tanorexia

I was so proud of myself. . .it had been a whole month since I last gave into my addiction--to tanning. I used to obsessively tan. I’m talking at least three to four times per week, so this was a huge accomplishment for me.

But the cravings have been getting worse lately due to my serious lack of beach time and of course, my fading skin color. Last night, I felt a compelling urge to tan, so I instinctively headed down to Beach Bum salon.

The guy at the counter tried to persuade me into buying a 10-session package, but I resisted, choosing instead to drop thirty bucks on a single UV sesh (yikes)! Afterwards, I was impressed by the warm, bronze glow of my skin after just 10 minutes in the bed! But, I was also overwhelmed with a sense of guilt because I know how bad tanning is for your skin.

Tanning not only causes pre-mature aging of the skin, but also increases your chances of developing a deadly type of skin cancer called melanoma.

Wake Forest University conducted a study on tanorexics, or people who obsessively tan even though they are fully aware of the dangers it can cause to their health. The study showed that frequent tanners become addicted to UV rays because of their effect on endorphins in our brains, causing users to experience a euphoric “high,” similar to that of a drug addiction. Obsessive tanners can even experience symptoms similar to a narcotics withdrawal once they stop getting their rays.

I’m afraid that I’m one of these doomed tanorexics. I’ve tried sunless tanners and lotions, but they just don’t give me any satisfaction. I’ve even thought about getting a spray tan, but I’m not a fan of getting naked and having some stranger spray me down with a hose.

Are any of you addicted to tanning like me? What can we do to stop our UV cravings? I’m seriously thinking we might need to start Tanners Anonymous.

Bronze and bummin,
Niki
CG! Intern