UV exposure is a natural attraction. Nearly all living things naturally crave sunlight exposure. And most of us naturally feel better when the sun is shining and it’s not dark and gloomy. UV exposure to the skin triggers the production of endorphins, substances that trigger a “feel good” response in the brain. These same endorphins are produced with other natural activities too, like running, biking or swimming. It’s nature’s way of re-enforcing a natural attraction. Yet some have used this natural process to characterize tanning as an addiction in the same category as heroin.
Dr. Rebecca Goldin, in a 2014 article in Forbes, suggested that our attraction to sunlight follows the same biological pathways as exercise and sex. Her point: Before we condemn any activity that uses these biological pathways and suggest that such activities are comparable to heroin, we should consider the other healthy behaviors that travel along these same biological pathways. Dr. Goldin says:
“Rarely do we see tanning addicts clawing their way out of their offices, unable to control their desire for the beach, and ruining relationships at work and at home in order to satisfy that craving for the sun. The idea that a biological pathway is a one-way street implying a fixed outcome, a certain destination, for anyone who travels along it is deeply problematic. The only thing we can say for certain is that making an analogy with heroin or cocaine gets your study headlines.”