Melcyl Lotion belongs to the class of drugs called psoralens (light-sensitive drugs) used along with controlled ultraviolet light in a treatment called psoralen plus ultraviolet light A (PUVA) to treat skin conditions such as vitiligo and psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin disorder in which skin cells multiply and form bumpy (uneven) red patches covered with white scales. Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes loss of skin colour in blotches when melanocytes (cells that produce the colour) do not produce skin pigment, melanin (that gives the skin colour). 

Melcyl Lotion contains methoxsalen, which is used alongside ultraviolet-A radiation. It works by reducing the number of cells the skin makes.

Melcyl Lotion is for external use only. Some people may experience itching or skin irritation. Most of these side effects of Melcyl Lotion do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.

If you are allergic to Methoxsalen or any other medicines, please inform your doctor. If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Melcyl Lotion. After UVA exposure, you are recommended to wash the treated area of the skin with soap and water. Then use sunscreen or wear protective clothing to protect the treated area. If you have squamous cell cancer (a form of skin cancer) or melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer), please inform your doctor beforehand.

Melcyl Lotion contains methoxsalen, used along with controlled ultraviolet light in a treatment called psoralen plus ultraviolet light A (PUVA) to treat skin conditions such as vitiligo (discoloured patches in different areas of the body, including the skin and hair) and psoriasis (scaly, itchy, and red patches on the skin). It is used alongside ultraviolet-A radiation. It works by reducing the number of cells the skin makes.

• Skin irritation
• Itching

Please inform your doctor if you are allergic to Methoxsalen or any other medicines. If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Melcyl Lotion. After UVA exposure, you are recommended to wash the treated area of your skin with soap and water. Then use sunscreen or wear protective clothing to protect the treated area. If you have squamous cell cancer (a form of skin cancer) or melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer), please inform your doctor beforehand. Wear special sunglasses during and for 24 hours after the treatment.

Drug-Drug Interaction: Inform your doctor if you are receiving concomitant therapy with photosensitizing agents (anthralin/dithranol, coal tar or its derivatives, phenothiazines, thiazides, griseofulvin, nalidixic acid, sulphonamides, salicylanilides, tetracyclines) and certain organic staining dyes (toluidine blue, methylene blue, methyl orange and rose Bengal).

Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid eating figs, parsley, mustard, parsnips, carrots, limes, and celery while being treated with Melcyl Lotion, as these may increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Melcyl Lotion is contraindicated in patients with aphakia (missing lens inside the eye). If you have a specific history of light-sensitive disease states such as erythropoietic protoporphyria (rare inherited metabolic disorder), lupus erythematosus (autoimmune disease), xeroderma pigmentosum (extreme sensitivity to UV rays), variegate porphyria (inherited porphyria), albinism (group of genetic disorders that causes hair, skin or eyes to have little or no colour) and porphyria cutanea tarda (a type of blood disorder that affects the skin), please inform your doctor.

• COAL TAR
• GRISEOFULVIN
• NALIDIXIC ACID
• DITHRANOL
• METHYLENE BLUE

Vitiligo:

• Minimize sun exposure. Use sunscreen with high SPF and protective sunglasses while going out in the sun.

• Prefer using self-tanning lotions as they may help to even out skin tone and the effect lasts longer, even with washing.

Psoriasis:

• Increase your intake of lean proteins containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as sardines, salmon, shrimp, flax seeds, walnuts and soybeans.

• Avoid foods such as refined sugar, red meat, dairy products and highly processed foods, as these might trigger inflammation.

• Avoid alcohol consumption as it may increase the risk of flare-ups.

• Stress can also trigger psoriasis. Therefore, learn to manage and cope with stress by doing yoga, breathing, meditation, and journaling.

Psoriasis: It is a skin disorder in which skin cells multiply and form bumpy (uneven) red patches covered with white scales. These red patches can commonly appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Psoriasis is a noncontagious (not spread by contact) chronic immune condition with no cure. It can be mild, moderate, or severe based on the patch coverage on the skin. Psoriasis can be pustular, guttate, inverse, and erythrodermic. Pustular psoriasis mainly covers the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Guttate psoriasis usually starts in childhood or young age and affects the torso and limbs. Inverse psoriasis forms bright red lesions in the armpits, groin, and under the breasts. Erythrodermic psoriasis is triggered by sunburn, infections, and certain medications that cause redness and shedding of the skin.

Vitiligo: It is a skin condition that causes loss of skin colour in blotches when melanocytes (cells that produce the colour) do not produce skin pigment, melanin (that gives the colour of skin). It can affect any part of the body, including hair, mouth and eyes. People with vitiligo must protect their skin from sunlight.