Is red light therapy good for psoriasis?

From glamourmagazine.co.uk

By Elle Turner

Kim Kardashian's a fan. Here's what you need to know 

If you’re Googling “Is red light therapy good for psoriasis?” you’re probably all too familiar with the complexities of finding a treatment that works for the chronic condition.

Alongside other idiopathic conditions, like stress, or irritable bowels, it's often all but impossible to pin down a specific reason for its trigger. Likewise, it’s aggravatingly difficult to find a cure. And, to make it especially unpredictable, what helps one person, may not help another. So if you can relate, we're truly sending love and luck that you get to the bottom of what works for you.

Dermatologists and rheumatologists have been working for years towards making psoriasis easier to manage and red light therapy, in particular, has been getting a lot of attention. Of course, it helps that it has a very high profile fan in its corner. Kim Kardashian has spoken previously, about using red light to help calm her psoriasis flare ups.

So, we spoke to the experts to find out more about how red light therapy can help.

                                                                                                                golubovy/Getty Images

What is psoriasis?

“Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes skin cells to renew too quickly,” says Sophie Smith, Aesthetician, Laser & Skin expert and Co-Founder of Grand Aesthetics Clinic. Specifically, “skin cells can multiply up to 10 times faster than normal,” notes Board-Certified Dermatologist and Cosmetologist, Dr Aiza Jamil.

It can also have a knock-on effect to other parts of the body. For instance, “it can affect joints, causing arthritis,” explains Dr Ahmed El Houssieny, Aesthetic Doctor & Founder of Bank Medispa on behalf of Allergan Aesthetics.

What does psoriasis look like?

“Psoriasis is mainly characterised by lesions in the skin, and these lesions tend to be a thickened top layer of the skin. They can appear silver/white, alongside redness. It is not contagious, and it can typically affect the face, elbows, back and anywhere on the body,” says Dr El Houssieny.

What does psoriasis feel like?

"Patients can experience itching, discomfort and pain from psoriasis, especially during flare-ups.’ says Dr Jamil.

What causes psoriasis?

“No one really understands why you get psoriasis, but the main reason is due to increased production of skin cells,” explains Dr El Houssieny. As for why this happens, “flare-ups [can be] triggered by stress, illness, hormonal changes or even the weather," says Sophie. "I’ve lived with psoriasis since childhood, so I understand first-hand how unpredictable those cycles can be, not just physically, but emotionally too,” she adds.

Does psoriasis go away?

“Many people experience cycles where their skin is relatively calm, followed by flare-ups,” notes Sophie.

Can red light therapy help with the skin condition?

The short answer is, it may help with symptoms but it can't cure the condition. “There is not enough evidence to suggest that it can penetrate deep enough to alter immune responses,” says Dr Jamil. But it can support by reducing inflammation and promoting repair.

“Red light therapy can work well for psoriasis, as it has an anti-inflammatory effect and can improve and repair the skin barrier,” confirms Dr El Houssieny. “It can also reduce the scaling and redness,” he adds. "As psoriasis is driven by inflammation, reducing that inflammatory response is key," agrees Sophie. As for who may benefit. “It’s best used for mild cases or as a supplement to other treatments, such as corticosteroids,” says Dr El Houssieny.

“In my experience and personally managing my own psoriasis, I’ve found consistent red-light therapy helps to reduce redness, soothe irritation, and support the skin’s recovery during flare-ups. While it isn’t a cure, it can be a powerful, non-invasive addition alongside medical advice,” says Sophie.

What to know about red light therapy

“For psoriasis, red light (around 630–660nm) and near-infrared light (around 830nm) are most commonly used. These wavelengths penetrate the skin to help reduce inflammation and promote healing," explains Dr Sonia Soopen Dentist & Medical Aesthetics Doctor of Grand Aesthetics. “In-clinic LED treatments offer a more powerful, medical-grade device with tailored settings for your specific skin needs. They are ideal for kickstarting treatment or managing flare-ups under the guidance of a professional. However, at-home LED masks or panels can be a fantastic way to maintain results between sessions. They're generally lower in intensity but, when used consistently and correctly, can be an excellent addition to your psoriasis management plan. We always recommend patients check with their clinician before starting at-home treatment to ensure they’re using the right device for their condition," she adds.

