You might have this silent addiction and not even know it

Burning addiction

I think if I told Mary her husband was an addict, she’d laugh in my face. But he has all the signs…he does it alone, sneaks it into his day without telling her, and has to get his fix.

Fortunately, as addictions go, this may be the best one to have. It’s probably much easier to quit, compared to drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes.

But an addiction is an addiction. And even though it might actually sound comical, research reveals that tanning can get its hooks in you the same way cigarettes can.

And the health repercussions are also deadly serious.

That time of year

Tanning season is approaching for millions of teens and tweens getting ready for proms and other end-of-school activities. They’re not alone. Plenty of adults wouldn’t think of hitting the beach or pool without a base tan, courtesy of their local tanning salon.

And that’s all it takes. One or two tanning sessions turns into three or four. It feels good. It’s relaxing AND energizing. What’s the problem?

The problem is the endorphin kick.

One theory has it that frequent tanners may be addicted to endorphins created in skin cells exposed to sunlight.

Endorphins are opioid compounds that provide a mental boost and a feeling of well being. In case you didn’t realize it, heroin and morphine are opioids.

A few years ago, Wake Forest University researchers came up with a unique way to test this theory. They gave frequent tanners a drug that treats addiction by blocking opioid effects. Most of the tanners actually developed withdrawal symptoms similar to drug addiction withdrawal.

More recently, a team from University of Texas Southwestern recruited subjects who tanned at least three times each week. While subjects tanned, researchers monitored their brain activity. Subjects were unaware that they tanned once with normal UV rays, and another time with a filter that blocked UV light.

During normal UV exposure, brain activity increased in several areas of the brain associated with reward and addiction. This activity dropped off sharply when UV rays were blocked.

During post-UV-tanning interviews, subjects said they still had a desire to continue tanning. But after non-UV sessions, subjects said they were satisfied with the session. They had much less desire to continue.

These results won’t surprise dermatologists. Many of them report that patients who are frequent tanners continue tanning even when they’re treated for skin cancer and fully aware of the potential for long-term danger.

This is a wake-up call for Mary’s husband, and the millions of people who make numerous trips to tanning salons. Infrequent tanning is not a problem for most people. But tanning addiction is similar to any other addiction. It can overtake and consume you — and put you at serious risk.

Sources: 
“How Tanning Changes the Brain Anahad O’Connor, New York Times, 8/12/11, well.blogs.nytimes.com