Living near the beach, I see hundreds of people stretched out in the sun every summer, hoping to come home with the perfect tan. As someone who has paid the price with multiple skin cancers, I understand the appeal, but I also know the cost. Protecting your skin isn’t just about preventing wrinkles. It can save your life.

Most people have heard of anorexia, but have you ever heard the term “tanorexia“? While it isn’t an official psychiatric diagnosis, the term has been used to describe people who continue tanning despite knowing the risks, including premature aging and skin cancer. Researchers today more commonly refer to this as tanning dependence or problematic tanning, and growing evidence suggests that for some people, the behavior shares characteristics with addiction.

Psychiatrist Dr. Bryon Adinoff and other researchers helped draw attention to this phenomenon by studying how ultraviolet (UV) light affects the brain. Their work found that UV exposure can activate the body’s production of endorphins, those natural chemicals associated with pleasure and pain relief. These endorphins stimulate the brain’s reward system, which may explain why some frequent tanners report feeling relaxed, happier, or even compelled to keep tanning despite knowing the dangers.

A Visit to the Tanning Salon

Years ago, curiosity led me to spend about fifteen minutes sitting in the lobby of a tanning salon. I wanted to observe who was using tanning beds and hear, firsthand, why they kept coming back.

Most customers were teenage girls, although there was also a steady stream of middle-aged and older women arriving for regular appointments. What caught my attention was that many of the older women already had obvious sun damage—deep wrinkles, leathery skin, and age spots. Yet they continued tanning.

When I asked why, their answers were revealing.

One woman smiled and said, “It just makes me feel good.”

Another explained that she liked how a tan made her legs look, so she didn’t feel the need to wear nylons.

A third looked at me and simply admitted, “I’m addicted.”

Her honesty stayed with me.

Why Tanning Can Be So Hard to Quit

People who tan regularly often describe similar reasons for continuing:

• “I feel happier after tanning.”
• “I look healthier with a tan.”
• “I feel thinner when my skin is darker.”
• “I know it’s bad for me, but I don’t want to stop.”

These responses reflect more than vanity. They reveal the powerful interaction between body image, mood, and the brain’s reward system. For some individuals, tanning temporarily boosts confidence and emotional well-being. Over time, the brain begins to associate UV exposure with feeling better, making the behavior more difficult to resist.

This can be particularly influential during adolescence and young adulthood, when appearance, social acceptance, and peer approval often carry enormous emotional weight.

The Risks Are Real

The science on UV exposure has become even clearer over the past decade. Both natural sunlight and indoor tanning expose the skin to ultraviolet radiation that damages DNA within skin cells. That damage accumulates over time, increasing the risk of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and the deadliest form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma.

Indoor tanning is especially concerning. Research consistently shows that using tanning beds before age 35 significantly increases the risk of melanoma. There is no such thing as a “safe” tan produced by UV radiation. A tan is actually the skin’s response to injury.

The Power of Role Models

Appearance trends are often shaped by celebrities and social media influencers. For years, deeply bronzed skin was promoted as the ideal of beauty, encouraging many young people to spend hours in the sun or tanning beds.

Today, however, several well-known public figures embrace their natural skin tone rather than pursuing an artificially dark tan. Taylor Swift is one visible example. While she has never made skin cancer prevention a central public message, she is generally seen wearing her naturally fair complexion instead of promoting excessive tanning. That subtle example can help communicate an important truth: beauty doesn’t require damaging your skin.

As parents, educators, and health professionals, we should encourage young people to look beyond cultural trends and recognize that healthy skin is far more attractive than preventable skin damage.

A Better Investment

If you’ve been chasing the perfect tan, consider making a different investment this summer. Protect your skin with sunscreen, seek shade during peak UV hours, wear protective clothing, and remember that healthy skin never goes out of style.

The Bible reminds us that our bodies are gifts entrusted to us by God. Caring for them is an act of good stewardship, not vanity. As Paul writes, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… Therefore, honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

This summer, instead of chasing a temporary glow, choose habits that will protect the skin God has given you for years to come.