Boston Herald in Education provides free newspapers and curriculum to schools through sponsor and reader donations.

Front Page Talking Points

FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 07, 2012

Does the 'tanning mom' have 'tanorexia'?

frontpageactionpoints.gif

1.gifFind newspaper reports on melanoma rates among young men and women. How much have they increased or decreased? Why? What is the survival rate for this form of cancer?

2.gifDespite the health warnings, many teens are spending big bucks at tanning salons to look "good" for prom. Find out what these teens are saying in news reports. Does it make sense?

3.gifWhen does the pursuit of improving your appearance become pathological? Find some examples.

Patricia Krentcil, 44, was arrested and charged with second-degree child endangerment in New Jersey last week after her five-year-old daughter Anna suffered from a burn which the child said was from indoor tanning. Known as the "tanning mom," Krentcil was released on $25,000 bail and faces up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted.

After learning Krentcil tans on average five days a week, some doctors said she may be addicted to tanning, a condition sometimes called tanorexia. A study by scientists at University of Texas' Southwestern Medical Center stated that those who suffer from tanning addiction are similar to those addicted to alcohol and drugs. "Certain regions of the brain we know are responsible, partially responsible for drug and alcohol addiction seem to have increased blood flow when you put UV [ultraviolet] light in front of these individuals who are known for frequent tanning," said Dr. Charles Samenow, a psychiatrist and professor at George Washington University.

In addition to treating apparent skin damage from tanning, Dr. Joshua Zeichner of Mount Sinai Medical Center said Krentcil may need psychological counseling. He likened tanorexia to body dysmorphic disorders, where a person is unrealistically unhappy with their appearance. People with these disorders may suffer from eating disorders or engage in excessive cosmetic surgery or overuse procedures like Botox and fillers.

Tanning mom says: "There's somebody out there for my whole life that doesn't like me because they are jealous, fat and they're ugly." -- Patricia Krentcil.

Doctor says: "Going to a tanning salon 20 times a month, frankly, is insane, especially with all of the public education and awareness campaigns on the dangers of tanning beds and skin cancers." -- Dr. Joshua Zeichner.

Research finding: People who have ever used tanning machines were 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, than others. -- 2010 study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Front Page Talking Points is written by Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2024

Front Page Talking Points Archive

Tricky balance: Supreme Court tries to keep law and politics separate this election year
Here's why SAT and ACT exams are back on more students' college paths
Congress moves toward TikTok forced sale or ban for national security reasons
Swift and sleek: Amtrak is closer to saying 'all aboard' for a new era of high-speed rail travel
New era in space: Flying to the moon is a business for private companies now
Presidential campaign remark about NATO fuels discussion of military alliance's role
Museums across U.S. scramble to make amends for collecting that sometimes was looting
Script handwriting isn't gone -- more states now require school penmanship lessons
Teen use of nicotine patches – also known as Zyns, lip cushions or gum pillows – spurs warnings
Airline safety draws new attention after midair cabin hole scare for passengers
Click her to browse the complete archive

Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.

©2024 Boston Herald in Education and Online Publications Inc. and NIEonline.com