Sun beds for Psoriasis

[Scarydinosaurs]

Hello

I'm after some advice regarding using sunbeds for psoriasis. My DH has had light treatment in the past, and found it made a massive difference to his psoriasis, but unfortunately a combination of work, change of doctors and a rubbish referral system, he has been told it is unlikely he will ever get it again. He is on a waiting list to be referred back, but it's been six months now and even with chasing he isn't getting anywhere.

Other people have suggested trying normal sunbeds, but he is very wary of risking skin cancer. Also, lots of mixed advice regarding whether it is even effective or not as it is the wrong sort of UV light?

Does anyone self treat their psoriasis this way, and if you do, how many minutes do you go on for, and what sort of cream do you apply if you do use a cream?

Thanks so much!

I use sunbeds partly to stop acne. It's very effective but I know nothing about psoriasis

I did, complete waste of time for me.

What finally kicked it into touch after decades was talking therapy, giving up drinking and smoking and (weirdest of all) green smoothies.

I think I tried absolutely everything going.

I've had psoriasis since i was 5 and the only thing that has got rid of it completely is using the sunbed or sunbathing in general! Also cutting out red meat helped me alot.

Oh and i use for 10 minutes twice a week.

Agree with general sunbathing, particularly combined with sea bathing.

Wow! So many replies so quickly! Thanks so much!

pinky do you use any of your creams or sun cream first? Two 10 minutes seems so high! Did you start off that high or build up to it? Is that on a stand up or lay down one?

pretty wow that is a huge lifestyle overhaul! Well done for making so many changes.

I had a huge break out 6 years ago head to toe, spent a year on waiting lists getting no where, so started sunbeds. Cleared pretty quick. Ten minutes a week

My dh has psoriasis, we found a company that you can hire them from, specifically for psoriasis, I think it was about £40 a month. It did work but was a big commitment time wise, so it went back after a few months.

Ive suffered with chronic psoriasis for about 20 years. I've been an in patient in a dermatology hospital and in three weeks I went from being completely covered in chronic guttate psoriasis to totally clear in three weeks.
This was achieved using coal tar with bandages combined with UVB sunlight treatment.

I came out of hospital overjoyed as I was completely clear but then back to normal life with the stress of working and running a house, bringing up baby and within weeks it started creeping back.

So then I turned to using sunbeds to get me clear again. To cut a long story short, I ended up with a form of skin cancer on my face due to using sunbeds as opposed to using the hospital sunlight treatment (UVB) The dermatology specialist was horrified that I hadn't been informed the differences between the two..that normal sun beds are harmful.

Incidentally, the best light treatment by far for me is natural sunlight. I know it's hard work getting the sun to your skin in this country but a couple of weeks in the sun does wonders for my psoriasis. After the skin cancer scare, I always make sure I am wearing at least factor 30 though.
I have an appointment coming up at the dermatologist to discuss treatment plans with me. Injections has been mentioned as a new method which is meant to be effective.

Oh Andie how awful for you!

I really hope you have success with the injections.

Coal tar is the only thing that works for me.

I don't use any creams. , no. I do turn off the facial tanners though to prevent my face ageing! If you have fair skin 10 minutes will be very high so if you have pale skin try 4/5 minutes!

Forgot to add that's on a lay down sun bed! Can't be arsed to stand for 10 whole minutes

Thanks Pinky! Yes, prepared for the facial tanners- though, he does have psoriasis all round his scalp and hair line- so had planned to cover his face (eyes, cheeks and nose) and leave the rest? He has had some appear in his beard recently- it would be so amazing if this could clear it up!

We are taking as scientific if approach to it as we can, and following the advice I found here:

www.everydayhealth.com/psoriasis/treatment/should-you-treat-psoriasis-in-a-tanning-bed/

And hoping for the best! We won't be able to do every day as it suggests on there, but starting off very short sessions and build up depending on the success!

Dermatology light therapy is different to normal sun beds and very much controlled and well monitored dosages. If I remember rightly you can only have a certain amount of each of the 2 levels a hospital provides. X amount on A and X amount on B. If your DH has not reached his quota he will still be eligible, although there are long waiting lists (it used to be 16 months in our area approx 2 years ago). The psoriasis society used to provide discount vouchers on holidays abroad to their members, not sure if they still do, maybe worth checking out in the meantime?

I did and it helped a bit. I have humira injections now, they are amazing my psoriasis has 100% gone with zero side affects.

squabble that is really interesting and useful, thank you! He is waiting to be referred back, but there has been a real mess up with his discharge after his last light treatment and his GP seemed to think he wouldn't be eligible again.

andnow I'm so pleased the injections work for you! How wonderful for you to be 100% free! It must feel so liberating.

andnowitsseven

Would you mind telling me a bit more about the injections?

Interestingly, lots of people in an IBD groups for Crohns and Colitis are also having the same injections. The crossover in medication for these two autoimmune illnesses fascinates me!

Fingers crossed his GP can sort the confusion and get him back on the list scary.
Good result andnow, pleased it has worked so well. our trust use a similar, it's good for arthritis too. Wonderful world medicine!

Humira are fortnightly injections given for arthritis / psoriasis or Crohns. They are biologics , I had to wait ten years and exhaust all other avenues first as they cost £250 per injection. They really are life changing.

Yes scary I used to feel so embarrassed as it was in my hair my eyebrows , I couldn't wear skirts or shorts in the summer. I would highly recommend your dh asking about the possibly of humira.

Ive had psoriasis for more than 50 years and it covers 85% of my body including my face. I have tried pretty much everything that is available including uvb - I burn really easily though so never really get past 2-3 minutes. I definitly would be very wary of using a sunbed.

I have just started taking methotrexate as i also now have psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and my skin, after 4 doses, is pretty much cleared up - its amazing stuff. I do know people who take it just for psoriasis as well and they have had good results too.

Might be worth asking doc about

As has been said previously, they don't use the same kind of UV. Phototherapy cabinets are specifically designed so that they produce lots of UV at the wavelength that helps treat psoriasis and not a lot that causes harm. The UV used in sunbeds will contain a tiny amount of the correct wavelengths to treat psoriasis, but much more of the harmful wavelengths. So in order to get enough of the useful UV to do any good, you have to expose yourself to a huge amount of harmful UV.

Hi there, I am new to this, I have been taking humira for sometime and it settled my arthritis and Ulcerative Colitis, I have Ankylosing Spondylitus and there would be times I wouldn't be able to walk or even get out of bed, and the humira worked more or less straight away, so for that I give it the thumbs up, however I have now got psoriasis which I never had before due to the Humira, so I am having to come off it, Dr said sometimes the humira can cause the problem rather than take it away, so will be giving another injection a try once this is out of my system 😐😐😐