Tanorexia

Tanorexia ( German : tanning addiction ) is called by some German-speaking experts the exaggerated desire to tan the skin excessively. The term is made up of the English term to tan (to tan) and anorexia (anorexia), which is intended to emphasize the parallels to the disturbed and distorted self-image of anorexic people.

So far, there are only a few scientific studies on the excessive use of tanning beds . In the English-language specialist publications, it is referred to as indoor tanning dependency or addiction . Accordingly, there could be a corresponding, non-substance-related addiction . A general recognition as a disease entity is still pending.

Those affected should strive for the "perfect tan" and define their ideal of beauty through strongly tanned skin. Your desire for a body tan exceeds a normal and healthy level. They are afraid of becoming too pale and therefore unattractive, and therefore tan as often and intensively as possible, both in the sun and with the help of frequent visits to tanning salons, whereby this fear persists and leads to even with objectively very strong tanning that the skin has to be tanned more and more.

Possible consequential risks are premature skin aging, skin changes such as pigment disorders (skin spots), skin cancer and tooth loss due to excessive heating.

Dermatologists and cancer aid educate

In view of the lack of large-scale studies on tanorexia, the German Cancer Aid and the Dermatological Prevention Working Group (ADP) launched a permanent educational campaign in 2013 about "skin cancer caused by UV rays". Citizens are warned about the consequences of cancer caused by extreme, compulsive tanning of the skin through prevention pamphlets and free informational materials.

The chairman of the Dermatological Prevention Working Group (ADP), Professor Dr. Eckhard Breitbart, named the connection between ultraviolet radiation and diseases of black skin cancer malignant melanoma as proven. The risk doubles if tanning beds up to the age of 35 are regularly used once a month. "Those addicted to tanning, however, go to the solarium weekly, and in extreme cases every day."

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Prof. Eckhard Breitbart, ADP Chairman, March 13, 2013

further reading

• CE Mosher, S. Danoff-Burg: Addiction to indoor tanning: relation to anxiety, depression, and substance use. In: Archives of Dermatology Volume 146, Number 4, April 2010, pp. 412-417, ISSN  1538-3652 . doi : 10.1001 / archdermatol.2009.385 . PMID 20404230 .
• BV Nolan, SL Taylor, A. Liguori, SR Feldman: Tanning as an addictive behavior: a literature review. In: Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine Volume 25, Number 1, February 2009, pp. 12-19, ISSN  1600-0781 . doi : 10.1111 / j.1600-0781.2009.00392.x . PMID 19152511 . (Review).
• SP Poorsattar, RL Hornung: UV light abuse and high-risk tanning behavior among undergraduate college students. In: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Volume 56, Number 3, March 2007, pp. 375-379, ISSN  1097-6787 . doi : 10.1016 / j.jaad.2006.08.064 . PMID 17257709 .
• S. Zeller, D. Lazovich, J. Forster, R. Widome: Do adolescent indoor tanners exhibit dependency? In: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Volume 54, Number 4, April 2006, pp. 589-596, ISSN  1097-6787 . doi : 10.1016 / j.jaad.2005.12.038 . PMID 16546579 .
• Addiction to tan: a new clinical picture? In: Ärzte Zeitung of April 14, 2011
• J. Kelly: Tanning addiction exists, study. In: Medical News Today of August 16, 2005

Web links

• Article on tanorexia on Gesundheit.de
• www.unserehaut.de
• www.rosi-hat-schwein-gehabt.de

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !