Dr. Gupta

CNN TV Programs------------------------------CNNAmanpourAmerican MorningAnderson Cooper 360°Campbell BrownCNN NewsroomCNN PresentsCNN Student NewsFareed Zakaria GPSHouse CallJohn King U.S.A.Larry King LiveState of the UnionThe Situation RoomYour Bottom LineYour $$$$$HLNClark HowardISSUESMorning ExpressNancy GracePrime NewsShowbiz TonightThe Joy Behar Show Programs

Programs ------------------------------ CNN Amanpour American Morning Anderson Cooper 360° Campbell Brown CNN Newsroom CNN Presents CNN Student News Fareed Zakaria GPS House Call John King U.S.A. Larry King Live State of the Union The Situation Room Your Bottom Line Your $$$$$ HLN Clark Howard ISSUES Morning Express Nancy Grace Prime News Showbiz Tonight The Joy Behar Show SCHEDULE ANCHORS & REPORTERS CONTACT US HLN





April 19, 2010
Indoor tanning linked to addictive behaviors
Posted: 04:19 PM ET

By Georgiann Caruso
CNN Medical Associate Producer

Indoor tanning among U.S. college students is linked to addiction, anxiety and substance use, according to a study released today.

Researchers polled more than 400 undergraduates ages 18 to 25 in the northeastern U.S, almost half of whom said they used tanning beds. The researchers, using language similar to screening quizzes for alcohol and substance abuse, asked the respondents about their indoor tanning as well as their use of alcohol and other substances. They found that people who tanned also tended to use alcohol and marijuana; they were also more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety. The authors noted that "repeated exposure to UV light” may have results similar to those often cited by substance abusers: relaxation, increased socialization and improved moods.

They suggested more study of a short anxiety and depression screening for those who participate in indoor tanning.

“Treating an underlying mood disorder may be a necessary step in reducing skin cancer risk among those who frequently tan indoors," the authors wrote.

Dr. Darrell Rigel, past president of the American Academy of Dermatology and now clinical professor of dermatology at New York University, agreed. “We haven't convinced people in theory that 100 percent of people should be wearing sunscreen and 0 percent of people should be going to tanning beds. …Maybe the reason our current strategy is not working is because tanning is an addictive behavior. If that's true, then we have to attack the public's perception of this just like we would attack alcoholism and drug use. We have to bring in behavioral scientists who are addiction experts to come up with a better plan to deal with this issue.”

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

Posted by: Georgiann Caruso - CNN Medical Associate Producer