Website That 'Tans' Sucks in 1M

New studies say tanning is addictive, sunscreen increases risk of melanoma

(NEWSER) - Tanning may be addictive, and sunscreen use may actually increase the risk of melanoma, according to a Slate round-up of new research about the effects of sun on skin. In a study aimed at testing the long-held theory that UV rays stimulate endorphins, researchers gave a group of sunbathers a drug blocking endorphin receptors The frequent tanners among them indeed presented symptoms of withdrawal. More»

Researchers blame tanning beds

(NEWSER) - Researchers expected a rise in skin cancer among young women—but they didn't expect this: Between 1970 and 2009, melanoma became eight times more common among women 18 to 39 and four times higher among men in that age group, Time reports. "There is currently a melanoma epidemic in the US, particularly in young women and middle-aged men," notes a Mayo Clinic dermatologist and researcher involved in the study. The increase among women is likely tied to tanning salons, the experts say. More»

Police chief: We must crack down on un-Islamic acts

(NEWSER) - Sun worship appears to be the latest threat to Iranian security as authorities announce that suntanned women will be imprisoned. "The public expects us to act swiftly if we see any social misbehavior," said Tehran police chief Brig Hossien Sajedinia, who noted that women will be warned before arrests begin. "We see many suntanned women and young girls who look like walking mannequins." Many women, especially in Tehran, ignore Islamic laws that require women to wear headscarves and cloaks. An ayatollah warned "sinners" to flee the capital before the crackdown begins, reports the Telegraph . More»

No, those perfectly toned abs on Dancing With the Stars aren't all real

(NEWSER) - Ever wonder how every contestant on Dancing With the Stars looks so toned? It’s not all due to the workouts: Spray tanning experts are on call for DWTS and other reality shows, and they don’t just make contestants look darker—they add enhancements from six-pack abs to toned arms. “You go in feeling fat and frumpy, and you come out feeling skinny and hot,” one dancer tells the Wall Street Journal . More»

(NEWSER) - Tanning beds have been upgraded from a probable carcinogen to a definite cause of cancer by World Health Organization experts, Newsday reports. The scientists analyzed over 20 studies and promptly moved the beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into their top category of cancer risks. They concluded that using tanning beds before age 30 raises a person's skin cancer risk by 75%. More»