Tanning dependence: Is tanning an addiction?

Abstract

Despite the association between skin cancer and ultraviolet radiation, the public continues to increase its exposure to indoor tanning. Efforts to discourage tanning have focused on the risks of skin cancer and the negative effects on appea-rance, and research on the motivations for indoor tanning have focused primarily on appearance-related issues. However, a growing body of observational and experimental trials now supports a physiologic mechanism contributing to high-risk tanning behavior and the existence of an addictive quality to tanning. Plausible physiologic mechanisms mediated by endorphins have been proposed. Controlled, blinded studies have conclusively demonstrated that there are physiologic effects of tanning that contribute to tanning behavior. Survey studies have provided supportive evidence of addiction-like qualities of tanning behavior. With this chapter, we explore characteristics of addiction and discuss psychological and physiological motivations to tan that go beyond appearance in order to better understand how addiction is defined and whether tanning behavior meets the definition of an addictive behavior. Future research and programs to reduce excessive tanning and other ultraviolet radiation exposure will likely need to address physiologic drivers of tanning behavior and not just appearance motives for tanning.