Obsession with getting a tan, either by sitting in the sun or sitting under tanning lamps, has increased in recent years. The same is true of those obsessed with avoiding the sun’s rays at all costs for fear of its harmful effects.
Tanorexia is the obsession with gaining a tan by any means and at any cost and this disorder now affects around 2% of the population, the majority being women. Ultimately, tanorexia can lead to the development of harmful melanomas.
Tanophobia is the obsession of staying out of the sun at all costs for fear of its harmful effects and this can also have consequences, such as a deficiency in vitamin D.
Psychotherapy is currently considered to be the way to treat both these conditions.