Indoor Tanning Addictive, linked To Substance Abuse

What starts off as an innocent desire for darker skin can quickly turn into an addiction and possibly lead to death.

A new study shows that people who excessively use tanning beds are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

Indoor tanning is a $5 billion industry, and News Channel 3 spoke with Southland residents at Vibrant Tanning Studios in Palm Desert Monday who frequently tan. A lot of them said that they tan several times a week, but, they don’t consider themselves addicts.

“It just makes me feel better,” said Joanne Aguilar, who tans twice a week. “It makes me feel sexy.”

According to the Indoor Tanning Association, 30 million people use tanning salons a year.

The cast from the popular MTV reality show “Jersey Shore” always talked about tanning, and actually look down on people who don’t tan.

“It just gives me that bit of feeling of relaxation,” said Aguilar.

But, that feeling of relaxtion can become an obsession and eventually an addiction, according to a new study.

Ann Roques, owner of Vibrant Tanning Studios, said she’s seen it before.

“One lady in particular – yes, I did,” Roques explained. “She was abusive. She was tanning everyday.”

Roque said cusomers are allowed to tan up to three times a week.

“Everything with moderation,” she said.

“It’s on the rise, and as of a recent study, tanning addiction is increasing,” said Dr. Amy Austin, a clinical psychologist who specializes in addictions. “It’s like any other addiction: spending, work, sex, gambling, drug abuse [and] alcohol abuse.”

The study was released by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Univeristy at Albany, State University of New York. It also stated that people addicted to using UV tanning beds are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

“It’s a family disease, causing a lot of dis-ease,” said Austin. “So, yes, it affects all parts of a person’s life.”

Tanning beds have long been considered dangerous.

Dr. Robert Lesnick, a dermatologist, has seen them abused, “to the point where they’re damaging their skin? Yes,” he said. “To the point where they got burns occassionally? Sure.”

Lesnick has performed surgery on people with skin cancer as young as 16-years old.

“You’re taking a gamble certainly,” he said.

Ann Roques said she tans twice a week, and doesn’t consider herself an addict. But, like anything else, she said excessive use is unhealthy.

“It’s not necessary for anyone to abuse it at all,” Roques explained.

“I do see some people on TV that take it to the next level,” said Aguilar. “But, I think that’s all just TV.”

Tanning salons took another hit this year when Congress passed health care legislation. Starting July 1, a 10 percent tax will be charged for all indoor tanning services.