A recent study conducted on people who frequently use tanning beds revealed that their brain activity was similar to people who where addicted to alcohol or drugs. When tanners are exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the blood flow in certain areas of their brain that are associated with experiencing reward increased. However, the blood flow in the brain did not increase when the tanners where subjected to filtered UV rays which suggest that their brain could distinguish real UV rays from sham UV rays. Also, tanners did not feel the need to tan when exposed to real UV rays which suggest that real UV rays have rewarding effect.

Experts where worried about the fact that people where using tanning salons even after they are aware of the skin cancer risk and accelerated skin aging risk that us associated with the use of tanning salons.

Recent surveys have also pointed out the addicted aspects of tanning. The survey found that about 40 per cent of frequent tanners fall in the category of tanning addiction and about 33 per cent of frequent tanners fall in the category of problematic tanning behaviour. Another factor that exhibits the addictive aspect of tanning is the increase in sales of indoor tanning equipments. The sales of these equipments have been increasing steadily even though people are aware of the risk associated with the use of tanning equipment. Even the warning labels about skin cancer risk that are associated with the use of equipment have not affected the sales equipment.

People who participated in the study displayed behaviour that was consistent with people who were suffering from addictive disorders. Some of the symptoms that were exhibited by frequent tanners include inability to reduce their tanning frequency, urge for tanning and continue tanning despite being aware of the adverse consequences of tanning.