Is blue light better?

“In clinic, we typically use blue light for breakout-prone or acne-affected skin because it has antibacterial properties. It helps target acne-causing bacteria and regulate oil production, which makes it ideal for congested complexions,” says Sophie. Therefore blue light is not traditionally considered to be a psoriasis treatment.

However, “evidence suggests that blue light can have a strong biological effect on immune cells, bacterial populations and inflammatory pathways, so it may be beneficial for those with mild psoriasis,” notes Dr Jamil.

Before pursuing any treatment however, it's important to seek medical advice to ensure your condition has been properly identified, and therefore can be properly treated. “I would recommend speaking with a dermatologist beforehand if you suspect or are diagnosed with psoriasis,” says Dr Jamil.

How does Kim Kardashian treat her psoriasis?

Kim has been open about suffering with the skin condition for years and shared her experience of psoriasis in an in-depth interview with She MD, alongside her rheumatologist, Dr Daniel Wallace, who was able to shed more light on the condition.

Kim's first psoriasis flare-up happened when she was 30, but it was managed with a cortisone shot which suppressed the condition for around five years. “It came back maybe five years later, and I’ve never gotten rid of it again,” she explained. “I always have one [plaque] on my leg – my right leg [and] there’s always one on my stomach," she said. "There will be times when it gets really bad and it covers my legs and my butt and my stomach, but it’s only this one spot [on her leg] that will itch. And it will really, really itch when it does. When I started to get a little bit desperate is when it started to cover my face and there was a spot really close to my eye and it would just burn a little bit. I remember I had the Met Ball coming up that week and it was covering my face,” she shared.

Red light therapy

As for treatments, she revealed she's “tried everything," and shared “I really do believe so much in self care. I do red light saunas, I have a red light bed.” She also previously wrote on her now-deleted website in 2018 "there isn't a cure for psoriasis, but there are treatments that can help ease the symptoms." In particular, she uses the Clarify Home Light Therapy System. "I love it because it's a handheld, at-home treatment that syncs with your phone to give you step-by-step instructions and tells you when to do treatments and take progress photos," she said. "The device uses UVB and LED phototherapy to treat the skin. It's been one of the only things that has helped clear my psoriasis. I'm so happy that I finally found something that works," she said. At around a thousand dollars, it's not he most accessible tool, nor is the red light bed that she revealed she owns, in her 2024 office tour. However, in her more recent interview, Kim did admit that consistency is key and she's not always great at keeping up with red light therapy. “I’ve the red light [and] I’ve tried lasers that supposedly help,” she said, noting “I think if I was maybe a little more consistent with that, that could have worked.”

Topicals

Kim explained that when her psoriasis came back after five years, her first step was to go to a dermatologist, “so I went to Dr Lancer in Beverly Hills” for ”topicals" a drug applied directly to the skin in the form of an ointment, lotion or cream.

“When it gets bad [my doctor] would prescribe me Prednisolone. [It’s] a little steroid pack [that] calms everything down [so it] starts to go away with some topicals," said Kim. She shared that Dr Lancer also mixed her a “magical formula called T4 and the best advice he ever gave me was taking the cream, putting saran wrap around it and sleeping with it. So when it was on my legs, I’d put the cream on, saran wrap it, put socks on, go to bed, do my elbows, because it would get on my elbows, put a hair tie around the saran wrap so it wouldn’t come out and I would sound like the tin man, like super crunchy and it would take it away.”

However, if you're using topicals, it's worth consulting with your doctor about how best to apply it as many formulas may be too strong to use with this method and they can thin your skin, so this method works better with gentle emollients.

Medication and biologics

Kim shared she prefers not to use medication if she doesn't have to, but confirmed that medication is what ultimately helped her manage her psoriasis.

“More recently it got really bad and I called [my] doctor. I don’t like to be on medication, but sometime you just have to. This is the first time where I said I need to try something a little bit more than a topical and I did and it’s worked and this is one of the first times it’s completely gone. I don’t have one spot,” she shared. "I was lucky that after one shot, it completely went away."

