Soak Up the Sun? You May Be a Tanning Addict Linda Carroll - NBC News
go to original June 21, 2014

Anti-aging properties found in sunscreen (NBC News)

Sun-worshipers out working on their tans might not just be after a bronzed look. They may be addicts.

A new study shows that ultraviolet radiation can not only trigger skin browning, but also spark the release of feel-good chemicals, known as endorphins.

Scientists have suspected for some time that exposure to UV radiation has the potential to become addictive. The New Jersey woman known as “Tan Mom” brought attention to the problem, popularly known as “tanorexia.”

Though the new findings are in mice, the researchers believe they may explain why some people can’t seem to kick the tanning habit despite all the public service announcements about cancer risks and premature skin aging. Since endorphins work their magic through the same pathway as heroin and other opiates, sunbathers and tanning salon fans may actually become “addicted” to UV.

The researchers are particularly concerned about the endorphin effect in young people.

Read the rest at NBC News

Photo: Gregory Bull/Associated Press

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