Mental health experts say tanning could make people happier

[Ezliving_Jim]

Mental health experts say tanning could make people happier
( Air Date: 3/2/2007 )The winter months can seem like an eternity, leading many to feel a little sluggish and even blue

The long days of winter seem to often bring out the worst in people.

"It`s like oh god, you can tell its winter, I`m white, and I don`t like that feeling I love to be dark," Cathy Smith, tanner, said.

Medical experts call it seasonal affective disorder.

"The ups and down with the weather kind of throws people in that up and down mode also," Vicky Myers, mental health expert, said.

Studies show that about half a million Americans struggle with the winter blues but others simply fight it.

"A lot of people will come in and tan to get rid of the blues," Karen Neff, owner of Tanfastic, said.

Neff said Tanfastic sees a lot more business this time of the year because her customers want to go where the sun is always shinning.

"They want to get their color back they`re craving the sunshine, because in our part of the country we loose so much vitamin D during the winter time," Neff said.

"I mean the tan alone makes you feel better and you glow and then you put on the baby oil and you sparkle," Smith said.

If tanning doesn`t spark an interest, simply opening up a curtain can begin to lift your spirit.

"Get outside, take walks, try to get as much natural sun light as you can, stay active physically," Myers said.

The good news is the winter blues will soon drift away as spring rolls in. Medical experts said seasonal affective disorder begins to wear off about this time of year, when more sun typically replaces clouds.

But is tanning bad for people?

The tanning industry and dermatologists are in disagreement when it comes to indoor tanning. Doctors have often argued that tanning salons can cause cancer.

Local tanning salon owners said the key is moderation.

"I think there is a happy medium that you have to get to, you don`t want to burn your skin," Neff said. "You can get good vitamin D, just with moderate tanning."

The sun provides your body with enough vitamin D to fight off other cancers. So its up to the person to decide where and how you will get that vitamin D.
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