Her rheumatologist, Dr Daniel Wallace, revealed Kim used a biologic, which according to the NHS, is usually given as an injection and “reduces inflammation by targeting overactive cells in the immune system. They are usually used if you have severe psoriasis that has not responded to other treatments, or if you cannot use other treatments.” The American Academy of Dermatology Association explains “biologics are newer, stronger medicines. A biologic can target, or quiet, only the part of the immune system that is overactive because of psoriasis.”

Lifestyle changes

Aside from taking a medical route, Kim has tried lifestyle changes. When she first posted about having psoriasis, she noticed “everyone under the sun was sending me home remedies. I tried drinking tar tea, special herbs. I tried the holistic way. I tried the celery juice diet for six weeks. I tried every topical cream, every soap, from natural, to unnatural. At some points I was just like, I’ll do anything," she revealed. But ultimately, “I couldn’t figure out anything. Everyone says different things. So it would be cut out the citrus, cut out any acid food. I didn’t see anything," notes Kim.

https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/red-light-therapy-psoriasis-treatment-benefits

Can losing weight improve psoriasis? What the evidence shows

From theconversation.com

For many people living with psoriasis, the red, scaly skin patches are only part of the story. Another challenge is the uncertainty about whether there is anything they can do themselves to help manage their skin.

Treatments have improved greatly in recent years. Creams, tablets and injectable medicines can all help control symptoms. Even so, many people still ask a straightforward question in clinic: is there anything I can do alongside my medication that might make a difference? Weight often comes up in that discussion. Psoriasis is more common in people who are overweight or living with obesity.

Research now shows that, for people who are overweight, losing weight can improve both the severity of psoriasis and overall quality of life.

Doctors have long suspected that weight loss could help, but earlier research was inconsistent. Many studies were small, short term and did not always measure how people felt in everyday life. As newer weight loss treatments have become more widely available, it has been important to take another look at the evidence.

Body weight and psoriasis severity

To provide a clearer picture, my colleagues and I reviewed the highest quality studies available on weight loss support for people with psoriasis. In these studies, participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group received structured support to help with weight management alongside their usual psoriasis care. The other group continued with usual care alone. Random assignment helps ensure that any differences seen are likely to be due to the support itself, rather than other factors.

The programmes varied. Some focused on reduced calorie diets. Others combined diet with exercise or behavioural support, such as coaching and goal setting to help people stick with changes. A small number included weight loss medicines. In all cases, researchers carefully measured both weight change and changes in the skin.

               Some weight loss programmes included exercise as well as reduced calorie diets. NinaKulagina/Shutterstock

Across the studies, people who received weight management support lost about seven kilograms more on average than those who did not. Their psoriasis improved more as well. Doctors’ assessments of skin severity showed greater improvement, and participants were more likely to experience a substantial reduction in their plaques, which are the thick, inflamed patches of skin typical of psoriasis. They also reported better day to day wellbeing, suggesting the changes were noticeable in everyday life, not only in clinical measurements.

Two patterns stood out. Greater weight loss was generally linked with greater improvement in psoriasis. People who started with more severe psoriasis often saw larger benefits.

This does not mean weight is the sole cause of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a complex condition involving the immune system, which is the body’s defence against infection, and it is influenced by both genetics and environmental factors. However, body fat is biologically active. It produces chemicals that promote inflammation, which is the body’s response to injury or illness. These chemicals circulate in the bloodstream and can affect many organs, including the skin. Reducing excess weight may lower this background inflammation and help calm the overactive immune response seen in psoriasis.

No single diet emerged as clearly superior. The studies used different approaches, yet the common factor linked with skin improvement was weight loss itself. This suggests there is no single diet that everyone must follow. Instead, supported and sustainable weight loss appears to be the key factor.

                                      The common factor linked with skin improvement was weight loss. Ljupco Smokovski/Shutterstock

For patients, this is important. People with psoriasis were involved in shaping how we interpreted the findings. Some said they had wondered whether changing their diet or losing weight might help, but were unsure whether there was solid evidence. Others said they would feel more motivated knowing that weight management could benefit both their general health and their skin.

For clinicians, clearer evidence also helps. Conversations about weight can be sensitive. Without strong data, it can be difficult to raise the topic in a confident and constructive way. Bringing together the available trial evidence provides a stronger basis for these discussions when they are relevant to the person.

