Tanorexia: The New Lifestyle Disease

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Have you ever seen someone who was so usually tan that their skin almost looked leathery? Or someone who just couldn't go a day without tanning? On average over one million people spend their money on tanning. Unfortunately, this isn't just a fun hobby, these people are at risk. People who tan excessively are what dermatologist call tanorexics. People who are tanorexics see their complexion and wish it were different. They feel self conscious when others are more tan than they are. Although wanting to be tan may not always be a bad thing many people take it to far. Tanorexia is a tanning addiction most young adults have that is caused by mental illnesses and is also a replacement for drugs and alcohol, and leads to horrible diseases such as skin cancer. According to the medical dictionary Tanorexia is a term used for a rare condition which may be caused by a psychological addiction disorder, which is an example of a compulsive drive to spend large amounts of time tanning under the sun or tanning bed due to certain thoughts that they are too pale (SengenMed par.1). This new form of mental disorder has been called the new “lifestyle disease”. This addiction is an example of loss of control of an individuals life. Although this addiction has not yet been officially described by the medical community as a physical or mental problem it may just include symptoms of anxiety if a session of tanning is missed (Fayde, par.1). Tanorexia is usually associated with many mental illnesses for example body dismorphic disorder which is one of the main causes of anorexia and bulimia. A person with tanorexia will always see pale skin when they look in the mirror no matter how dark they really are. People with tanorexia are also easily trigger... ... middle of paper ... ... are unaware of how much sunlight can hurt them and cause them to have skin cancer later on in life Those that do it more often than others are the ones who suffer from tanorexia; these people often need help emotionally, physically, and psychologically. Thankfully there are treatment clinics willing to help those who suffer from Tanorexia. Works Cited Brody, Jane. “When Tanning Turns Into an addiction”. The New York Times. 21. June201 Web, June 6 2010. Fayde, Lisa. “When Tanning Becomes an Addiction” Tanorexia.about.comaid.Web.30 June2008. < http://cancer.about.com/>. Feldman, Steve.MD”Addicted to Tanning”. Wake Forest Medical Center. Web 3 February 2011 . Park, Alice. “Tanorexia: Are Some People Addicted to Indoor Tanning?” Healthy and Family. Web. 19 April 2010. .

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