Tanorexia: Addicted to the Sun

I am well aware of the harmful effects of the sun. I know that excessive sun exposure can result in skin cancer. None of this has stopped me from pulling out my chaise lounge and tan accelerator the first time that the temperature goes over 65. I know that I am tanorexic.

I grew up in a family largely comprised of women, and the one thing that you could count on was that on the first warm day, there would be at least a dozen lawn chairs in the driveway. This tan-fest was composed of my grandmother, mother, aunts, sisters, and female cousins. After a long day in the sun, we would compare shades of bronze (red), and vow to get darker than the rest. SPF was a dirty word, and there was a constant quest to find the best tanning product. We even tried homemade versions consisting of baby oil and iodine, vegetable or olive oil, and even once, motor oil.

As I got older, I sought out tanning beds in the cold winter months. I tried any number of sunless tanning products, while they did work, I discovered that in actuality, I was addicted to the sun. It has only been in the past few years that I heard the term "tanorexia" and became curious. As I researched, I saw how much I resembled the description of someone who is tanorexic.

I found a study published in Science Daily that said that 25% of female college students are tanorexic. The study associated tanorexia with body image issues, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and a genetic predisposition to indulge in addictive behavior.

The reason that tanning is so addictive is because the sun and tanning beds causes our body to produce more endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in our body. In fact, tanning beds have been used in the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder. According to www.tan.com, the lack of UV rays increases the production of melatonin, a tranquilizer-type chemical in our body that makes us tired.

Excessive tanning causes not only skin cancers, but can prematurely age our skin. While some of us may be on a quest for that perfect summer glow, or think that we can never be quite tan enough, we are actually damaging the appearance and elasticity of our skin, causing us to look years older.

If you suspect that you may be tanorexic, there are some treatment options. Light therapy, similar to tanning beds without the UV rays has the same endorphin-producing effect on your body.

You may also want to seek counseling for your addiction to the sun. A certified councilor may be able to help you change your unhealthy tanning behavior.

Support groups for tanorexics are also available. They can be found on-line, in the phone book, or by calling your local mental health facility.

I know that it is hard to view excessive tanning as a disorder, but it is a serious one. Skin cancer is serious, and often fatal. If you choose to be in the sun, use a sunscreen with the highest SPF available, and reapply it often. You can also try sitting outside in a shaded area. You don't have to subject your skin to untold amounts of damage to enjoy the summer rays.

www.tan.com

www.sciencedaily.com