Mid Brain reports:
As the summer comes into full swing (at least for the Northern Hemisphere) you’ll undoubtedly be shedding those clothes and heading outside to get that soft, golden tan you richly desire. But is that bronzed look the only thing drawing you under those vibrant summer rays? Well, at least a couple of research groups are suggesting that there might be something more going on.
Tanning addiction
Last summer scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston demonstrated that repetitive sun exposure (and tanning bed exposure) may be a kind of addiction. In this study, researchers interviewed frequent tanners using a modified questionnaire tool typically designed to diagnose drug or alcohol addiction. They found surprising similarities between the two groups.
This finding is interesting but we here at The Beauty Brains don’t put much stock in single studies, especially ones based on psychological data. The problem with this type of data is that it is so variable from person to person. Additionally, the researchers could offer no evidence as to why people would be addicted to tanning.
But now, another group may have just found a possible, scientific cause. Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center conducted this study that looked at the feel-good effects of UV exposure. They found that some people actually experienced withdrawal symptoms when they were deprived of the UV exposure.
High on SPF lotion
The reason suggested is that UV exposure releases endorphins in your body which makes you feel really good. It’s the same chemical responsible for the “runner’s high” that some long distance runners experience.
Unfortunately, excessive UV exposure is bad for you causing all sorts of maladies such as wrinkling, dry skin, age spots, and skin cancer. If you find you have a sun tan addiction, start weaning yourself off now. Limit your sun exposure and by all means wear a good SPF lotion. To get that great tan look consider using one of the many sunless tanners out there. They work much better than they use to.
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Basically what it means is humans can get addicted to any damn thing.
People are constantly telling people to stay out of the sun, but I think that they are forgetting some of the wonderful benefits of the sun. Namely Vitamin D. Sure, you can take supplements, but they are not nearly as effective as the vitamin D your body creates from sun exposure. It can also help with seasonal depression (living in the north, where you don’t get sun 9 months out of the year, I can understand that).
Vitamin D fortified milk pretty much banished rickets entirely. Like iodized salt and goiter. It’s quite effective.
And SAD doesn’t mean you can’t use sunscreen. I love sunlight and sunny skies, and I walk at least an hour a day at work. I also use sunscreen when I do. All the benefits of blue skies overhead and fresh air and sunlight, and no skin cancer or sharpei wrinkles.
“We here at The Beauty Brains don’t put much stock in single studies, especially ones based on psychological data.”
Well, I am certainly glad to have “we here” poo poo-ing the scientifically constructed study of a major medical center.
Who are the “team of scientists” behind Beauty Brains who claim they “have no sales pitch and nothing for you to buy” yet earn their revenue from advertising for beauty products (on this page, on this moment, JuveDerm, Drugstore.com, Meladerm Skin Lightener, and Claire Basit’s Skincare System.
By all means, go out and buy a good SPF lotion. Click through your links and buy now through Amazon.com.
@Karen, thanks for your comments. You happiness you’ve spread has brightened our day. Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen.
Karen – grow up.
Anyway, have to say that seems to make a lot of sense. Explains why people insist on getting dark tans even though they know it’ll cause skin cancer and wrinkles. Sort of like how they knew smoking kills, yet still smoke.
Wow. Let’s only leave happy sunny comments in full support of everything here. Only happy conversations that agree with us. That’s what “interacting with your readers” is all about. Don’t I look pretty? Why thank you.
@Karen – People are free to leave comments that disagree with what’s written. The Beauty Brains hold no monopoly on the truth. We just ask that people actually have something to say and don’t hide meanings in comments that are vague, unclear and practically devoid of relevancy to the subject of the article.
For example…
What exactly were you trying to say when you wrote “Well, I am certainly glad to have ‘we here’ poo poo-ing the scientifically constructed study of a major medical center.”?
-You are sincerely glad that a scientific study by a major medical center was pooh poohed? Why would this make you glad?
Or when you wrote…”Who are the “team of scientists” behind Beauty Brains who claim they “have no sales pitch and nothing for you to buy” yet earn their revenue from advertising for beauty products (on this page, on this moment, JuveDerm, Drugstore.com, Meladerm Skin Lightener, and Claire Basit’s Skincare System.”?
-Were you sincerely interested in the identities of the Beauty Brains or were you trying to imply something else? What was it?
Or when you wrote…”By all means, go out and buy a good SPF lotion. Click through your links and buy now through Amazon.com.”?
-Were you sincerely encouraging (as we do) people to go purchase and use SPF lotions? or are you against SPF lotions?
If you don’t agree with something that’s written, then feel free to say what you mean and why. No need to obscure your message with vague innuendos.
Karen, I suggest you learn how google ads work. They hardly have a say in which ads are shown and frankly it doesn’t bother me one bit. Why?
Because I am an independent thinker and have my own brain. In fact, reading the BB for as long as I have has DETERRED me from purchasing anything from the ads that show up. They’ve even addressed this issue in the past. But they need money to fund the site so that’s where Google Ads come in.
And if sunscreen comes up, it’s because the ad machine registered it as a keyword…so you see sun related products, because the word ’sunscreen’ is in this post. BB don’t pick what’s advertised here.
You have a brain. Use it.