Another treatment tool

There are still limits to what we know. Most of the studies lasted only a few months. Psoriasis is a long term condition, and maintaining weight loss over time can be difficult. We cannot yet say with certainty how long the skin improvements last over several years.

Weight management is also shaped by many factors, including access to affordable healthy food, safe places to exercise, mental health and other medical conditions. Support needs to be practical, realistic and free from judgement.

Even with these limits, a consistent picture emerges when the trials are considered together. Adding structured weight management support to usual psoriasis treatment is likely to improve skin severity and quality of life for many people who are overweight.

This does not replace medical treatment. It also does not mean that everyone with psoriasis needs to focus on weight. But for those who are interested, there is now clearer evidence that weight loss can form part of overall care.

For someone living with psoriasis, that knowledge can change how much control they feel they have. Alongside prescribed treatments, there may be another tool available that benefits both the skin and overall health.

https://theconversation.com/can-losing-weight-improve-psoriasis-what-the-evidence-shows-276113

Psoriatic Arthritis: Hand Strength, Dexterity, and Fine Motor Control

From everydayhealth.com

If you have psoriatic arthritis (PsA), you may be familiar with sore fingers, stiff wrists, and the frustration of struggling with formerly simple tasks like buttoning a shirt or chopping vegetables. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that causes painful, swollen joints. It frequently affects the hands.

When PsA impacts your hands, this can reduce strength, dexterity, and fine motor skills, all of which can interfere with your daily life.

“In severe cases, it may be almost impossible to open and close the hand or make a fist,” says Norman Gaylis, MD, a rheumatologist and board member of the American College of Rheumatology in Miami. “This drastically reduces the quality of life when people are unable to complete household chores, pursue hobbies they enjoy, or take care of their daily hygiene needs because they are unable to use their hands.”

How PsA Takes a Toll on Hand Function

In the most basic terms, psoriatic arthritis affects hand function through chronic inflammation. This can degrade cartilage and bone over time.

These are the ways that PsA can change your hands:

• Reduced Strength and Muscle Atrophy When your hands are painful, swollen, or stiff, you might use them less. This can lead to a loss of strength and muscle mass.
• Stiffness Inflammation from psoriatic arthritis can make your hands feel stiff. This is due to synovitis (inflammation of the joint capsule) and enthesitis (inflammation where your tendons and ligaments attach to your bones).
• Difficulty Gripping Grip strength decreases as the severity of psoriatic arthritis increases. This affects the ability to both grasp an object with your whole hand, like when you pick up a water bottle, and pick up small items with your thumb and index finger.
• Swelling Psoriatic arthritis can cause severe swelling in the fingers, called dactylitis. You might also hear this called “sausage fingers.”
• Nail Changes Up to 80 percent of people with PsA experience changes in their fingernails. “With some patients, nails start to look broken, become brittle, and even separate from the nail bed,” says Dr. Gaylis. Not only can this feel embarrassing but it can be painful and make it difficult to use the tips of your fingers (like you do when typing on a computer or phone).
• Deformities Actual deformities in the hands are rare these days, thanks to better treatment. However, they can still develop if psoriatic arthritis isn’t treated. “In the most severe cases, arthritis mutilans develops and dissolves tissue and bones in the fingers,” says Gaylis. This occurs in about 5 percent of psoriatic arthritis cases.
• Loss of Fine Motor Skills Hand swelling, pain, and stiffness can all make it challenging to perform tasks that require precision, dexterity, and coordination. You might find it increasingly difficult to manipulate small objects like zippers or buttons.

All these symptoms add up to real difficulty completing functional tasks in your everyday life.

Who Can Help Restore Hand Function

There are a few health professionals you can reach out to if psoriatic arthritis is affecting your hands. The primary ones are rheumatologists and certified hand therapists (CHTs).

Rheumatologists are doctors who specialize in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases that affect the joints, bones, and muscles. If you’re diagnosed with PsA, you’ve most likely already seen a rheumatologist.

“Fortunately, rheumatologists can treat psoriatic arthritis with many new biologics and medicines that are very effective,” says Gaylis. These medications help manage inflammation and swelling from psoriatic arthritis, which can noticeably improve hand function.

CHTs are also an essential part of the team for anyone with psoriatic arthritis affecting their hands. These health professionals can either be occupational therapists or physical therapists who’ve gone through extra training to specialize in treating hand conditions like psoriatic arthritis.

