Despite warning about risk of skin cancer, some people remain unshaken about having them bodies tanned.

Anyway, dermatologists have long suspected that tanning might be addictive like drugs or alcohol.

A new study of college co-eds indicates that some people may be addicted to ultraviolet (UV) light. (Previous experiments have shown that UV light causes endorphin release, similar to the Euphoric sensation associated most pleasure-seeking behaviours.)

Published in the March 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologist Robin L. Hornung, MD, MPH, FAAD (Division of Dermatology at the University of Washington and the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, Wash.) is the report entitled, "UV light abuse and high-risk tanning behaviour among undergraduate college students".

In the said study, the researchers used a standardized testing tool to gauge the presence of a substance-related disorder (SRD) as a means to determine whether some college students could be hooked on tanning.

According to Dr. Hornung:

"Our finding that 18 percent of the students who admitted to purposely tanning their skin scored positively on the CAGE questionnaire is significant, not only because it indicates the probable existence of SRD with respect to UV light but because this percentage is comparable with findings of other addiction studies."

Sure, bronzed is beautiful, but having skin cancer later is not worth it, don't you think?

Read the full report.