The Unknown Risks of Tanning Just as Dangerous as Skin Cancer
The dangerous side effects of tanning you've never heard about
- by
Alisa Hrustic
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That’s a scary thought: Excessive alcohol use can lead to a slew of health problems, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and liver disease, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Plus, dealing with depression - even if it’s just the winter blues - can make you feel tired, irritable, and gain weight, according to the Mayo Clinic.
That doesn’t necessarily mean tanning causes alcoholism and depression. A reverse reaction could be happening here: Light therapy is often prescribed to people dealing with SAD and alcoholism is often rooted in depression, experts suggest. Since exposure to UV light increases your endorphin production—feel-good chemicals that boost your mood - tanning might offer an addictive spike in happiness when you feel down, the researchers say.
Plus, if you have one type of dependence, you are more likely to have another addiction, lead study author Dr Brenda Cartmel, said in a press release.
Bottom line: While the sun may give you a healthy dose of vitamin D, overdoing it never seems to be worth the risks. If you plan on basking in it, make sure you’re applying sunscreen correctly to minimise your cancer chances.
