Are You Addicted To Tanning Salons?

We’ve all seen those women who look abnormally brown, who have obviously spent too much time in the tanning salon.

Instead of thinking they are wasting their time and money, perhaps we should feel sorry for them as it turns out they may have an addiction!

Research at universities in New York has shown that of the people who visit tanning salons almost 40% “met criteria for tanning addiction”.

These people also had more problems with anxiety, alcohol, and drugs than those without the tanning addiction.

She said repeated exposure to UV light may result in behaviour patterns similar to those observed with substance-related disorders.

Dr Mosher added: “Treating an underlying mood disorder may be a necessary step in reducing skin cancer risk among those who frequently tan indoors.

“Patients with anxiety or depression could be referred to mental health professionals for diagnosis and treatment.”

So does that mean that treating depression and anxiety will lead to lighter skin and less tanning? I somehow doubt it. These people probably want to look and feel good, and whether or not they are suffering with mood disorders, the belief that tanning salons achieve this effect will probably not change.

So it seems that some of these people have underlying mood disorders and use tanning as a way of improving their mood. If they think they look better with darker skin then this will give them more self-esteem and reduce the problems of the mood disorder. Perhaps if that’s true then it’s not such a bad thing after all.

Except, of course, for the cancer.