Review of interventions to reduce ultraviolet tanning: Need for treatments targeting excessive tanning, an emerging addictive behavior.

Abstract

Millions of Americans engage in tanning each year, defined as intentional ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure in the form of sunbathing or the use of indoor tanning beds. An emerging body of research suggests that UVR has addictive properties and some tanners engage in excessive tanning. This article provides an overview of the evidence of tanning addiction and a systematic review of existing tanning interventions with the goal of evaluating their potential to impact addicted tanners. Our search identified 24 intervention studies that were summarized and discussed according to three primary themes. First, there is a dearth of tanning interventions that target excessive tanning or are designed as treatments for tanning addiction. Second, tanning interventions are primarily educational interventions designed to increase knowledge of the risks of tanning. Third, there are notable aspects of existing tanning interventions that are relevant to addiction science including the use of brief motivational and cognitive behavioral-based interventions. Future directions are considered including recommendations for utilizing the existing evidence base to formulate interventions targeting excessive tanners.

Indoor Tanning Dependence in Young Adult Women

“…Although interventions aimed at affecting perceived risks and benefits of health behaviors have promising effects generally (26, 63) and in some studies of indoor tanning (61, 64), our findings suggest this approach alone may be insufficient to promote behavior change among young adults endorsing indoor tanning dependence. A recent review proposes skills-based cognitive behavioral and motivational interventions that have shown promise for addressing other behavioral addictions could be adapted to address “excessive tanning” (65). However, evidence on the design and delivery of interventions targeting young adults endorsing indoor tanning dependence, which our data indicate is characterized by frequent indoor tanning, pro-tanning beliefs, and psychiatric comorbidity, is extremely limited.…”

Motivations among sexual‐minority men for starting and stopping indoor tanning

“…Loss-framed, appearance-focused messages have been shown to be effective in interventions targeting young women who tan. 7 Secondly, messages that highlight indoor tanning and skin cancer as an LGBTQ community issue by describing the disproportionate impact of indoor tanning and skin cancer on this community may be effective. This approach has been successfully used by the Truth Initiative to highlight the impact of tobacco on the LGBT community.…”

Cells to Surgery Quiz: October 2018

“…Furthermore, linear regression models demonstrated that for each additional psychological symptom and problem substance, the probability of comorbid tanning addiction increased by 30% and 67%, respectively (Miller et al, 2018). Current treatment approaches for problem tanning behavior primarily aim to counsel and educate patients; however, given the association of tanning addiction with other behavioral comorbidities, future directions may aim to incorporate cognitive and behavioral based interventions (Stapleton et al, 2017).…”