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29 March 2006
Tanning Addiction Not Unlike Opiate Addiction 
Last year, a study into repetitive tanning behavior found that tanning booths appeared to have addictive properties. Now, a new study from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has confirmed that tanning could indeed be addictive, in much the same way opiates like heroin are. The new research aimed to test the hypothesis that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light may produce endorphins, brain chemicals that are linked to euphoric feelings. "We've shown that some tanners actually experience withdrawal symptoms when the 'feel-good' chemicals are blocked," said researcher Mandeep Kaur. The study, published in the journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, involved both frequent tanners (15 times a month) and infrequent tanners (12 times a year). Half of tanners were given an inactive drug and half were given a drug (naltrexone) to block the effects of endorphins and other brain opioids. The researchers found that with the opioid-blocking medication (15 mg. of naltrexone), frequent tanners showed a reduced preference for UV tanning. And surprisingly, four of the eight frequent tanners reported nausea or jitteriness. None of the infrequent tanners who took the drug reported these symptoms, the researchers added.
"The finding was unexpected and is consistent with the hypothesis that frequent tanning may be driven in part by a mild dependence on opioids, most likely endorphins," said co-researcher Steven Feldman. "The nausea and jitteriness induced by the medication are consistent with symptoms of mild opiate withdrawal." While the study is small, it supports the hypothesis that tanning behavior may be driven by endorphins in much the same way that the so-called "runner's high" helps to motivate runners. Kaur added that the findings were significant because exposure to UV through tanning has been shown to damage the genetic information in cells and is linked to the development of skin cancer. Source: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
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