Story on Tanorexia
Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:45 am
Frequent Tanners May Be Addicted
Doctors Say Tanners Could Become Dependent on UV Rays
From ABC News
Self-confessed tan-aholic Tara Burton admits she can't live without the beauty of the bronzed look — visiting the tanning booth up to three times a week.
"Professionally and in your personal life, appearances are very important, and I do look sickly if I don't have a base tan."
But doctors fear she could be physically addicted. The 33-year-old mom is part of a new Wake Forest University study that found some frequent users of tanning beds get a regular endorphin hit, experiencing a "high" similar to drugs like heroin.
"Their skin looks terrible: It's all loose, and wrinkled, and mottled-colored and leathery looking," said Dr. Steven Feldman a professor of dermatology at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. "And you ask these people, 'Why are you doing this to yourself?' and they say, 'Ahh, it makes me feel so good.' "
Symptoms of Addiction
In the study, frequent tanners were given a drug that blocked the pleasurable sensations that go along with the tanning bed experience after their sessions. Half of them suffered withdrawals.
"I got nauseous and jittery and just kind of felt sick to my stomach," Burton said.
Doctors say there are three tell-tale signs of a tanning addiction: People can't stop tanning; they wake up in the morning and can't wait to go to the tanning bed; and they only become annoyed when people say they have a problem.
Some people have all those symptoms — despite doctors' warnings that skin cancer is the fastest-growing kind of cancer.
The tanners in the study were also given the choice of two different beds: One had UV rays the other didn't. Without knowing there was a difference, almost all the participants eventually gravitated toward the UV bed.
Tanning beds are big business, raking in more than $2 billion a year. And more people are using them: Thirty percent to 40 percent of 16- to 18 year-olds are tanning bed regulars.
Burton isn't ready to give up her obsession entirely.
"It just makes me feel happier," she said. "Just like a plant that, you know, kinda grows better in a certain spot. Well, I'm in my spot."
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story? ... 784&page=1
Doctors Say Tanners Could Become Dependent on UV Rays
From ABC News
Self-confessed tan-aholic Tara Burton admits she can't live without the beauty of the bronzed look — visiting the tanning booth up to three times a week.
"Professionally and in your personal life, appearances are very important, and I do look sickly if I don't have a base tan."
But doctors fear she could be physically addicted. The 33-year-old mom is part of a new Wake Forest University study that found some frequent users of tanning beds get a regular endorphin hit, experiencing a "high" similar to drugs like heroin.
"Their skin looks terrible: It's all loose, and wrinkled, and mottled-colored and leathery looking," said Dr. Steven Feldman a professor of dermatology at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. "And you ask these people, 'Why are you doing this to yourself?' and they say, 'Ahh, it makes me feel so good.' "
Symptoms of Addiction
In the study, frequent tanners were given a drug that blocked the pleasurable sensations that go along with the tanning bed experience after their sessions. Half of them suffered withdrawals.
"I got nauseous and jittery and just kind of felt sick to my stomach," Burton said.
Doctors say there are three tell-tale signs of a tanning addiction: People can't stop tanning; they wake up in the morning and can't wait to go to the tanning bed; and they only become annoyed when people say they have a problem.
Some people have all those symptoms — despite doctors' warnings that skin cancer is the fastest-growing kind of cancer.
The tanners in the study were also given the choice of two different beds: One had UV rays the other didn't. Without knowing there was a difference, almost all the participants eventually gravitated toward the UV bed.
Tanning beds are big business, raking in more than $2 billion a year. And more people are using them: Thirty percent to 40 percent of 16- to 18 year-olds are tanning bed regulars.
Burton isn't ready to give up her obsession entirely.
"It just makes me feel happier," she said. "Just like a plant that, you know, kinda grows better in a certain spot. Well, I'm in my spot."
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story? ... 784&page=1
