This is more than just "weird but true"...
If you just can't stay away from your neighborhood tanning salon, new research suggests that you may have developed a dangerous habit you can't break.You could be fighting ultraviolet light addiction.
You read correctly. Habitual patrons of tanning parlors may be drawn to the ultraviolet exposure for its mood-boosting ability, says a study in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
It's this mood-boosting effect, not just the bronzed skin, that brings tanning salon fans back for more, said study author Dr. Steven Feldman, a professor of dermatology, pathology and public health sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
When tanners were offered a choice at one point in the study between tanning beds with UV lights and impostor beds, most chose the UV bed every time, even though the two versions looked identical. "Like Pavlov's dog, they chose more UV light," Feldman said.
The next time you hear a little voice telling you to find the UV light, just say "No." Tanning beds are stupid. Why? It's spelled C-A-N-C-E-R.
Posted by Alan at July 13, 2004 06:09 AM