Addicted to Tanning? Tanorexia May Be the Cause
By
Jody Morse, published May 09, 2007
While there are some people out there who are proud of their pale skin, there are others who enjoy having that summertime glow - all year long. If you have always wondered why
tanning is such an important aspect of your life, chances are that you may have a condition called tanorexia. Here, we will take a much closer look at this condition.
What Is Tanorexia?
Although tanorexia may sound like a made up word to you, the truth is that it is a condition which really does exist. The name has, as you can probably guess, been based on the eating disorder called anorexia. The main thing that tanorexia and anorexia have in common is the fact that they are both psychological conditions, rather than physical conditions. Tanorexia is a word which is used in order to describe people who feel the continuous need to tan, despite any known consequences which are associated with using
tanning salons or laying outside in the sun.
What Are The Symptoms?
The number one
symptom of tanorexia is the constant desire to tan, even though you may realize that there are dangerous or even deadly consequences with doing so. However, there are also a number of other signs which may indicate that you have tanorexia. Some of these indicators are as follows:
- Spending hours at the salon or outside in the sun, even if it means that you will get the slightest bit of a tan.
- Getting upset when it is not possible for you to tan, whether it is because you are not able to attend the salon or if it is because the
weather does not permit it.
- Feeling that you look the best when you are tan, as well as feeling that other people look the best when they are tan also.
- Resorting to the use of "fake"
tanning products, such as creams or lotions, as well as spray-on tans which can be received at the local spa & salon. Of course, there are not any health-related issues with doing this.
- Comparing your tan to celebrities, as well as having competitions with your
friends in order to see whose
skin can get the most tan in a given amount of time.
- Feeling upset if the tan which you do get is not what you are expected or were hoping for. This will often lead to further
tanning in the future.
- Making statements such as, "I do not
care if I get
skin cancer (or other adverse
skin effects) in the future because the tan that I get right now is well worth it."
- Feeling proud to show off the tan that you do receive. For some people this also may mean feeling proud to show off tan lines, although others prefer not having any pale
skin on their bodies whatsoever.
Why It's So Dangerous
The main reason that this psychological condition is so dangerous is because there are so many different negative effects that the sun can have on your skin, the worst being
skin cancer, of course. Not only do people with an addiction to
tanning spend more hours in the sun than other people would on a regular basis, but since they are striving to get their darkest, they also tend to avoid taking safety precautions- such as sunscreen. Many tanorexics, if they should decide to use anything, opt for
tanning oil instead. One of the main
problems is the fact that
tanning oil tends to have a much lower SPF than regular sunscreen, so while tanorexics may think that they are using an adequate amount of protection, it may not always be enough for their
skin type.
Can Tanning Beds Worsen This Condition?
A number of different studies have shown that
tanning beds may actually be addictive. The main reason is because the endorphins are produced by UV rays, which leads the
body to feel relaxed. This is often the reason that many
tanning salons emphasize the fact that you will be able to experience a relaxing time when you use their
tanning beds. Studies have shown that the more often you use the
tanning beds, the more often you will miss out on them.
What Can Be Done?
If you think that there is a possibility that you may have tanorexia, the main question that you may have is what can be done in order to treat this condition. It is important to consider that, like any other psychological condition, tanorexia is something which is associated with the mind. Seeking the professional help of a qualified psychologist is the recommended treatment. While it may be just as hard of an addiction to break as any, keep in mind that there are also preventative measures which you can take for your future safety. One of the first steps that you can take is using sunscreen, in order to prevent
skin cancer from developing.
Source:
Addicted to Tanning? Tanorexia May Be the Cause - Associated Content