Do 'tanorexics' need addiction therapy?

Despite the health risks, some tanners continue to seek out UV radiation — even after getting treated for skin cancer

Pauly D from the "Jersey Shore" is honored with a Tanning Bed dedication in Las Vegas: Tanning is a form of addiction and researchers are advocating therapy-based treatment to curb its use.
(Image credit: RD/ Erik Kabik/Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Over 1 million Americans visit a tanning booth every day, despite warnings that tanning can cause skin damage and cancer. It's possible these people just can't help it: Some are "tanorexics" who are addicted to the UV radiation that comes from a tanning session, according to a new study in the journal Addiction Biology. Here's what you should know:

What did the researchers find?

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Is that similar to what happens to drug addicts?

Yes, according to the study's authors. "We saw brain changes that are consistent with that of other things that are considered rewarding such as money, food, or drugs," says Dr. Bryon Adinoff, as quoted in U.S. News. "The same areas of the brain lit up, and we know that if something is rewarding to the brain, there is the potential for addiction."

Is tanning really so bad?

Yes, health experts say. In addition to premature wrinkles and other kinds of skin damage, UV radiation — whether from a tanning booth or a day in the sun — greatly increases the risk of skin cancer. Excessive UV exposure can cause melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, which is difficult to treat and often results in death.

Can't people quit tanning when they want to?

In many cases, no. Doctors report patients who have undergone repeated treatments for skin cancer and continue to visit tanning salons. Lori Greenberg, who was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma, is convinced that she's a tanorexic: "You need it almost on a daily basis," says Greenberg, as quoted by ABC News. "I have skin cancer and yet I still go."

Sources: ABC News, MedPage Today, NY Times, U.S. News