A CHT will assess your mobility and function and give you tailored treatment that might include splints, exercises, and assistive devices. You can ask your doctor to refer you to a CHT, or depending on your health insurance, you may be able to make your own appointment.

Strategies to Improve Strength and Control

We use our hands constantly, from turning on the tap at a sink to sliding a credit card out of a wallet. Bringing back strength and control to your hands can improve your quality of life.

Therapeutic Exercises

Therapeutic exercises can reduce pain and improve coordination, strength, and function. Common exercises for PsA include the following:

• Isometric Exercises These are static exercises during which your muscles stay the same length. “Isometric exercises are safer for the arthritic hand to perform because the joints are not moving,” says Kristin Valdes, a certified hand therapist and professor at Touro University Nevada, in Henderson, Nevada. In this type of exercise, you squeeze an immovable object, and your joints are supported by the object you’re holding. Valdes suggests squeezing a firm racquetball or tennis ball to improve grip strength.
• Passive Range of Motion With psoriatic arthritis, the fingers can flex (or “claw” inward) over time as the skin contracts. Anyone experiencing this “should use the other hand or pull their fingertips over the edge of the table to try to straighten out the fingers daily,” says Valdes.
• Tendon Gliding This set of exercises encourages smooth movement of your finger tendons within their sheath.

Be cautious when starting hand exercises with psoriatic arthritis. “If treatment is too aggressive, it can increase hand pain and cause skin breakdown,” says Valdes.

Consider seeing a CHT for a personalized program of exercises, since everyone’s psoriatic arthritis is different.

Assistive Tools

When your wrist is sore, twisting open a jar can be very painful. And when your fingers are stiff, it can feel near impossible to pick up small items. Assistive devices can help you achieve these everyday tasks with less effort and therefore less pain.

Assistive devices for psoriatic arthritis include these examples:

• Wide-grip pens or utensils
• Electronic jar or can openers
• Ergonomic kitchen tools
• Button hooks
• Elastic shoelaces
• Electric toothbrushes
• Gripping materials (to hold a mixing bowl in place, for example, or grip a lid)
• Tap turners or lever handles (to avoid twisting)
• Tongs
• Adaptive cutting boards
• Motion sensor dish soap or shampoo dispensers

Orthoses

For those seeing a hand therapist for treatment, “The therapist can also fabricate a custom orthosis to rest the joints,” says Valdes. This might look like a ring to keep your finger joint straight or a brace that wraps around your thumb.

You can also get premade orthoses like wrist splints online or in pharmacies, but talk to your hand therapist or doctor first to ensure that you’re getting the right one.

Joint Protection and Skin Protection

Joint protection techniques, which are usually taught by a CHT, are ways to perform daily tasks so that less stress is applied to your joints. The following techniques are common:

• Practice the large joint rule. Use larger and stronger joints for tasks instead of smaller ones. Valdes gives the examples of pushing instead of pulling, carrying bags with your forearm instead of hands, and using a shoulder bag rather than a handbag.
• Limit repetitive hand movements. For example, use an electric can opener instead of a hand-operated one. You can still knit or do hobbies involving your hands, but Valdes recommends limiting these to no more than 30 minutes at a time.
• Use a light grip. “Try not to grip so forcefully that the hand fatigues easily,” says Valdes. One way to achieve this is to bulk up the handles of tools or utensils. For example, when cooking, wrap a potholder around a pot handle to make it larger; that reduces the pressure on your hand.
• Don’t forget skin protection. Applying cream to tight skin can help protect both the skin and joints.

Heat and Cold Therapy: Using Paraffin Baths for Stiffness vs. Ice for Acute Inflammation

If your fingers are swollen, try cold therapy with a cold cloth or ice pack. This can help reduce inflammation in the affected joints.

Heat therapy can’t bring down acute inflammation, but it can provide pain relief. If your hands are stiff or painful, consider applying a warm cloth or heating pad.

Warm paraffin, or wax, baths, which a CHT can perform, can also be soothing. A hand therapist might do this to loosen up your joints before exercising them. However, you’ll want to avoid paraffin baths if you have any open cuts or inflamed skin on your hands.

