Our dermatologists endorse the National Psoriasis Foundation’s opinion that tanning beds are not an adequate substitute for physician-supervised light therapy. How Does Red Light Therapy for Psoriasis Work? She's found that the best psoriasis treatment for her is ultraviolet light. This treatment is administered in a health care provider’s office or clinic or at home with a phototherapy unit. The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) estimates it affects about 10 percent of people with psoriasis. There are three administration routes for PUVA: topically as a cream, mixed in with bathwater, or ingested orally. Narrow-band UVB may clear psoriasis faster and produce longer remissions. Stable plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, and psoriasis of the palms and soles are most responsive to PUVA treatment. 5000 O'Donovan Blvd. Around 7.4 million people in the United States have psoriasis, according to one study. The beneficial effect for psoriasis is attributed primarily to UVB light. NPF does not support the use of indoor tanning beds as a substitute for phototherapy performed with a prescription and under a health care provider’s supervision. The immune system attacks the skin cells and causes them to turn over faster than normal. Talk with your health care provider to find out if treating with sunlight is right for you. Ultraviolet light A (UVA) is relatively ineffective for psoriasis unless it’s used with light-sensitizing agents called psoralens. We use cookies to offer you a better experience and analyze our site traffic. 12 Possible Causes, The No BS Guide to Going to the Beach with Psoriasis, Psoriasis and Depression: How They’re Linked, Best Advice from People Living with Psoriasis, The Best Soaps and Shampoos for Psoriasis. Copyright © 1996-2020 National Psoriasis Foundation/USA. It appears as a red rash all over the body. Tanning beds and light therapy, which is carefully administered under a doctor’s supervision, are not the same, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. It’s UVB wavelengths that are most effective for treating people with psoriasis . You can also find phototherapy providers through our Provider Directory. UVB narrowband therapy is up there with biologics for clinically proven effectiveness though it only helps with skin, not PsA. It removes most UVA light, reducing the burning and cancerous effects that natural sunlight would bring. Sunlight is not as effective for the treatment of psoriasis as prescription phototherapy. In May 2014, the FDA reclassified sunlamps (which are used in tanning beds and booths) from Class I (low risk) to Class II (moderate risk) products. Last updated on 10/01/20 by the National Psoriasis Foundation. Siciliano says she's tried all the conventional psoriasis treatments, including a 22-day stay in New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center when she was 19 for light box therapy and tar baths. The safest way to get out in the sun is to do it a little bit at a time. It’s recommended that you spend at least 5 to 10 minutes in the midday sun each day. However, there is not yet enough long-term data to indicate how long improvements will last following a course of laser therapy. ofcmgr1@thedermatologyclinic.com. UVA light without medication, such as psoralen, is relatively ineffective at treating psoriasis. These organizations stress that the ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds can damage the skin, causing it to wrinkle and age prematurely, and increase your risk for developing skin cancer. Should you try tanning to get the same benefit? If you are going outside to use the sun as a psoriasis treatment, follow these safety tips: By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. UVB phototherapy treatment involves exposing the skin to an artificial UVB light source for a set length of time on a regular schedule. There's no cure for psoriasis, but treatment, such as red light therapy (RLT), can help ease its symptoms. Psoriasis: Should You Avoid Certain Foods? New research has found that drugs like adalimumab and ustekinumab might lower levels of a dangerous type of coronary plaque. Find out why doctors are warning against it. Duplication, rebroadcast, republication or other use of content appearing on this website is prohibited without written permission of the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF). But because UVB rays can be found in various other natural and artificial light sources, some patients suffering from psoriasis have looked for other ways to treat the condition without their doctors’ supervision. When UVB light hits your skin, your immune system makes fewer cytokines -- inflammatory proteins that trigger psoriasis flares. It’s not hard to see why some people forgo the recommended medical path, opting for therapy at the tanning salon instead of prescription skin care treatments.