Do tanning salons help?

[livoniaguy]

I've heard that tanning salons may help psoriasis. Is there any truth to this, and how is it different from the light therapy offered in dermatology offices? I've never tried either but am looking for new ways to treat my psoriasis. I currently use only a cetaphil and desonide compound moisturizer but my psoriasis is still spreading. My doctor perscribed a Clobex spray but its like $80 so I've been holding off as long as possible, but the psoriasis is spreading and I need to look into other alternatives. I'm also considering changing my dermatologist because the one I've been visiting for the last 4-5 years hasn't been anything more than decent and is an hour and a half away from my college in East Lansing, MI. Do you think it would make much of a difference? Any reccomendations? Thank you very much in advance for everything and if you have any questions or comments I'd be more than happy to listen.

[kimberlyjoy]

The main difference between a tanning salon and the doctor prescribed light therapy would be how safe it is.. As youve probably heard, tanning salons are said to give you skin cancer, etc...

im not sure what other differences there are, but im hoping more people will come share their experiences with ou.

[Brattgirl]

I think it's the type of light rays. Tanning salons are UVA and the light in photothrerapy at the doctors office is UVB...which is the one that's proven to be affective in helping psoriasis patients.

[tennka01]

My dermatologist flat out told me to go tanning. I have fair skin and the one time I've been tanning prior to this I went for 5 minutes and burnt so badly I peeled. What was he thinking???

[cheychey]

The type of rays are different. The ones in the demetologists office are more intense and target the exact cells which is causing the p to happen. Tanning beds are not as good and thourough as the ones in the office

[LAURENvsShark]

my sister goes to the tanning bed religiously and it helps hers really well, but we have different skin colors [shes naturally alittle darker than me, where as i am pale], i tried going and it made mine worse, it flaked up and hurt the most around my chest area. i only went twice, then figured it wasnt going to work for me.

[romantiq]

I tan often.

I think for me, my P comes with stress so when I'm in the tanning bed I am relaxed and it de-stresses me

It works wonders for the patches I have on my body and for my scalp.

[xCxRxYxSxTxAxLx]

i have talked with numerous doctors about tanning beds and it has never worked for me. uvb rays are what help your p and tanning salons use uva rays. i would just reccommend if you are going to make an effort to go to a tanning bed, make it the one in ur doctors office, or if u live in a sunny state like i do, use the sun. Because the sun has both uvb and uva rays.

[sonitron]

Hey livoniaguy,

I too live in East Lansing and go to MSU, I have always thought about going to tanning salons in EL for awhile now but haven’t had the guts to do it alone. So if your interested in giving it a try, definitely let me know…perhaps we can both research a good/cheaper place to go together.

Tanning has worked as well for me as any medication. I switched derms awile ago and I was surprised when my new derm told me NOT to go tanning. I have read in many different places that if you do get a sunburn it can make the P worse so be careful not to burn! I would start with a 10 min reginime and then work your way up. Good Luck!

[psorbgone]

You are tanning in the wrong beds! The 20 min beds most salons carry (the older crapier beds) have the UVB/UVA Bulbs. You have to be consistant and go at least 2 wks straight to see a result the 1st time. The newer beds, the expensive ones to tan in DO NOT have UVB only UVA. Facial tanners in the beds carry high UVB that's why those bulbs are only in the 15 min or less beds.

I tan religiously in the 20 min beds and my P is gone completely w/in 2 wks of a flair up, if I stop tanning and it comes back, I give it a full month to come back then go right back tanning.

I also use beta methasone steriod cream about 2x a month.

I buy the monthly unlimited tanning packages - don't waste your money on the newer beds, they are only going to bronze you and white flakes and bronzing do not mix!

Honestly BURNING is what takes my P away, I can also sit in the sun and get a sunburn and those spots that were "burned off" have never returned and I've had P 20 yrs. Of course the Derms will tell you NOT to tan 1) the risk of course 2) the progress of sunlight means you will not be in their office much, paying them for a 5 min visit and drugs that work once then back to his office and 3)they aren't getting any kickbacks from the salons.

[ashleyw]

Tanning beds have been awesome for me. The only thing is, if you burn the p, it hurts pretty bad. I typically only do it in the winter cuz thats when my p is the worst. I did light box therapy at the dermatologist and it did absolutely nothing for me but tanning beds seem to really help, plus you get a tan

[thumbelina213]

I tan once a week for 15 mins. I am a little on the pale side so when I started, I only went for 5 mins and worked my way up. My derm and rheumy both said it was a good idea to continue w/ the weekly visits, just make sure not to burn. I urge you to use a GOOD QUALITY moisturizer EVERY time you tan though! You do not want to bake in those beds w/out some moisture on you skin. Most tanning salons offer moisturizers in their store however they can be pricey. I go online and buy it in big bottles so that it is a little more affordable. I personally like the ones w/ hemp oil (very moisturizing). I suggest an unscented one to start to make sure it doesn't aggravate your skin.

[Britt0185]

Ok, here is the deal:
Most tanning places use UVA bulbs, but I have run into some that also use UVB. You want a place that has UVB bulbs b/c that is the specific specrum of light that helps p spots. And yes, always use moisterizing!! And don't start out long. Ask the person working there their suggestion as to how long and if you feel like you are getting hot too quickly, you can always turn it off early. Tanning beds are much much cheaper than the docs office.

Light boxes only use UVB and now have narrow UVB which just focuses the rays more specifically on the p. There is also a chance at getting skin cancer with this as well which is why you start out at a low dose and work your way up (like the tanning bed). The only reason why a derm would not suggest tanning is probally b/c he wants you to use his box b/c he has one. Any knowledgable derm would explain exactally what I have explained thus far about tanning vs. the light box.

There is always a chance that one might not work. There is no specific one to do. It's whatever your body reacts to best and you have to try it in order to know.

I hope this helps anyone that has read it. I have had p since I was 6 and I'm now 23 - that's 17 years of trying different regimines and therapies. I've experienced and tried it all.

[cvstokke]

i just got instructed to go do light box treatment. This may be a stupid question but will also develop some sort of tan from using the light box? It'd be nice if I could kill two birds with one stone.

Also - with your experience, have insurance companies been good about covering light box treatments? I have double insurance coverage.

Thanks everyone!

[singlebarrel]

Most insurance companies cover in office phototherapy and it works very well for most.

I have a home unit that my insurance would not cover so I bought it used and it works well for me.

[RastaPasta]

I tried this recently... got a membership for 3 months and went about 3 times a week. Didn't noticed a difference at all so I stopped It's expensive too. But my friend with a different kind of psoriasis than me said it helped a lot. I have flaky plaque psoriasis and I think she has guttate.

[ckd816]

Originally Posted by cvstokke

i just got instructed to go do light box treatment. This may be a stupid question but will also develop some sort of tan from using the light box? It'd be nice if I could kill two birds with one stone.

Also - with your experience, have insurance companies been good about covering light box treatments? I have double insurance coverage.

Thanks everyone!

Hi! I'm new here and this is my first post.

I did light box treatments quite some time ago... I was about 14 and I'm 21 now. I remember my insurance covering the in office treatments. I also definitely got a little tan! It never did much for my P though... I hope you have better luck than I did!

P.S. As for the original post topic, I think tanning beds/natural tanning (in moderation) are the greatest aids in helping my P. Just be careful not to burn! I agree that burning can actually make spots go away initially, but then they eventually return worse than they were to begin with. I haven't been to a tanning bed in probably 5 years, but I get a ton of sun just with my daily activities (I live in AZ).