The association of tanning behavior with psycho-tropic medication use among young adult women

Abstract

Despite its known association with skin cancer, tanning remains popular among young adult women. Indoor tanning behavior has been found to be associated with affective and addictive disorders. To better understand potential psychological and biological mechanisms of tanning behavior, we investigated associations between tanning and medication (psychotropic and other) use among young women. Two hundred and fifty-three women age 18–29 years old were recruited from two northeastern university campus communities. Women self-reported tanning frequency and chronic medication use. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, indoor tanning ≥12 times last year was significantly associated with use of psychotropic medication and anti-depressants in particular. Sunbathing was not associated with medication use. Potential reasons for associations between tanning and psychotropic medication use are discussed. Indoor tanners should be warned that some psychotropic medications are photosensitizing, thus increasing risk for burns and other skin damage from indoor tanning.

Keywords:

• tanning
• young adult women
• psychotropic medication
• anti-depressants

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Jeanne Pomenti, Megan Joint and Helene Conway for their assistance with manuscript preparation and the following individuals for their assistance conducting the study: Rachel Chandler, Amy Benson, Elizabeth Culnan, Deborah Rooney, Lia Boyle, Eva Panigrahi and Kate Menezes.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute [grant number R21CA134819 (CH)], [grant number T32CA009035 (SD)], [grant number P30CA006927 (Cancer Center Support Grant)].