Tanning bed for psoriasis

Artificial tanning is not just a tribute to fashion. Solarium procedures not only make the skin more beautiful, but also improve its health. The artificial "sun" is gentler than the real one, acts on the skin, stimulates the production of vitamin D, serotonin, has an anti-inflammatory and antifungal effect. Many patients are interested in whether solarium is indicated for psoriasis.

Is it possible to use a solarium if you have psoriasis?

Is it possible to use a solarium if you have psoriasis? – the question is ambiguous. In some patients, ultraviolet rays always cause an exacerbation, while moderate doses bring relief to others. In each individual case, the color and type of skin, individual tolerance to rays, intensity and form of the disease should be taken into account. In addition, it is necessary to select the correct combination and dosage of rays of different lengths, balance and control their effect.

In order for a solarium to be useful for psoriasis, you should choose a salon with suitable UV lamp characteristics. It is important to have reflectors in the lamp or outside it, since a reflective device increases its efficiency by 10%.

The benefits of a solarium are that:

• UVA rays have a positive effect on skin diseases, including psoriasis;
• UV-B rays stimulate the synthesis of vitamin D3, which softens the negative impact of stress – one of the provoking factors in psoriasis;
• There are no harmful C-rays, which are part of the solar spectrum, in artificial lamps.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Does tanning help with psoriasis?

It is impossible to answer the question “Does a solarium help with psoriasis?” in one word – due to the variety of forms and stages of psoriasis (another name for psoriasis). According to doctors, the form of the disease is of decisive importance: with the summer form, additional irradiation is contraindicated, with the winter form – it is recommended and even encouraged.

Statistics confirm the benefits of solarium for psoriasis. According to these data:

• artificial tanning eased the course of the disease in more than half of patients;
• every fifth person received the treatment to significantly improve their condition;
• and only one in ten people felt their condition worsened by ultraviolet rays.

It has also been noted that tanned skin remains in a state of remission for a longer period of time than untanned skin, and exacerbations occur in a less pronounced form than usual.

There is even a suggestion, although not yet confirmed, that the body sometimes reacts to the lack of ultraviolet radiation in a peculiar way by developing psoriasis. Therefore, supposedly, people living in the tropics practically do not suffer from psoriasis - they have enough sun and ultraviolet radiation, and foreigners who come to the south quickly recover from this disease.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ]

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages and disadvantages of a solarium for psoriasis should be assessed by a specialist. Only the attending physician can tell you which solarium and which lamps are useful, prescribe a course and monitor its effectiveness. With this formulation of the question, a solarium is safe for any person.

The lamps used in solariums do not contain C-rays that are harmful to humans, which are present in natural sunlight. Provided that the solarium dosage is observed for psoriasis, the skin condition improves, defects disappear, and it acquires a beautiful tone. The body is enriched with vitamin D, endorphins, and energy.

The disadvantages are mainly related to improper preparation and conduct of sessions. Thus, skin burns are possible with an overdose of radiation.

In addition, solarium is not a 100% cure for psoriasis. There are individual skin characteristics and forms of the disease when solarium is ineffective for psoriasis.

[ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Preparing for a solarium with psoriasis

When preparing for a solarium for psoriasis, the body is lubricated with special tanning cosmetics to protect the skin from drying out and cracking. A cosmetologist will help you choose a mousse, lotion or serum specifically for your skin. A thin layer is enough for dark-skinned people, while light-skinned people need a generous smear.

• Perfumes, deodorants, and perfumes are not allowed in the solarium. All jewelry must be removed. Women are advised to protect their intimate areas with underwear.

It is better to wipe the face with a moisturizing alcohol-free lotion. It is forbidden to use nutritional or hormonal products in a solarium for psoriasis.

Before the session, you need to put on a braid or a cap made of cotton fabric, otherwise the hair will lose its shine from ultraviolet radiation and become dull and brittle.

