Suntan addiction

Filed in archive Studies on August 15, 2005

Some may be "addicted" to getting a suntan:

Scientists at the University of Texas have found that some people might be addicted to getting a suntan.

The research, published in the Archives of Dermatology, suggested up to 53% of beach-goers could be dependent on getting a tan.

Cancer experts said it provided "an interesting insight into why people continue to binge-sunbathe".

However, an addiction scientist said it was more likely to be an "extreme behaviour", rather than an addiction.

("Warning over suntan 'addiction'", BBC, Aug.15)