Tanorexia

Tanorexia is an obsessive desire to acquire and maintain a suntan by natural or artificial methods. Tanorexics lie in the sun for hours even though they know how harmful it is to their skin.

The reason why people become addicted to tanning is not clear but it is thought they enjoy the feeling of well-being when they expose their skin to the sun regularly but also have an obsessive desire to maintain a tanned skin tone.

Tanorexia can be considered a form of body dysmorphic syndrome or addiction.

Treatment tips that can help with Tanorexia

• Counsel these tanorexics that what they are doing is harmful to their skin which will result in not only premature ageing of the skin but also substantially increase the risk of developing melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer
• In the southern hemisphere during the summer months, we only need about 20 minutes in the sun twice a week on the forearms, to produce enough Vitamin D
• Excessive sun exposure is immunosuppressive and can trigger Herpes Simplex which often presents as fever blisters on the lips
• Consider reaching out to a dermatologist or mental health professional who can provide guidance and support in overcoming tanorexia
• Consider using self-tanning products or bronzing lotions as safer alternatives to achieve a tan appearance