Girl whose skin 'sheds like a snake' becomes addicted to sunbeds after they improved her condition so dramatically
Chloe Muir, 20, has been plagued with psoriasis since she was a teenager
Skin erupts in itchy patches and flakes off so she has to hoover her room
But she found going on sunbeds improved her complexion dramatically
Now she uses sun beds for up to an hour a week despite the cancer risk A student whose skin 'sheds like a snake' due to a painful condition has become addicted to sunbeds after discovering they improve her complexion.
Chloe Muir, 20, from Wolverhampton, has lived with psoriasis since she was a teenager - and is plagued with itchy, red and irritable skin.
For years her skin would flake off, leaving so much debris she had to hoover her bed and room to keep it clean.
Despite trying a myriad of treatment - nothing worked - until she discovered going on sunbeds led to clearer and less itchy skin.
Now, she uses the beds for up to an hour a week, and says it keeps the pain bearable and means she doesn't have to hoover her room on a daily basis.
Chloe Muir, 20, has become addicted to sunbeds after discovering they improve her psoriasis
Every since she was 13, Miss Muir has been plagued with psoriasis - which causes her skin to become red, itchy and flaky. She tried a myriad of treatments including steroids, injections, creams - but none worked
Miss Muir said: 'I've been living in constant pain for seven years, at some points it's been unbearable.
'The red itchy patches of skin are all over my body, it's horrible.
'My skin literally sheds like a snake, it's constantly flaking off meaning I have to hoover my bedroom most days as it's absolutely covered.'
She developed psoriasis at 13 years old while on a holiday in Cyprus.
A cat scratched her, breaking the skin, and this triggered her body to become covered in painful scales.
Miss Muir, a graphic communications student at Plymouth University, has tried countless treatments, but UV light is the only thing that helps her skin.
She said: 'I've tried so many different forms of treatment over the years, steroids, injections, creams, but nothing has really worked.
'The only thing that helped was intense UV light treatment at hospital but unfortunately it caused my skin to burn really badly so I had to stop.
She continued: 'That's when I started using regular sunbeds as the UV lights in them aren't so intense and I couldn't believe the results.
She tried UV light therapy in hospital - which helped - but it caused her skin to burn really badly (left, after the treatment) so she had to stop
Every day, Miss Muir's skin would 'shed like a snake' and she would have to hoover her bed and her room
'I use the sunbeds for 12 minutes up to four times a week sometimes now.
'My skin instantly feels better afterwards, I itch less, the redness goes down and the pain is tolerable.'
She suffers from three types of psoriasis - gutate, plaque and scalp - and visits her dermatologist regularly because of the dangers of sunbeds.
Miss Muir feels as though she is in a 'catch-22' as she is aware using sunbeds raises the risk of skin cancer but without UV light her skin is permanently irritable, painful and sore.
She said: 'It's definitely a catch-22 for me, I know how bad sunbeds are for your skin, so it's ironic that it's the only thing that helps me.
'I know they're bad for you and I wish I didn't have to use them, but it's horrible living in discomfort every day.
'I visit my dermatologist though and get my skin checked regularly, it's literally been a last resort for me.
Now, Miss Muir goes on sunbeds for up to an hour a week - although she knows it raises the risk of cancer
She discovered going on sunbeds cleared her complexion - giving her the confidence to wear dresses
For years, during a flare up, strangers would stare at Miss Muir's patchy and irritated skin, and she dyed her hair blonde as people believed she had dandruff
'I also try to avoid sunbeds in winter and just use my clothes to cover up my skin but it's hard in the summer when it's so hot and I want to wear dresses or shorts.
'My advice to other psoriasis suffers is to exhaust all other avenues.'
Before using sunbeds, Miss Muir endured years of stares from strangers and felt too self-conscious to wear dresses or shorts, due to the red patches all over her body.
Now, she is reluctant to stop the only thing that helps clear her complexion - and helps her feel more confident.
'When my skin flares up people constantly stare at me like I'm contagious or something,' she said.
'I remember accepting an award at college before and someone asking me if I had chickenpox.
'I've even had to dye my hair blonde before as people think I have bad dandruff but it's my skin.
'It's not very nice, but people just don't always understand psoriasis I guess.
'I finally feel like I can walk around with confidence and a few weeks ago I actually wore a dress to a wedding.'
WHAT IS PSORIASIS?
Miss Muir suffered from psoriasis, which causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin.
It typically affects the outside of the elbows, knees or scalp, though it can appear on any location.
Some people report that psoriasis is itchy, burns and stings.
The disease is linked to other health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.
Scientists are not yet sure what exactly causes psoriasis.
The disease usually develops between the ages of 15 and 35 - but it can pop up at any time.
Nearly 15 per cent of those with psoriasis develop the disease before age 10.
Typically, something triggers psoriasis to flare.
The skin cells in people with psoriasis grow at an 'abnormally fast rate,' which causes a buildup of psoriasis lesions.
Men and women develop the disease at equal rates - but it affects different races at varying rates.
Nearly 3.5 per cent of Caucasians have psoriasis, compared to 1.9 per cent of African-Americans.
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