Effect of PUVA on plasma and skin immunoreactive α-melanocyte stimulating hormone concentrations

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Abstract
Plasma α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) concentrations were measured in patients receiving PUVA therapy as treatment for mycosis fungoides, and PUVA or UVB as treatment for psoriasis. Skin immunoreactive α‐MSH was also measured in those patients who received PUVA. The mean plasma and skin α‐MSH concentrations after 2–3 weeks of PUVA were not significantly different from pre‐treatment values and showed no relationship either to skin type or to the degree of tanning that occurred in response to PUVA. Plasma α‐MSH concentrations were also unchanged after UVB. There was also no short term change in plasma α‐MSH concentrations in patients after receiving their first treatment with PUVA. It would appear that circulating and skin α‐MSH levels are unaffected by UV and show no causal relationship to PUVA induced pigmentation.