Tanning is the process of browning the skin by exposure to sun. Each year, approximately 30 million Americans visit tanning salons to achieve a bronzed appearance that is considered to be attractive. This averages to about 1 million visits per day to tanning salons throughout the country. Although outdoor tanning is popular as well, indoor tanning provides a convenience that outdoor tanning does not. A 20-minute session in a tanning bed is equivalent to 4 hours outside. Many people also falsely assume that tanning beds do not carry the same risks as sun exposure.

Tanorexia is a slang term for people who have an addiction to tanning. Tanorexia is similar to anorexia, an eating disorder. In anorexia, people starve themselves due to an obsession with losing weight and not feeling thin enough. Tanorexia is similar in that tanorexics feels that they are not tan enough. Many times, people who have an addiction to tanning feel as though they are in competition with others to get the darkest tan. Tanorexics ignore warnings about the dangerous side effects. Tanning can be very relaxing. It releases extra endorphins, which produce pleasant feelings. These pleasurable feelings may contribute to the obsession with tanning. Studies have shown that people with a tanning addiction may experience withdrawal symptoms when tanning is stopped.

Tanning occurs when ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes an increased release of melanin in the skin. Ultraviolet radiation is divided into two types. UVA radiation makes people tan by penetrating the lower layers of skin and triggering the melanocytes to produce melanin. Melanin is a brown pigment that causes people to tan and prevents the skin from burning. UVB radiation causes people to burn by burning the top layer of skin. Darker skinned people tend not to burn as much as people with lighter skin because their skin contains more melanin naturally.

There are many side effects of tanning. Skin cancer is one of the more dangerous side effects. A decreased immune system is another side effect. UVA rays can penetrate all the way down to blood vessels and nerves causing this decrease in immune function. Other side effects of tanning include premature wrinkles, age spots, vision problems, and a leathery appearance to the skin. While skin cancer may take years to appear, wrinkles and other signs of prematurely aging can occur more quickly. People with darker skin are less likely to see the damage as soon as fairer skinned people.

There are safer alternatives to tanning beds and outdoor tanning. There are many sunless sprays, lotions, and creams available. These products react with dead skin cells on the outermost surface of skin to produce a darker appearance. Results can be seen within an hour and the full effect within 24 hours. Sunless tans usually disappear with a week and can be gone sooner due to excessive washing or exfoliating of the skin. Precautions should be taken to protect the eyes during application, otherwise most sunless tanning products are generally regarded as safe. The only unpleasant side effect may be an orange tint to the skin caused by some brands of sunless tanning products.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Tanning