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FITNESS TIPS : A Hard Habit to Kick
Smoking and sunning may have more in common than you think.

Topic: Healthy Habits
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Both cause wrinkles. Both increase the risk of cancer. And now studies suggest that the desire to bake in the sun, like the desire to light up, may also be an addiction. Ultraviolet rays seem to trigger endorphin production -- the same feel-good brain chemicals released when you take in nicotine. But there's one more similarity: if you're hooked on tanning, stop-smoking strategies might help you kick the habit.

People do it by the pool, on the deck, and at the salon. They do it even though they know it's bad for their skin and worse for their health. These new findings, although preliminary, may partially explain why.

Based on classic addiction/abuse questionnaires, the study revealed that up to 50 percent of beachgoers surveyed met the criteria for "tanning dependency." For example, the tanners said they've tried to cut back but can't, have missed work, dates, or school to hit the beach, and "need" to spend more and more time in the sun.

Although 10 to 20 minutes per day of sunlight ensures that you get your daily dose of vitamin D, it’s no news that long-term exposure to ultraviolet light can dramatically and dangerously age you. If you think you need help, talk with your healthcare provider about breaking your tanning habit. Meanwhile, experiment with the latest generation of self-tanners. Many are amazingly good.

SOURCES: Induction of withdrawal-like symptoms in a small randomized, controlled trial of opioid blockade in frequent tanners. Kaur, M., Liguori, A., Lang, W., Rapp, S. R., Fleischer, A. B., Feldman, S. R., Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2006 Apr;54(4):709-711. UV light tanning as a type of substance-related disorder. Warthan, M. M., Uchida, T., Wagner, R. F., Archives of Dermatology 2005 Aug;141(8):963-966.

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