Do Tanning Beds Help Psoriasis? What the Research Says

By David Gray • Updated May 2026 • Medically reviewed May 2026
tanning bed

Tanning beds can produce some improvement in psoriasis symptoms for certain people, but they are not a recommended treatment — and there is an important reason why. The UV light that actually helps psoriasis is UVB, and most commercial tanning beds emit predominantly UVA. This means you are getting the UV type most associated with skin ageing and cancer risk, but not the wavelength most effective for controlling psoriasis plaques.

Medical phototherapy using narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) is a well-established, clinically supervised treatment for psoriasis. A commercial tanning bed is a different thing entirely. Below we break down exactly what the research says, why the distinction matters, and what your options are if you are looking for UV-based relief from psoriasis.

Key Takeaways

  • Commercial tanning beds emit mostly UVA light — not the UVB wavelengths that are clinically effective against psoriasis.
  • Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy is the gold-standard UV treatment for psoriasis and is administered under medical supervision.
  • Some limited research shows commercial tanning beds can produce modest improvement in psoriasis, but the evidence is weak and the risks are significant.
  • Tanning beds used without medical guidance can trigger psoriasis flare-ups through the Koebner phenomenon — where skin trauma or burns cause new plaques to appear.
  • The National Psoriasis Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the FDA all advise against using tanning beds as a substitute for medical phototherapy.
  • Home UVB phototherapy devices prescribed by a dermatologist offer a safer, more targeted alternative to commercial tanning beds.
  • Self-tanning products can address the cosmetic side of psoriasis without any UV exposure.

Why UV Light Can Help Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly accelerates skin cell turnover. Normal skin replaces itself roughly every 28 days; in psoriasis, that cycle runs as fast as every four days. The result is the build-up of thick, scaly plaques — typically on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back — along with redness and inflammation.

UV light works against psoriasis through a dual mechanism. First, UVB radiation induces apoptosis — programmed cell death — in the T cells that are driving the immune overreaction in psoriatic skin. Second, it suppresses the inflammatory signals (including IL-17, IL-22, and IFN-γ) that sustain plaque development. Essentially, carefully dosed UV light turns down the immune response that is causing the problem in the first place.

This is why phototherapy has been used to treat psoriasis since the 1920s, and why it remains a front-line option today for moderate to severe cases that do not respond adequately to topical treatments.

The Problem With Using a Tanning Bed for Psoriasis

The core issue is the type of UV light involved. There are two main types of UV radiation that reach the skin: UVA and UVB. They behave very differently.

UVA has longer wavelengths, penetrates more deeply into the skin, and is the primary driver of skin ageing and long-term UV damage. UVB has shorter wavelengths, acts on the surface layers of skin, causes sunburn at high doses, and — at carefully controlled doses — is the wavelength responsible for the therapeutic effect in psoriasis treatment.

Commercial tanning beds are designed to produce a tan, not to treat a medical condition. They use lamps that emit predominantly UVA radiation. The National Psoriasis Foundation states clearly that the beneficial effect for psoriasis is attributed primarily to UVB light, and that tanning beds in commercial salons emit mostly UVA — not the wavelength you actually need.

Medical phototherapy units, by contrast, use specific narrowband UVB wavelengths (typically 311–313 nm), delivered in precisely calibrated doses for specific durations — often just seconds at a time. The dose is adjusted by a clinician based on the individual’s skin type and response. This level of control simply does not exist in a tanning salon.

What Does the Research Actually Show?

There is a small body of research on commercial tanning beds and psoriasis. One older uncontrolled clinical trial from Wake Forest University found that patients using a commercial tanning unit fitted with non-prescription lamps showed measurable improvement in psoriasis severity scores over six weeks. However, 35% of participants experienced mild burning during the study — which itself is a risk factor for psoriasis flare-ups.

A larger cross-sectional study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 62% of psoriasis patients who used commercial tanning beds reported starting tanning specifically to treat their psoriasis. The researchers noted that these patients were at potentially increased risk for skin cancer, and flagged that the uncontrolled nature of commercial tanning makes it a significant health concern for this population.

The overall picture from the literature is that tanning beds can produce some symptom improvement for some people — but the evidence is weak, the risks are real, and the mechanism is imprecise compared to what is achievable with supervised phototherapy.

The Koebner Phenomenon: A Specific Risk for Psoriasis Patients

People with psoriasis need to be aware of something called the Koebner phenomenon — also known as the isomorphic response. This describes the tendency for psoriasis plaques to appear at sites of skin trauma or injury. Burns from a tanning bed, particularly on skin that is not accustomed to UV exposure, can trigger new psoriasis plaques to develop precisely where the burn occurred.

This means that overexposure in a tanning bed — which is easy to do without clinical guidance — can actively make psoriasis worse rather than better. This is a risk that does not apply in the same way to supervised medical phototherapy, where doses are carefully titrated to avoid burns.

Medical Phototherapy: What It Actually Involves

Narrowband UVB phototherapy is currently considered the gold standard for UV-based psoriasis treatment. It involves standing in a light box in a clinical setting — typically two to three sessions per week for several weeks — with the UV dose adjusted session by session based on your response. Multiple systematic reviews have confirmed its effectiveness, with studies showing around 70% of patients achieving significant clearance of plaques with NB-UVB treatment.

PUVA (psoralen plus UVA) is an older alternative that involves a photosensitising drug combined with UVA exposure. It can be effective but carries a higher risk profile than NB-UVB, including increased skin cancer risk with long-term use, and is generally reserved for cases where NB-UVB has not been sufficiently effective.