Lifestyle and Daily Habits

Breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps can help you conserve energy and manage pain. Be sure to take frequent breaks to rest your hands. “For example, when making a meal, break up cutting or chopping tasks throughout the day,” says Valdes.

You’ll also want to make a daily habit out of your therapeutic exercises, particularly stretching and range of motion exercises. However, avoid strengthening exercises when your hands are painful, says Valdes.

Overall, do your best to maintain an active lifestyle and keep up with the activities that bring you joy and meaning. You can also try new hobbies that don’t tax your hands as much, such as singing, line dancing, learning a language, or hiking.

If you’re struggling with hand pain or stiffness, talk to your rheumatologist or CHT. Your rheumatologist may adjust your medication, and your CHT can strategize personalized solutions, whether that’s a new hand splint or exercise program.

The Takeaway

• A rheumatologist can help you manage psoriatic arthritis hand symptoms with newer biologics and medications that control inflammation.
• Certified hand therapists can tailor exercises to your specific hand symptoms, recommend assistive tools, and educate you on joint protection to preserve and restore hand function.
• Therapeutic hand exercises can help enhance grip strength, dexterity, and control for performing daily tasks.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatic-conditions/psoriatic-arthritis-hand-strength-and-dexterity/ 

Is It Okay to Use Self-Tanners if You Have Psoriasis?

From everydayhealth.com

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that speeds up skin cell turnover, leading to thick, scaly patches on the skin. These plaques can develop all over the body, including the arms, legs, and back — and this is often why people with psoriasis look for ways to make their skin look more even, especially in the summer months.

Self-tanners and spray tans are popular options because they create the appearance of a tan without the UV exposure and risk of skin cancer. And for people with psoriasis, a tan may be a confidence booster as it may reduce the contrast between plaques and surrounding skin, making flare-ups less noticeable.

It’s worth noting that some natural sunlight can improve plaque psoriasis in certain people. But dermatologists warn that exposure to UV light is best achieved via phototherapy, where UV light is administered in a controlled setting. Sunbathing isn’t recommended as sunburn is a form of skin trauma that can worsen psoriasis and increase skin cancer risk.

This is where sunless tanning products often come into the conversation. But are they safe for psoriatic skin?

How Self-Tanners Work

Self-tanners are topical products — such as lotions, creams, foams, or drops that can be mixed into your makeup or moisturizer — that you can use at home. When they’re applied to the skin, the product interacts with proteins on the skin’s surface to create a darker colour. Like a tan, the colour wears off after a few days.

The active ingredient in most self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a colour additive approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). DHA creates a temporary browning effect that looks like a tan, with the color usually developing within a few hours.

Self-tanners don’t penetrate deep into the skin, which is why they’re considered safer than UV tanning, says Lawrence Green, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. “Self-tanners are fine to use because they don’t sink into the skin; they sit on the skin,” Dr. Green says.

But they don’t protect your skin from UV rays unless the product explicitly says it contains SPF, according to Steven Daveluy, MD, a professor and the program director at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, where he specializes in treating patients with skin diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema. “I always make sure to remind patients that [self-tanners] don't offer sun protection, so they still need to use protection with sunscreen, hats, clothing, shade, and other methods,” he says.

Even if your self-tanner has sunscreen, you should reapply a separate UVA/UVB sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every two hours if you’re outdoors.

                                                                                                                                  Adobe Stock

How Spray Tans Work

Spray tans use the same active ingredient — DHA — but instead of being applied by hand, the product is sprayed onto the skin, through an aerosol spray can.

Once the spray tan is applied, you’ll notice your skin will darken or “tan” over the next 2 to 4 hours, up to 24 to 72 hours. The more DHA is applied to the skin, the darker your spray tan will appear. Spray tans tend to last about 5 to 10 days.

Bear in mind, if you’re getting a spray tan in a commercial spray tanning booth, you should check on safety measures put in place to make sure the product won’t get into your eyes, nose, mouth, or lips, the FDA has cautioned. That’s because it doesn’t have data on the safety of inhaling or ingesting the spray.

Just like self-tanners, spray tanning products don’t offer UV protection unless they explicitly say they do, Green says.

What to Consider When You Have Psoriasis

Self-tanners and spray tans are safe to use for people with psoriasis, Dr. Daveluy says. “They offer a great option for patients who want to look tanned without increasing their risk of skin cancer and premature aging.”

