Certain Psoriasis Patients at Higher Risk of Excessive Sun Exposure: Study

Addiction to tanning, which is an uncontrollable craving for exposure to ultraviolet light, has been identified as a behavioral addiction present in 10% to 25% of the population. The current study sought to further comprehend the prevalence of this activity in patients with psoriasis and that which augments risk, providing new information regarding targeted education and management approaches.

Addiction to tanning is a common problem in dermatology, particularly in patients with chronic skin disease like psoriasis. Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis tend to seek the sun for beneficial effects of ultraviolet light on lesions. But excessive sun-seeking can have detrimental effects, such as higher risks for skin cancers and more severe long-term skin complications. Knowledge of the prevalence and risk factors of ESE in psoriatic patients will enable clinicians to provide improved guidance, promote photoprotection, and adapt treatment to avoid harmful behavior.

The analysis included cross-sectional baseline data from the PsoBioTeq cohort, for patients enrolled between 2012 and 2022. 3705 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were included. Tanning addiction was estimated using patient-reported excessive sun exposure (ESE) on the basis of their assent to the statement, "I try to expose myself to the sun as often as possible." Clinical characteristics, medical history, prior treatment, and factors related to psoriasis were analyzed to determine if there were associations with ESE.

Results

636 patients (17.2%) out of the 3705 patients reported behaviors typical of ESE. Multivariate analysis disclosed some significant associations:

• Age: Patients who were younger were more likely to report ESE (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.97, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] [0.96; 0.97]).

• Gender: Women were at greater risk (OR 1.52, 95% CI [1.20; 1.93]).

• Weight: Normal-weight patients were more likely to have ESE than overweight or obese patients (OR 0.57, 95% CI [0.42; 0.77]).

• Skin Type: Patients with intermediate skin type presented with increased risk (OR 1.80, 95% CI [1.36; 2.38]).

• Phototherapy History: Individuals with a history of previous phototherapy treatment were more likely to perform ESE (OR 1.53, 95% CI [1.19; 1.96]).

• Previous Treatment: Past use of ustekinumab, a biologic, was characterized by a lower risk of ESE behavior (OR 0.40, 95% CI [0.19; 0.84]).

This research found that 17% of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients practiced excessive sun exposure, which is influenced by various demographic and clinical determinants. Identification of these high-risk patients for tanning addiction and early disease management along with proactive education may prevent long-term hazards due to excessive ultraviolet light exposure. Adoption of these measures would enhance skin as well as the overall quality of life of the psoriasis patient.

Reference:

Mahé, E., Curmin, R., Paul, C., Bachelez, H., Beylot-Barry, M., Beneton, N., Dupuy, A., Joly, P., Jullien, D., Richard, M.-A., Viguier, M., Sbidian, E., Chosidow, O., Tubach, F., & the PsoBioTeq Study group. (2025). Sun exposure behaviors of patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis: Results from the french PSOBIOTEQ cohort. JEADV Clinical Practice. https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.70029