Sunbathing causes a surge of “feelgood” hormones, according to scientists who say that the effect might explain why people suffer from post-holiday blues.
The study found that when mice were exposed to mild UV radiation, they experienced an increase in circulating endorphins, the body’s natural opiates. When the mice were subsequently given opiate-blocking drugs they showed classic withdrawal symptoms such as trembling, which the scientists said supported the idea that sun exposure was addictive.
David Fisher, chairman of dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, who led the study, said: “This provides a potential explanation for the ‘sun-seeking’ behaviour that may underly the relentless rise in most forms of skin cancer.”
There is already “quite compelling epidemiological evidence” that the use of tanning beds can be addictive,