It's a question many people with psoriasis have asked, and the short answer is: tanning beds are not recommended as a treatment, even though some people report temporary relief.
While some MyPsoriasisTeam members have shared that tanning beds helped reduce their itching or dry up sores, others have had the opposite Show Full Answer
It's a question many people with psoriasis have asked, and the short answer is: tanning beds are not recommended as a treatment, even though some people report temporary relief.
While some MyPsoriasisTeam members have shared that tanning beds helped reduce their itching or dry up sores, others have had the opposite experience — with one member noting that the worst psoriasis flare they ever had was caused by a tanning bed burn. Here's why tanning beds fall short compared to proper treatment:
- Tanning beds mostly emit UVA light, not UVB — and UVB is the wavelength that actually helps psoriasis
- They cannot be medically monitored or adjusted the way clinical phototherapy can
- They expose your entire body to UV radiation, rather than targeting affected areas
The risks are also significant:
- Using tanning beds before age 35 increases melanoma risk by 59%
- The World Health Organization classifies UV-emitting tanning devices at the highest level of cancer risk
- One MyPsoriasisTeam member shared they "resorted to tanning beds when they lost insurance, but ended up with skin cancer" A much safer alternative is prescription phototherapy, which uses carefully controlled UVB light. Between 50% and 90% of people who undergo proper light therapy see noticeable improvement. A dermatologist can prescribe either clinic-based or at-home phototherapy units.
It's really worth having a conversation with a dermatologist about phototherapy as a safer, more effective option.
April 24
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