Hey everyone,
I'm 20 years old now and have had this pesky psoriasis for 10 years.. It comes and goes, but lately I've been breaking out all over my body and scalp. It's horrible and I'm young and like to wear the cute outfits but now have to cover up my body! I used to do the ultra-violet treatments at the derm and those worked but were costly. I've been reading alot about the tanning beds. The only thing is i'm asian and have dark skin already. Do you still need to apply tanning lotion if your purpose isnt really to tan? Are there meds that you combine w/ the tanning? If anyone out there using tanning beds as psoriasis treatment reads this, can you share your routine? THANKS. hope to hear from someone.

I don't go to the tanning salons anymore even though I don't have psoriasis - I don't go because I am 55 now, and don't want anymore wrinkles than I already have :)

I have heard, though, that tanning is good for psoriasis because of the UV rays. They are reduced in the tanning beds than the amount you get from the sun because tanning beds do not emit the UVB rays that can cause skin cancer. I wouldn't apply the tanning lotion if you go into the beds - you shouldn't need it for protection unless you use a sun blocker - but then I believe you would defeat your purpose.

I've had psoriasis for quite a few years and no kind of medication, ointments, etc. helped. I ended up going to a tanning salon (to get a tan) and ended up clearing up my psoriasis. I've been in remission for over 2 years now. Now I only go tanning when I see the psoriasis start to flare up. But even that is becoming more rare. I never used any tanning lotion even though I know you should. But that's just my way of doing things. I also take meds for another condition and it hasn't affected the tanning/psoriasis treatment.

[This message has been edited by Dawnrise (edited 09-26-2003).]

thanks for the reply guys! i know that tanning is not good for your skin but i figure i'd take clear skin any day no matter what the consequence. unless you have psoriasis you wont know what it really feels like :(... anyway, so ultimately its ok to go into the bed w/out applying anything to the skin? dry tanning, i think they call it...

Be careful not to get a sunburn. It will make the psoraisis worse.

Ahhh! how do i avoid getting sunburn? a sunblock would defeat the purpose right? should i just go for really short amounts of time at a time? help..

If you go outside do not go out between the hours of 2pm and 4pm (I think) cuz that's when the sun's rays are the strongest. If you go to a tanning salon they should start you off with short sessions. My first session was only 5 minutes. They will eventually work up to 20 minutes.

Thanks for all your help guys and especially Dawnrise. If you check back to this, Exactly how many tanning sessions did it take for you to start noticing improvement? Did it clear it up completely or just control it a little? Sorry if I'm being a pain w/ all these questions ...

The first time I went tanning I only went a few sessions and it only partially cleared it up. Then, maybe, 3-4 years went by and I started going again and it was probably less than 20 sessions and it was cleared up completely. So now I only go when I start to see it show its ugly little face.

Thanks Dawn. I started going tanning yesterday. I was in for only about 10min and I plan to go every other day until this sucker is cleared up.. Well hopefully it works at all. Wish me luck!

I wish you the best of luck and hope it works for you like it did for me.

LovelyLizz....I know its only been a couple days since you started going tanning but I was just wondering how you're doing. I know you probably don't see any difference yet but would like to hear about your progress.

Hey Dawn.. I've already gone twice at 10min each.. I'm going again tonight. The psoriasis seems to be drying up a bit so I moisturize more, but other than that no significant changes or improvements yet, but i'm still hopeful! I'll keep u up to date on the progress :)

LovelyLizz....how are your sessions going? Hope you're improving. Give us an update.

Hello lovelylizz,I have had psoriasis since I was 17yrs old I am now 33yrs old.I know how you feel about wanting to cover up your body,I have a sever case of it so bad I have been hopitalized 3 times for it.For the first 5 years I had it I would wear pants all summer long no matter how hot it got,I wouldn't go swimming at the local man made swimming hole in fear parents would snatch their kids out of the water worried I had something their kids could catch and afraid people would laugh and point at me.I used to watch my friends and husband play out in the water as I sat on the beach and cried inside wishing I didn't have it.After 5 years of hiding my legs and arms and suffering in the heat and missing out on so much,I finally saide to myself why am I hiding my skin,why am I suffering in the extrem heat and missing out on so much fun?It was becuz I was afraid of people laughing at me or what people would say.I no longer hide my skin and no longer miss out on any fun.Hon please don't hide your skin,the more sun you get to your skin the better for your psoriasis.If you are worried about what people think or what they will say don't worry about them,they don't live with this condition on a daily basis like we do and we need to feel confortable in what we wear.I was told by my derm doc that our psoriasis are like open wounds and we should never go swimming any where other than a pool with chlorine.Please be carefull using the tanner,my derm doc told me NOT to go to the tanner becuz using the tanner could cause skin cancer,so now I use the sun as much as I can.Even on over cast days we still get 60% of the uv rays.I hope my post has help you and hopefully some day they will find a cure for us.

