Kim Kardashian says a solarium helps her skin condition. An expert told us otherwise.

Oh, Kim. Kimmy, Kimmy, Kimmy. You're giving us some massive Gwyneth Paltrow vibes right now, sweetie. 

In case you've managed to swerve the latest toxic messaging from Kim Kardashian (go you!), let us give you a quick rundown (sorry). So, please take a seat and prepare to be amazed at the unhinged and 100 per cent dangerous ridiculousness that is Kim Kardashian's office tour.

In an attempt to jump on a recent TikTok trend, where people poke fun at their own stereotypical personality traits (this kind of thing), Kim single-handedly sparked some pretty serious backlash. Like, HEAPS. 

Have you watched it? No? Allow us to share.

In the clip, the celebrity billionaire is shown hopping out of a tanning bed, saying "I'm Kim Kardashian, of course I have a tanning bed."

...

And pretty much everyone is not happy with Kim right now. Especially Australians. And especially dermatologists.

Tanning beds are obviously illegal in Australia and with good reason – to put it simply, the high risk of skin cancer associated with indoor tanning. As our writer Emily Vernem so perfectly articulated in her article, "Seeing someone have one in their office? I feel like I'm on another planet."

In the clip, Kim said, "You have a Zoom call with investors at 3pm so make sure you're in the tanning bed by 1pm."

And, pls. What... what is happening?

@kimkardashian

♬ original sound - Kim Kardashian

In response to the insane backlash, Kim took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain, "I have psoriasis and it really helps when it’s bad. But I don’t use it too often."

Uh oh.

It's impossible to ignore just how seriously flawed the logic is here. It's just wildly irresponsible. Also, remember that time Kim's sister Khloé Kardashian got a melanoma removed from her LITERAL FACE?

One follower asked in the comments of the TikTok video: 'So can I go back into the tanning beds if Kim Kardashian does?"

We... we just.

So, what should you actually do if you're trying to manage psoriasis? 

Well, step one: Don't ask Kim. Ask a doctor.

Dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald from Complete Skin Specialists said, "Ultraviolet light is a common therapeutic option used by dermatologists to treat psoriasis, but this treatment option is very different to using a solarium."

Read: A tanning bed in your house (or... office) ain't it.

"Dermatologists use narrowband UVB, which is a specific wavelength of UV light around 311nm. This wavelength is particularly effective for treating psoriasis whilst minimising any harm. The use of this wavelength dramatically reduces the risk of burning and the UV exposure is carefully controlled to allow therapeutic improvement with minimal risk of harm," Dr McDonald told Mamamia.

The keywords here are 'dermatologist', 'specific wavelength' and 'controlled'.

"We know that typical solariums cause extensive damage throughout the layers of the skin, increasing the risk of skin cancer and also signs of premature ageing. It is absolutely essential when using UV light as a therapeutic treatment that the treatment is medically monitored for both dosage and efficacy.

"Patients undergoing this treatment plan are closely supervised and have regular skin checks with the dermatologist to ensure they are not having any complications such as burning or development of malignant lesions."

Read: Tanning beds aren't safe.

What are the best treatment options for psoriasis?

Firstly, it's important to remember that psoriasis is notoriously fickle to treat, and it affects so many people in different ways. And sometimes, it can be really difficult to know if you're doing the right thing when it comes to treatment.

As Dr McDonald told Mamamia, "Psoriasis is a complex, variable, chronic and relapsing condition that has many treatment options available. Psoriasis presents very differently in different people, so treatment will be dependent on the type and severity of the psoriasis."

Some common presentations of psoriasis include flaking skin throughout the scalp, said Dr McDonald, or red scaly plaques affecting the outside surfaces of the arms and legs.

"Others have psoriasis that affects the skin folds such as the groin area and under the breasts, or affecting the palms and soles, the fingernails and even the joints," she added. "Broadly speaking, treatment options for psoriasis start with topical therapy (creams and lotions) aimed at reducing the inflammation and excessive skin cell turnover."

When it comes to in-clinic options, Dr McDonald shared there are multiple treatments available depending on the type and location of the psoriasis. The best thing to do is have a consultation with a skin doctor and see what treatment plan is right for you.

"If the psoriasis is more severe or extensive, we would tend to consider systemic treatment options," says Dr McDonald, explaining that these include phototherapy treatments using something called narrowband UVB (a specific, controlled, shortwave ultraviolet radiation).

This can also be used in combination with medications, said Dr McDonald, "which include a group of tablets that can suppress inflammation or even injections designed to block the specific inflammatory processes causing psoriasis. These are known as biologic therapies."

Together with topical treatments, in-clinic treatments and prescribed medications, there are also various diet and lifestyle changes that can improve psoriasis for some people. 

"Reduction in weight, cessation of smoking and avoiding excessive alcohol can all improve psoriasis but probably won't cure it," said Dr McDonald. "Stress is a well-known trigger for psoriasis. It is really important that every individual is assessed carefully to determine what is the right treatment option for both their skin and their lifestyle."

So, there you have it. Kim, get your a** up and learn.

Do you have psoriasis? How do you like to manage it? Share with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Kim Kardashian/TikTok/Instagram.