitizing agent,the patient must not only wear dark glasses during the treatment period,but also for the entire day after a treatment.A.B.The long-term safety of PUVA therapy is still unknown.Possible side effects include increased skin carcinomas,premature skin aging,and actinic keratosis C.The medication does not need to be taken for 1 week following the treatment.

The Nurse Is Preparing a Patient with a History of Psoriasis