How Does Tanning Help Psoriasis?

Many people, including doctors, say tanning is bad for the skin because it can cause skin cancer.  This may be true, but tanning can also help certain skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.  Tanning has been used as a form of medical treatment for many people with arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.

• Skin and muscular problems react to UVB rays.  These rays, along with UBA rays come from the sun and tanning beds.  Cheaper tanning beds will not have any UVB rays at all and should be avoided.  Most tanning salons will offer high-quality tanning beds that have 90 to 99 percent UVB.  Sessions in these beds cost more money, but they are much more powerful against psoriasis and other skin problems.

• Tanning with UVB rays will actually slow the growth of effected cells.  The rays penetrate the skin and cause the cells to slow the regeneration process.  This can only be done if the tanning is completed on a consistent schedule.  Patients who wish to try tanning as a way of eliminating or improving psoriasis should tan for 15 minutes, three times a week.  This pattern should continue for at least four weeks before improvement is visible.

• Another way that tanning may help psoriasis patients is that it darkens the skin tone and actually camouflages the skin ailment.  Using proper tanning lotions can help keep the skin cells moisturized so they are less likely to regenerate quickly.  UVB rays can also be obtained by regular exposure to the sun, but, a person may burn too much in direct sunlight.  Tanning in a bed gives the skin just the right amount of UVB rays in a short period of time and lessens the exposure to UVA rays.