Home phototherapy devices — essentially medical-grade narrowband UVB units prescribed and overseen by a dermatologist — are also available and represent a more accessible alternative for patients who cannot attend clinic appointments regularly. These are very different from commercial tanning equipment and are calibrated for therapeutic use.

Other Treatment Options for Psoriasis

UV therapy is only one part of the treatment landscape for psoriasis. Depending on the severity and location of your condition, a dermatologist may also consider:

  • Topical treatments: Corticosteroid creams, vitamin D analogues (such as calcipotriol), retinoids, and coal tar preparations are commonly used for mild to moderate psoriasis.
  • Systemic oral medications: Methotrexate, ciclosporin, and acitretin are used for more severe cases and work by modulating the immune system or slowing skin cell turnover.
  • Biologics: Newer injectable treatments that target specific immune pathways involved in psoriasis. These are highly effective for severe disease but require careful monitoring.
  • Lifestyle factors: Stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, and certain medications are known psoriasis triggers. Managing these can meaningfully reduce flare frequency and severity.

If you are curious about what UV exposure via tanning beds does for vitamin D production, it is worth knowing that the UVA-dominant output of most commercial beds is not very effective for vitamin D synthesis either — which relies on UVB.

What About Self-Tanning Products?

If the cosmetic impact of psoriasis — particularly the visible discolouration and uneven skin tone — is a concern, self-tanning products can help address the appearance without any UV exposure at all. Modern self-tanners use DHA (dihydroxyacetone), which reacts with the outermost skin cells to create a natural-looking colour. They carry no UV risk and no risk of triggering the Koebner phenomenon.

People with psoriasis should patch test self-tanners before full application, since the skin can be more reactive. Applying on active plaques is generally not recommended, but self-tanner on unaffected surrounding skin can significantly reduce the visual contrast. For more, see our guide to self-tanning tips and technique.

Are Tanning Beds Worse Than the Sun for Psoriasis?

In many ways, yes. Commercial tanning beds can emit UV radiation that is significantly more intense than natural sunlight, with less UVB and proportionally more UVA than you would receive outdoors. The WHO classifies tanning devices as Group 1 carcinogens. For more on how tanning beds compare generally, see our article on whether tanning beds are worse than the sun.

Natural sunlight does contain UVB and can genuinely improve psoriasis symptoms — many people notice improvement in summer. However, the same principle applies: uncontrolled exposure risks burns, and burns risk new psoriasis plaques via the Koebner phenomenon. Short, regular sun exposure is different from deliberate tanning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do tanning beds help psoriasis?

They can produce modest improvement for some people, but they are not a recommended or reliable treatment. Most commercial tanning beds emit predominantly UVA light, not the UVB wavelengths that are clinically effective for psoriasis. Any improvement seen is likely due to the small UVB component in the bed’s output, achieved without the precision or safety of medical phototherapy.

Why does UV light help psoriasis?

UVB radiation suppresses the overactive immune response that drives psoriasis by inducing apoptosis in pathogenic T cells and reducing inflammatory signalling in psoriatic skin. This slows the abnormally fast skin cell turnover that causes plaques to develop. The effect is UV-dose dependent, which is why controlled clinical delivery is more effective than uncontrolled tanning.

What is the difference between a tanning bed and medical phototherapy?

Medical phototherapy units emit specific narrowband UVB wavelengths (311–313 nm) at precisely controlled doses, calibrated to the individual’s skin type and adjusted session by session by a clinician. Commercial tanning beds emit broad-spectrum UV light, predominantly UVA, without any individualised dose control. They are designed to tan skin, not to treat medical conditions.

Can a tanning bed make psoriasis worse?

Yes. Overexposure to UV in a tanning bed can cause burns, and for people with psoriasis, skin trauma — including burns — can trigger new psoriasis plaques to appear through the Koebner phenomenon. Without controlled dosing, the risk of a burn is meaningfully higher than with supervised phototherapy.

How often is it safe to use a tanning bed?

For people with psoriasis, using commercial tanning beds is not recommended by major dermatology organisations. For general tanning purposes, most sources suggest no more than two to three sessions per week as a maximum — but this does not make them safe for psoriasis management. For more detail on general tanning bed use, see our article on why tanning beds are legal and what the risks are.

Is natural sunlight better than a tanning bed for psoriasis?

Natural sunlight contains both UVA and UVB, so it delivers the therapeutic wavelengths more relevant to psoriasis than most tanning beds do. Short, regular sun exposure can genuinely help symptoms for many people. However, sunburn — from any source — remains a psoriasis trigger, so controlled modest exposure is the goal, not extended tanning sessions.

Are self-tanners safe to use if you have psoriasis?

Generally yes, on unaffected skin. Self-tanners do not use UV light and carry no risk of triggering the Koebner phenomenon. Patch testing is advisable before first use, and applying directly to active plaques is not recommended as the skin may react differently. On healthy surrounding skin, self-tanner can help even out skin tone without any of the risks associated with UV exposure.

Conclusion

Tanning beds are not a substitute for medical phototherapy in psoriasis treatment, and major dermatology bodies are clear on this. The UV wavelength that genuinely helps psoriasis — narrowband UVB — is not what most commercial tanning beds primarily deliver. Going to a tanning salon as a self-treatment introduces real risks: uncontrolled UV dose, potential burns, and the Koebner phenomenon triggering new plaques exactly where you least want them.

If you are managing psoriasis and looking into UV therapy, the right first step is a conversation with a dermatologist about supervised NB-UVB phototherapy — either clinic-based or via a home device. And if it is the cosmetic side of psoriasis you are trying to address, self-tanning offers a UV-free way to improve the appearance of skin without any of the inflammation risk.

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