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!

;)

[Not Me]

1. When I live up North, I craved a week vacation in the sun

Now that I live in FL, I generally try to stay out of it.
Go figure.