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There are a number of chemical compounds, which forcedly stimulate the production of melanin (skin pigment that gives skin pinkish, brownish, and black color) on the skin. On the basis of such chemical compounds there are manufactured loads of cosmetic means for the pigmentation of the skin with small doses or even completely without the application of any ultraviolet light. The action of the sunless tanning chemicals is toxic to different degrees, but it is often less traumatic for the skin than high doses of ultraviolet.
Sunless Tanning and Psoriasis
Even though I could not find any data of the scientific tests that would show the effect of the sunless tanning creams on psoriasis, I was able to find some thoughts of people with psoriasis that have tried it.
It seems that most people were not very happy with the result of the sunless tanning with their psoriasis, as it seemed to block the skin pores and had a tendency to dry up the scales, making them even flakier.
Some people though have noted a certain positive therapeutic effect of the sunless tanning on their psoriasis.
Therefore my advice would be - consult with your dermatologist and maybe then give it a try.
Photo-sensitizers
Therapeutic preparations, which increase the sensitivity of the skin to the light, are called sensitizers, and their principle works similar to the sunless tanning means. Most frequently these are Retinoids (from "retinol"), the Vitamin A derivatives. Such preparations relate to the group of coumarins (plant chemicals that prevent blood clotting).
Photo-sensitizers can be of a plant origin - Methoxsalen (8-metoxipsoralen, 8 MOP) - the natural photo-active plant substance, which is contained in the grains of the plant Amni majus that grows in the delta of the river Nile. Methoxsalen (marketed under the trade name Oxsoralen) is absorbed in the upper parts of the GIT (gastro-intestinal tract) and is metabolized in the intestines and the liver.
Photo-sensitizers can also be of a synthetic origin - i.e. Trioxalen.
By themselves Psoralenes do not render any effect on the skin, but in the presence of UVA light they become strong photosensitizers. With the photo-sensitization the synthesis of the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid - molecular carrier of genetic information) in the epidermis (outer layer of skin) is selectively oppressed, without the oppression of the function of the epidermal cells.
The UV photons, applied on the skin after ~90 min of the oral consumption of a photosensitizer lead to the photochemical binding of DNA via the forming of the cyclic compounds between Psoralene and the pyrimidine bases of the cellular DNA.
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