Addicted to Tanning? Tanorexia May Be the Cause

While there are some people out there who are proud of their pale skin, there are others who enjoy having that summertime glow - all year long. If you have always wondered why tanning is such an important aspect of your life, chances are that you may have a condition called tanorexia. Here, we will take a much closer look at this condition.

What Is Tanorexia?

Although tanorexia may sound like a made up word to you, the truth is that it is a condition which really does exist. The name has, as you can probably guess, been based on the eating disorder called anorexia. The main thing that tanorexia and anorexia have in common is the fact that they are both psychological conditions, rather than physical conditions. Tanorexia is a word which is used in order to describe people who feel the continuous need to tan, despite any known consequences which are associated with using tanning salons or laying outside in the sun.

What Are The Symptoms?

The number one symptom of tanorexia is the constant desire to tan, even though you may realize that there are dangerous or even deadly consequences with doing so. However, there are also a number of other signs which may indicate that you have tanorexia. Some of these indicators are as follows:

- Spending hours at the salon or outside in the sun, even if it means that you will get the slightest bit of a tan.

- Getting upset when it is not possible for you to tan, whether it is because you are not able to attend the salon or if it is because the weather does not permit it.
- Feeling that you look the best when you are tan, as well as feeling that other people look the best when they are tan also.

- Resorting to the use of "fake" tanning products, such as creams or lotions, as well as spray-on tans which can be received at the local spa & salon. Of course, there are not any health-related issues with doing this.

- Comparing your tan to celebrities, as well as having competitions with your friends in order to see whose skin can get the most tan in a given amount of time.
- Feeling upset if the tan which you do get is not what you are expected or were hoping for. This will often lead to further tanning in the future.