#1241: Tanning bed ultraviolet light may be addictive
From World Science:
Link: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100420_tanningIs indoor [ultraviolet] tanning addictive?
April 20, 2010
Courtesy of JAMA/Archives Journals
and World Science staff
Might gossip magÂaÂzines soon start feaÂturÂing tales of TV and HollyÂwood perÂsonÂalÂities goÂing inÂto “tanÂning reÂhab”?
A new reÂport claims inÂdoor tanÂning””alÂready linked by studies to canÂcer and fastÂer skin agÂing””may alÂso be adÂdicÂtive.
And while the reÂport stops short of recÂomÂmendÂing reÂhaÂbilitaÂtÂion for seÂriÂal tanÂners, it does sugÂgest “moÂtivaÂtÂional inÂterÂviewÂing” and treatÂment of unÂderÂlyÂing mood disÂorÂders as a way to help those who may be hooked.
TanÂners who meet criÂteÂria for adÂdicÂtion appear to be prone to sympÂtoms of anxÂiÂeÂty and subÂstance use, adds the reÂport, pubÂlished in the April isÂsue of the reÂsearch jourÂnal ArÂchives of DerÂmaÂtolÂoÂgy.
“DeÂspite ongoÂing efÂforts to edÂuÂcate the pubÂlic” about the risks of both naÂturÂal and inÂdoor tanÂning, “recreaÂtÂional tanÂning conÂtinÂues to inÂcrease among young adults,” the auÂthors wrote. While citÂing no speÂciÂfic chemÂiÂcal proÂcess that might cause tanÂning adÂdictÂion, they pointed to “the deÂsire for apÂpearÂance enÂhanceÂment… reÂlaxaÂtÂion, imÂproved mood and soÂcialÂizÂaÂtion” as facÂtors that keep habÂiÂtual tanÂners comÂing back for more.
“GivÂen these reÂinÂforceÂments, reÂpeatÂed exÂpoÂsure to ulÂtraÂviÂoÂlet light used in tanÂning may reÂsult in beÂhavÂior patÂterns siÂmÂiÂlar to those obÂserved seen subÂstance-related disÂorÂders,” the auÂthors wrote.
The auÂthors, CathÂerÂine Mosher of MeÂmoÂriÂal Sloan-Kettering CanÂcer CenÂter and SharÂon DanÂoff-Burg of the UniÂversÂity at AlÂbaÂny, both in New York, reÂcruited 421 colÂlege stuÂdents in 2006. Two writÂten quesÂtionÂnaires typÂicÂally used to screen for alÂcoÂhol abuse or subÂstance-related disÂorÂders were modÂiÂfied to evalÂuÂate stuÂdents for adÂdicÂtion to inÂdoor tanÂning. ParÂtiÂciÂpants were alÂso asÂsessed usÂing standÂardÂized measÂures of anxÂiÂeÂty, deÂpresÂsion and subÂstance use.
Among 229 parÂtiÂciÂpants who had used inÂdoor tanÂning facilÂiÂties, the avÂerÂage numÂber of visÂits in the past year was 23, the reÂsearchÂers found. Out of two measÂures of adÂdictÂion, 39 perÂcent of stuÂdents met criÂteÂria for tanÂning adÂdicÂtion on one, and 31 perÂcent met criÂteÂria on the othÂer, Mosher and DaÂnoff-Burg said. StuÂdents who met the criÂteÂria were alÂso found to be likeÂliÂer to reÂport sympÂtoms of anxÂiÂeÂty and use of alÂcoÂhol, maÂriÂjuaÂna and othÂer subÂstances.
The “reÂsults sugÂgest that treatÂing an unÂderÂlyÂing mood disÂorÂder may be a necÂesÂsary step in reÂducÂing skin canÂcer risk among those who freÂquently tan inÂdoors,” the auÂthors wrote. “ReÂsearchÂers have hyÂpothÂeÂsized that those who tan regÂuÂlarly year round may reÂquire more inÂtenÂsive inÂterÂvenÂtion efÂforts, such as moÂtivaÂtÂional inÂterÂviewÂing,” they conÂtinÂued.
“FurÂther reÂsearch should evalÂuÂate the useÂfulÂness of inÂcorÂpoÂratÂing a brief anxÂiÂeÂty and deÂpresÂsion screenÂing for inÂdiÂvidÂuÂals who tan inÂdoors. PaÂtients with anxÂiÂeÂty or deÂpresÂsion could be reÂferred to menÂtal health proÂfesÂsionÂals for diÂagÂnoÂsis and treatÂment.”
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