This comes with an important caveat, though. The product should not be applied to open or inflamed skin — and it won’t sit smoothly on dry, patchy skin or plaques.

“It's just the thickness of the plaques, the unevenness, the scales. It's going to be very difficult to get the product on evenly,” Green says, using an analogy of applying foundation to inflamed, acne-prone skin, or dry, flaking skin.

The self-tanner won’t last as long on parts of the body affected by psoriasis, too, Daveluy says. “It’s going to flake off more quickly. In psoriasis, the skin turns over 17 times faster than skin without psoriasis,” he says, noting your psoriasis scale will soak up the self-tanner, then flake off.

There’s no evidence that spray tans or self-tanners can trigger flares or outbreaks — but the way you apply the product can, says Chris Adigun, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Applying self-tanner to opened or cracked plaques could cause the psoriasis to worsen. “DHA is meant to be applied to intact skin,” Dr. Adigun says.

Exfoliating affected parts of the body beforehand may even trigger new psoriasis patches through the Koebner response, a phenomenon where skin trauma — like scratches — can cause psoriasis to spread to previously unaffected areas, she says.

This is why you should get your psoriasis under control before using self-tanners or spray tans, Daveluy says. Your dermatologist can prescribe topical, oral, or injectable medications to manage your disease. “Our goal is for our patients with psoriasis to have less than 1 percent of the body affected by the psoriasis,” he says.

How to Use Self-Tanners and Spray Tans Safely

If you have psoriasis and you’re using self-tanners or spray tans, a few simple precautions can help reduce irritation, improve results, and protect your skin barrier. These include the following:

Choose Gentle Formulations

Daveluy says that while psoriatic skin isn’t as sensitive as other types of skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, you can take precautions and shop for a self-tanner or spray with the following characteristics:

• Fragrance-free
• Free of exfoliating acids or scrubs
• Noncomedogenic, if acne is a concern
• Free of alcohol, dyes, essential oils, and sulfates

The aim here is to choose products that are less likely to cause irritation or allergy, Daveluy says.

Patch Test First

It’s especially important to do a patch test on your skin before using a new product on the rest of your body if you have psoriasis.

For daily-use products like moisturizers, Daveluy recommends applying the product to the same spot — usually the inside of the upper arm — twice a day for about two weeks and watching for signs of irritation, such as itching or rash. If the skin tolerates it well, it’s likely safe to use elsewhere.

Because self-tanners aren’t typically used every day, you can modify this approach by applying the product to the test area every few days instead. 

Always Use Sunscreen

Protecting your skin from the sun is especially important if you have psoriasis. Some psoriasis medications can increase sun sensitivity; and people who have had extensive UVB phototherapy may also have a higher risk of skin cancer, though the research is contradictory. Don’t forget: severe sunburn can also trigger a psoriasis flare. 

When choosing sunscreen, look for a broad-spectrum formula with SPF 30 or higher, ideally containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which help block harmful UV rays. Always avoid applying sunscreen to open or actively inflamed skin.

Moisturize Strategically

Moisturizing is key for people with psoriasis. You can prep the skin before applying a self-tanner by taking a warm bath to loosen or remove scales, then follow up with moisturizing immediately after, Adigun says.

“It might look marginally better,” she says.

You can also try gentle exfoliation before application — with careful attention to avoid exfoliating parts of your body with active psoriasis, Daveluy says. “Don't try to exfoliate or pick the scale off your psoriasis, since trauma can cause psoriasis to flare,” he warns.

After the self-tanner or spray tan sets, keep moisturizing your skin to reduce flaking, Green says. He recommends using a thick, heavy cream — think jar-based products rather than pump lotions — to help seal in moisture.

The Takeaway

• Self-tanners and spray tans work on the surface of the skin, creating a temporary tan without UV exposure.
• Results may be uneven and fade faster on psoriasis plaques, because thicker, scaly skin sheds more quickly than unaffected areas, causing the color to flake off sooner or appear patchy. 
• Make sure you moisturize regularly to help protect the skin barrier, and choose sunless-tanning products that are fragrance-free and free of other ingredients that may irritate the skin. 

https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-conditions/are-self-tanners-safe-for-psoriasis/