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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

• 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

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.

• 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.