PUVA is one of the many treatment options for psoriasis using ultraviolet light to reduce skin thickening and sometimes resolve plaques completely. It is not a cure for psoriasis but can be very effective in managing the active stages of this skin disease.
PUVA stands for Psoralen and UVA. It is a form of light therapy, also referred to as photochemotherapy, where the skin reacts to ultraviolet light due to the presence of psoralens within the skin cells. It has been used in some form or the other for thousands of years by the ancient Indians and Egyptians. UVB or ultraviolet B is also used in the treatment of many skin conditions including psoriasis but with psoralens treatment, it is UVA that is most effective.
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Most cases of a skin rash on the throat or neck are acute (short term). It may be due to an irritation from the fabric of your clothing (contact dermatitis) or a skin condition like hives (urticaria) and in some severe cases of acne, there may be some pimples on the neck which are itchy.
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Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition resulting in persistent itching with inflammation of the outer lying layers of the skin. It is common in those with an allergic constitution and is often seen in conjunction with conditions like hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and asthma. Atopic dermatitis is commonly known as eczema, particularly infantile eczema when it occurs in children. However eczema describes a wide range of inflammatory conditions and is synonymous with the term dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis is a skin rash that occurs due to contact with irritants or chemicals. This skin condition may be short term (acute) or long term (chronic) and is often referred to as ‘chemical rash’ or ‘housewife’s eczema’. Usually clearly evident patches occurs on the area of the body that makes contact with the irritant or chemical that causes the rash.
In contact dermatitis, the skin inflammation may occur as a result of irritation to the skin or as an allergic response to the chemical.