Eyes should be hidden behind dark glasses. Contact lenses are not allowed. There should be no makeup or lipstick on the face. Tattoos are best covered with fabric.

After the procedure, you should rest a little, drink tea or juice with vitamin C. And only then take a shower.

Indications

The winter form of the disease, which worsens mainly in the cold season, is the main indication for solarium for psoriasis. Psoriasis in the early stages is better treated with ultraviolet light.

In case of teardrop-shaped form, solarium helps to eliminate spots and plaques after just a few sessions. The recommended solarium course for psoriasis for lasting results is 20 sessions.

You need to start with three to five minutes. If after 48 hours there is no rash or peeling on the skin, then you can proceed to the next procedure.

[ 8 ]

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of solarium for psoriasis:

• summer psoriasis, which worsens in warm weather and subsides in winter (relapse is possible with radiation);
• erythroderma;
• photodermatosis;
• problems not related to psoriasis (mastopathy, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid dysfunction);
• asthma;
• postoperative period;
• moles and birthmarks.

Ultraviolet light may be incompatible with some pharmaceuticals.

After the first procedure, it is important to monitor the body's reaction. If no signs of exacerbation are detected within two days, you can visit the solarium again.

The procedures are not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, children and teenagers.

[ 9 ], [ 10 ]

The treatment protocol

Only a small dose of ultraviolet light has a therapeutic effect. It is recommended to start UV irradiation with three to five minutes and gradually extend it to 10 minutes. It is not necessary to increase the duration of sessions too much: an overdose can provoke undesirable consequences. The best effect is achieved if the body in the solarium for psoriasis is positioned vertically, and not in a lying position.

In addition to the usual equipment used in solariums and beauty salons, there are special antipsoriatic lamps with an optimal ratio of different types of rays and equipped with a reflector. Keratolytic drugs that remove dead cells are prescribed for procedures with such lamps. In this way, the path is cleared for short-wave rays and the sensitivity of the skin to short and long rays increases. This eliminates the visible symptoms of psoriasis for a huge number of patients with severe forms and extensive skin lesions.

Since this method is unsafe due to the risk of oncology, it is used only in extreme cases, when other options have been exhausted and have not yielded results. In such cases, the anticancer drug Methotrexate is recommended for the prevention of malignant tumors.

Complications

With the correct dosage of solarium for psoriasis, the consequences are mostly positive. Psoriasis plaques disappear, peeling stops, skin tone is evened out. The body is additionally saturated with vitamin D, hormones of joy - endorphins. Remission occurs.

In some patients, there is no positive effect or an exacerbation is provoked. In such cases, visiting a solarium is not recommended.

Solarium complications in psoriasis are possible if the rules of preparation are violated and safety precautions are not observed. They manifest themselves in the form of severe itching, peeling of the epidermis, and the formation of new lesions.

Excess of both solar and artificial ultraviolet rays causes complications and worsens the course of psoriasis. To check the effect of artificial lamps, a repeated irradiation session should not be done earlier than two days after the first.

Ultraviolet radiation generally ages the skin and, if used uncontrolled, can cause cancer. Without protective glasses, eye damage is possible.

[ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ]

Reviews

Official medicine has a dual attitude towards solariums for psoriasis: it does not consider it a mandatory therapeutic method, but it does not categorically deny it either. Nevertheless, patients actively use UV rays and discuss the effect of solariums on psoriasis on forums.

Some reviews from patients who have used UV lamps to treat psoriasis:

• "Olya Kolesnikova: It helps me, but in a complex way."
• "Nelya Milashka: Helps relieve exacerbation, but does not cure completely."
• "Olga Roshchina-Romashina: After psoriasis this year, dark spots remained and did not go away."

Psoriasis is a complex disease: unfortunately, it is incurable, but fortunately, it is not contagious. Solarium sessions for psoriasis are indicated provided that they are prescribed by a doctor. A course of treatment carried out in compliance with the rules can be an effective way to improve the condition of the skin and the patient's mood.