Tanning addiction exists, study

[HuckleB]

Tanning addiction exists, study

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=29185

"Drop by any beach or swimming pool on a summer day, and you'll probably see people doing something they know is bad for them: getting a tan.

Studies show that many of those who regularly tan know that exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun or a tanning booth increases their risk of developing skin cancer. But -- much to the dismay of dermatologists, who have spent years trying to educate the public on the skin-cancer dangers of ultraviolet radiation -- this knowledge doesn't seem to have much effect on their behavior, and the incidence of skin cancer continues to rise.

Now, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have found evidence that could explain why people continue to sunbathe and patronize tanning salons despite being aware that the practice is dangerous. Using criteria adapted from those used to screen for alcoholism and drug dependency, they've determined that repetitive tanning behavior may be the product of a kind of addiction.

"Dermatologists often talk about people who seem 'addicted to the sun' -- people who know it's not good for them to be bronzed all the time, but don't seem to be able to stop tanning," said UTMB professor Richard Wagner, senior author of the study, which was co-authored by Molly M. Warthan and Tatsuo Uchida and will be published online in the Archives of Dermatology Aug. 15. "It's interesting that by slightly modifying tools used to identify substance-related disorders, we can actually see an objective similarity between regular tanning and those disorders."


..."


All right. All you tanaholics, the first step is outing yourselves!

;)

[LynneSin]

1. I'm not a tanacholic but I do enjoy going to the tanning salon occasionaly

Like with the upcoming trip to DC - I would really like a little bit of color to my skin and the self-tanners that I use get tedious to apply. So yes, from time to time I'll use the tanning bed but I try to be smart about it and only stay in for short periods of time and use maybe 2-3 times a week. But by September 23rd I should have a nice glow to my skin (hopefully!)

But I will admit - I always feel better after going to the tanning salon probably because I spend way too much time indoors and away from the sun

[bicentennial_baby]

2. tanning is soooo stupid, imho

i mean, what's the goddamn point? who gives a fuck what color you are? seriously... :eyes:

if anyone wants a tan, come work in my garden all day...it's free! :D

(yes, i'm cranky today) :)

[HuckleB]

3. Hey, hey. My thread, my garden!

;)

And, yes, please, everyone come on over. I'll even offer up a few Tecates.

[Wetzelbill]

4. I used to tan all the time, fake bake even....but

I was an avid weightlifter and was always in shape and everything. So I sometimes would tan, I wouldn't get all orangey looking or anything. I'm about the farthest thing from a pretty boy that exists on this earth, haha. I would just get a little darker and that was that. Now, I'm just chubby and white looking, lol. I moved to Arizona and it's so hot I hate going out in the sun for long. I was more tanned when I lived in Seattle and Montana. Go figure.

But, I know people who would tan all the time. Fake bake constantly. Lots of people do it in MT because there isn't any sun for half of the year. I had a friend who was a total pretty boy. Really a ladykiller though, really muscular and everything. But, that guy was a total weirdo about his looks. He would iron his clothes during lunch breaks and stuff. His deal was tanning. He looked fakey orange all the time. Even in the dead of winter, haha. I'd tease him about it sometimes. I always thought it was odd to see people looking that peculiar orange tanning salon color. :)

[Shell Beau]

5. I am by no means a tan-aholic, but

I do like to look sun-kissed and bronzed. The only sun I get, though, is from working in the yard, fishing with my husband, or going on the lake.

[Bridget Burke]

6. There are "taning salons" here in Houston.

And we hardly have a shortage of sun.

My severe melanin deficiency convinced me to avoid tanning many years ago. Too pale? Use makeup!

[HuckleB]

7. Yeah, that always cracked me up when I lived in Phoenix.

Of course, most people in Phoenix (who've actually lived there for more than a few years) avoid the sun with such vehemence from April through October that they look like an Oregonian bookworm in February.

[Shell Beau]

9. People want the quick tan! Hence, tanning salons.

[HuckleB]

10. Ah, yes, a McTan to go.

[eyepaddle]

8. I freckle--anywhere you don't freckle, you burn.

I've had more than a couple blistering sunburns. Those suck, very badly. I spend a lot of time outdoors, so I eventually wind up sorta tan--a little always gets past the sunscreen. When I'm paddling I have a thin long sleeved shirt--I don't get hot, it lets a little sun through--but I don't burn!

Still, I gotta watch those ears though.