That’s a scary thought: Excessive alcohol use can lead to a slew of health problems, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and liver disease, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
That doesn’t necessarily mean tanning causes alcoholism and depression. A reverse reaction could be happening here: Light therapy is often prescribed to people dealing with SAD and alcoholism is often rooted in depression, experts suggest. Since exposure to UV light increases your endorphin production—feel-good chemicals that boost your mood – tanning might offer an addictive spike in happiness when you feel down, the researchers say.
Bottom line: While the sun may give you a healthy dose of vitamin D, overdoing it never seems to be worth the risks. If you plan on basking in it, make sure you’re applying sunscreen correctly to minimise your cancer chances.