Despite all the publicity about the serious health risks of tanning, some people just keep going back for more.
Repeated exposure to ultra violet light increases the risk of developing skin cancer, & research has shown that using sunbeds, particularly before the age of thirty five, increases the risk of both melanoma – the most serious type - & squamous cell skin cancer, the second most serious.
According to a new study one in five people who tan frequently show classic signs of addiction. The researchers - from the department of psychiatry and psychology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Albany, State University of New York – set out ‘To assess the prevalence of addiction to indoor tanning among college students and its association with substance use and symptoms of anxiety and depression.’
The study looked at two questionnaires completed by four hundred & twenty one students, which were adapted from questionnaires usually used to screen for alcoholism, & substance related disorders. These asked questions such as “Do you ever try to cut down on the time you spend in tanning beds or booths, but find yourself still tanning?” and “Do you ever feel guilty that you are using tanning beds or booths too much?” “When you wake up in the morning, do you want to use a tanning bed or booth?” “Have you ever missed any scheduled activity (social, occupational or recreational activities) because you decided to use tanning beds or booths?” The participants were also asked to self report regarding anxiety, depression, & substance use.
Of the participants, two hundred & twenty nine people said they used tanning facilities. Of these thirty five per cent on average met the criteria established by the researchers for addiction to tanning. All of them stated they were aware of the risks of developing skin cancer, & ninety eight per cent of these said it didn’t stop them. These people were also more likely to suffer from anxiety, as well as greater use of alcohol, marijuana & other substances. Symptoms of depression showed no significant variation.
The researchers warned that “Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public about the health risks associated with natural and non-solar UV radiation, recreational tanning continues to increase among young
adults. “They said that, “Both tanning indoors and the use of substances are thought of as a way to regulate emotions, or cope with distressing emotions.” They concluded by saying, “Findings suggest that interventions to reduce skin cancer risk should address the addictive qualities of indoor tanning for a minority of individuals and the relationship of this behavior to other addictions and affective disturbance.”
The House of Lords recently passed a bill banning the use of sunbeds for people aged under eighteen. Scotland has legislation in place restricting their use to adults. Wales has proposed similar legislation, & Northern Ireland is planning a consultation on the topic.
Cancer Research UK issued a statement saying that the results of the study regarding addiction highlighted the necessity of banning sunbeds for under eighteens. They said, “It is also vital that the new government ensures that all sunbed salons are staffed and that information is provided warning users of the health risks.”
