Medical Information


Medical Use


Some people with psoriasis or eczema are treated with UVB light therapy. This is typically in the 310 nm to 315 nm portion of the UVB spectrum. Virtually all fluorescent tanning lamps have one spectral peak within this region of the UVB spectrum, making them an effective tool in mild to moderate cases. In some circumstances, salon memberships have been prescribed and more rarely the purchase of home tanning beds have been prescribed by doctors and may be covered by insurance policies. Tanning may temporarily help some forms of acne by drying out the skin, but it is not a solution that lasts for very long. Further, most prescription or over the counter acne medications (e.g. Accutane, Benzoyl Peroxide, Retin-A) should not be used in combination with ultraviolet exposure or the user may experience negative side effects from burning to delayed healing due to photosensitivity that these drugs (and many others) can create. UVA light therapy is also used in dermatology. This is often combined with either an oral or topical medication called Psoralen. This combined therapy is referred to as PUVA.

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Tanning addiction


Addiction to tanning is extremely rare and may be due to several underlying psychological issues. The mechanism for addiction is unknown at this time. 'Tanorexia', as it is colloquially known, is a subset of tanning addiction and symptoms include a false and persistent belief that he or she is too pale, and will therefore exceed normally accepted limits of UV exposure. The individual will seek out this exposure indoors or outdoors, with the goal of obtaining a tan that is dark enough for his or her tastes. This condition is likely to be comorbid with body dysmorphic disorder. Neither tanning addiction nor tanorexia are covered under the latest edition of the DSM-IV, though they are most likely versions of similar problems already on record. To that end, a 2005 article in The Archives of Dermatology presents a case for UV light tanning addiction to be viewed as a type of substance abuse disorder.

Source: Wikipedia