Confessions of a Tanorexic

Tanning is terrible for your skin. We all know this. Oh, but it feels SO GOOD. Turns out, medical findings now show that UV light could actually be an addiction. And some of us may need a 12-step program to stop.

Growing up in Tennessee, where hair (and other woman parts) are big, and skin is always mahogany, it just became the beauty norm for me. I tried to give up tanning awhile back, and I just couldn't. Why don't I give self-tanners a try? I'm allergic! Why not give up tanning entirely? Because tanning actually makes me feel better about myself. And whether I'm on the beach on under the tanning lamps, I love that rush of endorphins. I can't be as happy without my fix.

I wish I could embrace my natural paleness. But I just can't. I know I'm prematurely aging my skin and subjecting myself to the risk of sun cancer. But we all engage in some sort of self-destructive behavior -- smoking, drinking too much, gambling, drugging, obsessively shopping . . . is one addiction really worse than another?

Comments: 3

Marianne R. Mar 19, 2009, 3:39pm EDT

I haven't tanned in years. It was an easy habit to break for me once I weighed the risks. Now of course I am paying for all those younger years praying to the sun god with all kinds of imperfections in my facial skin.

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Mia Thomas Mar 19, 2009, 4:13pm EDT

Me too, Marianne. I actually don't tan my face anymore. It ain't much, but it's a start!

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David P. Apr 23, 2009, 4:37pm EDT

I've lived in Miami for a lot of years. I used to love the beach. But the sun is very harmful to your skin. My dermatologist always tells me to stay out of the sun. I miss the beach, but going to an indoor pool works for me now.

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Confessions of a Tanorexic

Comments: 3

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