Kim Kardashian Defends Her Use Of Tanning Beds

Kim Kardashian is defending her use of tanning beds in her SKKN office following backlash met by the mogul for promoting something that causes skin cancer. Just two days after taking part in a viral TikTok trend, the reality star is responding to the critics -- something she doesn't normally do when faced with public outrage. Commenting on her TikTok office tour, one person wrote: "Are tanning beds safe again?????? I'm seeing them everywhere." Another user wrote, "Wait I'm shocked about the tanning bed." Someone else added, "She goes in a tanning bed?!??"

Allure magazine called out the mom of four on X (formerly known as Twitter). They wrote: "Please, Kim Kardashian, Don't Try to Normalize Tanning Beds." Seeing the magazine's post, Kim replied on the platform, chalking it up to her psoriasis. "And it really helps when it's bad. But I don't use it too often," she wrote. Although Kim said the treatment helps her skin condition, the National Psoriasis Foundation states they don't support the use of indoor tanning beds as proper phototherapy treatment. The organization states the "beneficial effect for psoriasis is attributed primarily to UVB light," which tanning beds don't emit. Commercial salons emit mostly UVA light, which penetrates more deeply into the skin and plays a greater role in premature skin aging and wrinkles.

Additionally, the National Psoriasis Foundation noted that the FDA, American Academy of Dermatology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommend people avoid tanning beds regardless if they have psoriasis. "The ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds and sun lamps can damage the skin," the organization stated. Fifteen years ago, the World Health Organization classified sunbeds as "carcinogenic to humans." As for her red light bed, according to Healthline, red light therapy is a therapeutic technique that uses low level wavelengths of red light to help treat skin conditions, such as wrinkles and psoriasis. Though the treatment seems promising, more research is needed.

Despite Kardashian's controversial take on phototherapy with her office tanning beds, she has been candid about her psoriasis struggles over the years. In an essay written for Poosh in 2019, Kim revealed she "physically couldn't pick up my phone" when she woke up during the night. The next morning, she still couldn't pick it up or hold her toothbrush. "My hands hurt so badly," she revealed. Her doctor told her she "probably" has psoriatic arthritis, and hopes her story can "help anyone else with an autoimmune disease feel confident."

When it comes to our skin's appearance, many factors are out of our control. Many people are struggling with issues pertaining to their skin. For some, certain skin conditions can be hidden away or managed. But for others, there is no hiding something on your face. Even the rich and famous deal with suffering from a skin condition. Sometimes, seeing a celebrity be open and offer a positive approach to dealing with skin issues may be helpful to those who are experiencing the same issues.

Common skin conditions include acne, contact dermatitis (rash), atopic dermatitis (also called eczema), rosacea, warts and moles, hyperpigmentation, and psoriasis. Skin disorders such as acne and eczema vary greatly in symptoms and severity. Eczema is characterized by yellow or white scaly patches that flake off. Affected areas may be itchy, greasy, or oily, and hair loss may also occur in the area with the rash. Psoriasis, however, is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid buildup of your skin cells. This buildup of cells causes scaling on your skin’s surface. Inflammation and redness around the scales are fairly common, and sometimes, these patches crack and bleed.

When it comes to the chronic skin disease rosacea, the skin goes through cycles of fading and relapse. Rosacea’s trademark symptom is small, red, pus-filled bumps on the skin that are present during flare-ups. Typically, rosacea affects only the skin on your nose, cheeks, and forehead. The cause of rosacea is still unknown, and there is no cure. Meanwhile, vitiligo is characterized by loss of pigment in the skin due to autoimmune destruction of the cells that give skin its color. These cells, called melanocytes, no longer produce skin pigment or melanin, causing areas of your skin to lose color or turn white.

Per Healthline, skin conditions can be temporary or permanent and painless or painful. Some can be life-threatening. Some skin disorders have situational causes, such as high stress, while others may be genetic.

Take a look below at which celebrities have opened up about their skin conditions and even become advocates.