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God bless you and yours

Thanks Michigan Girl. I will start using the sun more, however I live in Chicago and it is starting to get chilly (THANK GOD!) but I will take advantage of the sunlight for as long as I can. Its still really hard not to care what ppl think. I am 20 years old! I go to college! People who see this won't understand my condition and its not like I'm going to explain it to everyone I meet. I dont think I can handle ppl staring and whispering to each other. This may sound like childish worries - but this is the way life really is! No matter how old you are. My own bf of 2 years doesn't even know I have it, but thankfully he's been away w/ the Marine Corps during my outbreaks. And about the tanner, I CANNOT stop going! I just wanna remember what clear skin looks like! Once I get it, I'll stop... Anyway, I DO appreciate all your advice and thank you for sharing your story!

Dawnrise, I went 2 more times this week. So I think that makes about 5 or 6 times? How many sessions a week for how long did you go? How many sessions did it take for it to clear up??? I cant tell if its working. Well i know its not getting worse...

Dawnrise, Oh sorry, I scrolled up and saw that you had said it took you 20 sessions for it to clear up :round: .. How many times a week were you going? How many min? I'm asking cuz I read on the tanning bed to only go once or twice a week. But I'm scared thats not enough to ATTACK the psoriasis. I wanna go everyday!!

LovelyLizz.....I went about 3 times a week. The amount of time tanning differed since I was working up to 20 minutes. Take your time with that. Wouldn't want you to burn. I know you're anxious to get rid of your psoriasis but have patience, dear. It's not going to go away overnight. I just hope it works for you like it did for me. Have you seen any improvement yet?

Please don't go to a regular tanning salon. See your doctor, they have commercially available UV lamps that are specifically used in treating conditions like psoriasis. Your doc will write you a script for it. (At least in the US, you have to have one.) UV therapy is safer than tanning. I've been going for the past 9 months and it's made a difference for me. You won't tan (since it's a different kind of radiation) but it will most likely help. Although just like anything else regarding psoriasis, what works for me may not work for you. ;)

lovelylizz,you do not sound childish at all and I totally understand your feelings,I felt the same way when I was your age.I still to this day do not feel attractive or sexy expecially when I am intamite with my husband,it has never bothered him but it sure does me.You realy need to sit your bf down and tell him about your condition,you wont be able to hide this from him for ever expecially if u2 ever get married.I know this may sound mean but any who reads this post would agree that if your bf can't except everything about you then he is not worth being with and if he can't theres always someone out there who will except you for what you look like and who you are.Good luck with the tanner and with your bf.

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God bless you and yours

Michigan Girl, i'm not worried about him leaving me when he finds out, but i still feel embarassed by it... I'm coping with and managing it, and most of all have accepted it, but i still curse the day the first sign of it popped up on my skin! and i still ask myself, "why me?"... i'm sure you feel the same.

Dawnrise, I'm starting to see improvement! well my limbs mostly, its flattening and clearing up! I wish i can say the same for the rest of my body... I'm gettin pretty dark here.. and i had my tan asian skin to begin with.. This will sound stupid, but putting on sunscreen will defeat my purpose right?

QuietlySerene, yes, i did the UV treatment when i was a kid.. if the tanning doesnt work, i'll most likely go back to that, however my derm told me my case wasnt "that bad" to have to use it when i last saw him, but i beg to differ!!

I don't know why your doc said that.. maybe you need to find a doctor that will listen to you? Or maybe check why he didn't send you to UV? I don't understand why he wouldn't do it, but he's gotta have a reason. If he's truly not paying attention to your requests, it may be time to look for another derm. I went though 5 before I even heard about UV, others just prescribed steroids.

The first lesions to clear up were the ones on my back. And it was almost completely covered. It took longer for the ones on my legs to clear up. Also, I have no idea if you use a sunscreen if it will defeat the purpose. But I've never used sunscreen in my life.

Hi. I am new to this site but I am a long time aquaintance of psoriasis! I too have psoriasis and have had since I was a child(I think I must have been born with it because I can remember always having it!) I am now 34. I have it everywhere and have tried all the treatments, tar soaks, steroidal creams, lotions, you name it! My very best success is with the tanning bed. When I go regularly my rash is not noticeable at all. I wanted to make sure you know to use a moisturizing lotion (I use cetaphil)after you tan. I have found that once I get it under control I can usually keep it at controlled somewhat with just the lotion. Has anyone else been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis as a result of thier psoriaisis??

Thanks and welcome EllieBelle! I haven't been applying lotion after my sessions, but if it'll help then I will. I've heard of Cetaphil, my derm had recommended it to me awhile back. Do you apply anything to the skin before going in? like medication or anything that helps it to go faster?

Dawnrise! I'm about at the same point i was the last time i responded.. It IS getting better but VERY VERY slowly.. AND im getting SO SO tan!! i have an appt w/ my derm this thursday. I will discuss w/ him if doing UV treatments is an option, QuietlySerene.

Elliebelle.....yes, I also have psoriatic arthritis.

LovelyLizz....glad to hear its going well. It'll take time.

I have a mild case of ps on my knees and elbows. I also have ps under my nails and have pa in my toes. My little toe swells and is sensitive to the touch.