Hollywood has an obsession with tan skin, so much so that many celebrities show up to red carpet events with an orange hue on their skin from the build up too much sun and fake tanning. Many celebrities such as Paris Hilton, some well known designers, as well as the sales person at your local tanning salon seem to be addicted to tanning. This article in Marie Claire argues that maybe they are in fact addicted to tanning.
The article discusses how the ultraviolet light found in natural sunlight and tanning beds releases endorphins, which gives the person tanning a feeling of euphoria. Now that might explain why so many people enjoy scorching themselves in the sun. Researchers at Wake Forest University conducted a study to prove this point. The research claims that frequent tanners are in fact experiencing similar effects to addiction and a 'high' much like a drug addiction.
The researchers followed 8 individuals who tanned frequently (8-15 times a month) as well as individuals who tanned infrequently (less than 12 times a year). They were each given a drug that block endorphin production. Both groups tanned in UV and non-UV tanning beds. The group that tanned more frequently were more inclined to the UV beds and when they used the non-UV beds they experienced symptoms including nausea, dizziness, and the shakes, symptoms similar to those going through narcotic withdrawal. Pretty scary isn't it? Keep in mind that tanning beds can emit more than four times the amount of damaging UV rays that natural sunlight.
In the past I got caught up in the tanning craze. I admit I felt thinner and more attractive when I was a darker shade, similar to what others interviewed in the article claim. Eventually I started to care less and less about being tan and care more about being healthy, avoiding the likelihood of skin cancer. and premature aging and wrinkles. I began to realize that these negatives far outweigh the positives of having a tan.
Some celebrities that look beautiful with their natural skin color: Nicole Kidman, Monica Bellucci, Penelope Cruz, Liv Tyler.
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