BehindTheMedspeak: Tanorexia

It's a relatively new term used to describe an addiction to tanning.

Now medical science has discovered that it is a real disease.

Richard Wagner and colleagues, from the University of Texas Department of Dermatology, report in the current issue of Archives of Dermatology that 53% of the tanners they surveyed were "ultraviolet light tanning dependent."

The scientists concluded, "Individuals who chronically and repetitively expose themselves to UV light may have a novel type of UV light substance–related disorder."

Wagner said that his interest in exploring the behavior was piqued after seeing patient after patient with deep tans and skin cancer diagnoses who said, after he advised them to eliminate their exposure to sun, "they just can't stop."

The word "tanorexia" has Greek roots; the word "anorexia" derives from the Greek an– "without" + orexis "appetite, desire."

People who just can't stay out of the sun also are called tanaholics.

It seems to me that there is probably a real physiological basis to the pleasure and addictive nature of sun exposure.

I will not be surprised to learn, as the condition is further explored, that endorphin release accompanies sun exposure; that would be consistent with the addictive behavior reported.