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Some surprising facts from the Colonel

Can I tan with psoriasis?

by Dr Sarah Brewer

question
I have psoriasis of the body and scalp. I have started going to a salon to do ten-minute sessions in a tanning booth. Should I be using some sort of lotion on my body and face when I do this? I am 70 years-old and have been fighting psoriasis now for five years without any success.

answer
While many people with psoriasis find their skin condition improves on exposure to sunlight, around one in five patients find that sunlight exacerbates their symptoms, especially if they get sunburnt. Treatment with UV light - especially with the use of skin sensitisers known as psoralens, is a beneficial medical treatment for some sufferers, however.

There are no guidelines on what to apply to skin before a tanning session, but an aftersun soother is a good idea. Do not apply any products or take any drugs that might sensitise your skin to the effects of ultraviolet light.

Ask your doctor for advise on whether any treatments you are using are likely to be affected by tanning sessions. As you are probably aware, most dermatologists to not agree with tanning, due to the risk of skin cancer.
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