We at Skin Matters Bristol understand the importance of image. Especially in a social media dominated society, particularly for younger audiences, appearance is the main focus for many of us. If we don’t look up to scratch on the surface, we feel the same inside. Especially with the growing increase in psoriasis sufferers in the UK, treatment is becoming significantly trickier to come by, with the NHS closing funding for hospitals to use this source of treatment. Through this, many rely on the option of sun bedding over more effective methods, likewise to our light therapy services. Here is why sunbeds will not help your skin and why it is discouraged by dermatologists and medical professionals globally.
Not surprisingly, the availability of sunbeds has tempted people with psoriasis to “self-medicate”. Tanning beds will often clear up the skin for a short amount of time, but once worn off, your condition often comes back worse off from the lack of consistency your skin is getting in terms of light and the damaging effects this UVA light has on your skin. Doctors up and down the UK recommend NOT to use sun beds to clear up skin conditions, because of this reoccurring problem mentioned. This is due to the large amount of UVA light emitted over what is increasingly more important, UVB light. UVA light without medication, such as psoralen, is relatively ineffective at treating psoriasis as it primary effect is to react to skin by burning or darkening (tanning) it.
When UVB light hits your skin, your immune system makes fewer cytokines — inflammatory proteins that trigger psoriasis flares. That helps to slow the growth of skin cells and therefore reduces skin conditions appearing. Some people notice that their skin clears up during the summer months when they’re out in the sun a lot. The sun may improve psoriasis a little bit. But overall, the UVB rays from sunlight and sun beds don’t work as well on psoriasis as the UVB rays from phototherapy.
Especially for those with fair or sensitive skin and light hair, sun bedding often to clear skin conditions will only worsen your skin with more of a chance of sunburn, with extreme cases of skin cancer coming off the back of sun bedding too often. Skin damage from a sunburn can cause more plaques to form and make your psoriasis even worse. Even The National Psoriasis Foundation does not recommend tanning beds to treat psoriasis, but instead urge the use of phototherapy, especially Narrowband UVB therapy as this a targeted form of light that anyone can use. It is safe for children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and even those with weakened immune systems (ongoing illness).
Sun bed light also goes deeper into the skin, making it more likely that your skin will react quicker and become worse in a short space of time. This raises your risk for melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. The more times you tan, especially in a tanning bed, the greater the odds you’ll get cancer.
Our medically supported light therapy recommended by dermatologists up and down the country is incredibly safe. Depending on the light you decide to rent or buy, our UVB therapy can be used to target a specific area or the whole body. It removes most UVA light, reducing the burning and cancerous effects that natural sunlight and sun beds bring.
The effects of psoriasis on quality of life are well-documented because of its chronic and relapsing nature. Narrow band light therapy has helped millions of people globally feel more comfortable in their own skin, so if you are looking for help to clear up your skin, get in contact with us today!