Good News Guys, Sunbathing is Addictive

[manofthesea]

With all of the awareness about sun exposure and skin cancer, were you worried that your trip to the beach/lake would be lacking those fantastic views (bikinis)?

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and UV-seeking behavior is a major risk factor. Many UV seekers meet clinical criteria for a substance-related disorder, but the mechanisms underlying such an addiction have been unclear.

Worry no more.

A study published June 19th by Cell Press in the journal Cell reveals that chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes the release of feel-good hormones called endorphins, which act through the same pathway as heroin and related drugs, leading to physical dependence, tolerance, and addiction-like behavior in rodents.
...
One potential clue is that UV exposure stimulates the production of endorphins, which relieve pain by activating opioid receptors through the same pathway activated by prescription painkillers, morphine, and heroin

I myself used to kayak regularly in Hawaii without sunscreen and am now watching my skin moles for the telltale signs..

Oops, the link: http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Feel_good_hormones_could_cause_UV_addiction_999.html

 

[casebro]

I suspect the feel good stuff is somehow longer lasting than the UV exposure. I always feel good the next day, after the burning has subsided. I always blamed the de-inflammation, some kind of bounce back from the pain? Or maybe the surge of vitamin D?

I wonder if there are racial variations? Pale skin folks who might need a reward to encourage soaking up some rare rays in northern latitudes might get a bigger boost of endorphins than equatorial races who get plenty of sunshine?

 

[Bikewer]

Maybe because I'm a pale European by descent, laying in the sun has never had much appeal to me.
Back when I was an enthusiastic young fisherman, I declared that if the bass didn't like bright sun, I didn't either.

 

[Manopolus]

I sunbathe regularly because it helps my psoriasis. I haven't noticed any endorphins, but I am sleeping more regularly since I started it this year.

 

[Delvo]

I'm pretty sure you could find endorphin levels changing like that when people do anything they want/like to do. But it certainly isn't a built-in, physical reaction directly to the radiation itself; it has to go through the mind wanting/liking it first. Sunbathing is my personal vision of Hell. If you could follow my endorphin levels, you'd find them going up when I'm in dim, diffuse light, like under a deep dark forest, or a clear natural night sky, or my living room ceiling with the strings of LED Christmas lights up all year.