Basking in the sun frequently leads to the release of endorphins which can cause UV addiction, increasing the risk of skin cancer, a new study finds.
Basking in the sun is a common pastime in many cities across the United States. People from all over the country flock to beaches during the summers to enjoy the warm rays of the sun. This leads to the release of endorphins, also known as the "feel good" hormone. The findings of a new study reveals that these hormones can cause UV addiction which increases skin cancer risks.
"This information might serve as a valuable means of educating people to curb excessive sun exposure in order to limit skin cancer risk as well as accelerated skin aging that occurs with repeated sun exposure," said senior study author David Fisher in a press statement. "Our findings suggest that the decision to protect our skin or the skin of our children may require more of a conscious effort rather than a passive preference."
For the study, the researchers exposed a group of mice to UV light for six weeks. After one week, researchers noticed an increase in endorphin levels in the blood of these mice. Once the six weeks were over, researchers treated the mice with an opioid-blocking drug. This seemed to cause withdrawal symptoms like tremors, shaking and teeth chattering among the mice. Researchers also noted that the mice began avoiding locations where they were given the opioid-blocking drug, displaying addiction-like behavior.
"It's surprising that we're genetically programmed to become addicted to something as dangerous as UV radiation, which is probably the most common carcinogen in the world," Fisher said. "We suspect that the explanation involves UV's contribution to vitamin D synthesis in the skin. However, in the current time, there are much safer and more reliable sources of vitamin D that do not come with carcinogenic risk, so there is real health value in avoiding sunlight as a source of vitamin D."
Fisher and his team clarified that though many people who were addicted to basking in the sun meet clinical criteria for a substance-related disorder, they were unable to determine the exact mechanism behind this. One speculation is the release of endorphin, which is also released during the consumption of prescription painkillers, morphine, and heroin.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States with more than 3.5 million types being diagnosed in 2 million people in a year in the country, according to the CDC. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for young people 15-29 years old.
The study was published by Cell Press in the journal Cell.
