Sun Awareness Week – Your sun stories

This Sun Awareness Week, we’re focussing on your positive experiences of sun and psoriasis, highlighting how to safely enjoy the warmer weather.

It’s widely known that sun rays can help to treat psoriasis and other skin conditions, but it’s important to make sure you’re staying safe while reaping the benefits of natural UV.

Our top three sun safety tips:

1. Apply SPF – Use SPF15 or above every two hours
2. Avoid intense sun – Stay indoors between 11am and 3pm when the sun is most intense
3. Know your treatments - Some psoriasis treatments increase UV sensitivity, so make sure you’ve read the information for any you are using and take the necessary precautions

And, perhaps most importantly – make sure you fully understand the difference between helpful UV (UVA and UVB) and harmful UV.

This years’ theme for Sun Awareness Week, run by the British Association for Dermatology, is sun protection and sunbeds.

The Psoriasis Association is clear that using a sunbed at a gym, salon or spa or from a private company is not the same as having UV therapy in a hospital. Hospital-based UVB treatment only uses the specific part of the spectrum that is useful for treatment, to avoid exposing people unnecessarily to UVB, whereas sunbeds and home lamps utilise a much wider spectrum of UVB.

Your Sun Stories

Many people over the years that have shared their story with us have included their positive experiences with safe sunlight and psoriasis.

The sun definitely helps my skin and my mental wellbeing (shame we don't get more of it!). – Alison (2022)

This summer I have been very active, I was carefree about having my skin on show and the sun really did it wonders. – Emma T (2018)

The irony in the condition is that you want to cover it up so that no-one sees it, but I found that the sun was the best thing for it. – Nathan (2021)

Do you want to share your story? Email mail@psoriasis-association.org.uk to find out more!