Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Your Addiction to Tanning May Be Genetic


                 As the winter air and cloudy skies begins to settle in, people are rushing to tanning salons to stop their 'summer glow' from fading. Anna Norto, from HealthDay, reports that scientists have begun to conduct research on a gene that is linked to tanning addiction. It is believed, that similar to drugs such as heroin and cocaine, exposure to UV light can be addictive. During their initial research, experimenters conducted UV-dependence experiments on mice and found that daily exposure to UV-lights increased the amount of beta-endorphins in the animals blood levels.  When comparing the saliva of people who exhibited tanning dependence, to those who did not exhibit these characteristics, researchers found a striking difference in the PTCHD2 gene. Because the initial sample size was small, researchers hope to conduct larger comparisons, and determine what may have caused these changes.
                Due to these initial findings, scientists are looking for potential therapies for those who are UV-dependent. One of the many side effects of tanning is Melanoma. Melanoma is the cancerous growth of skin cells due to unrepaired DNA that causes cells to rapidly reproduce and multiply. The main cause of this disease is consistent exposure to ultra violet radiation. With the rate of melanoma increasing at a rapid rate, researchers are looking for safer methods for those who need a daily dose of UV rays.
                While I read this article, several questions came into my mind.  What interested me was whether a person of a lighter skin tone was more likely to be UV- light dependent than a person of a darker skin tone. Although people who are darker, are less likely to tan, it is possible that they can feel the same euphoria when exposed to UV lights as someone who tans often. With cancer rates growing faster than ever due to environmental factors, if researchers can detect the likelihood of a person being dependent on ultra-violet light, then through determining potential therapies, melanoma rates around the world may decrease.  




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