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Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a troubling condition causing depression and other psychological and physical symptoms. This usually kicks in full swing during the winter months when people are exposed to less UV light. Shorter days and more time indoors because of bad weather limit sun exposure and this can lead to mood disorders. Indoor tanning methods are an innovation that may help control SAD.
SAD is linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain of two neurotransmitter chemicals called serotonin and melatonin. Melatonin is produced by the skin's pigment cells. Light exposure radically affects pigment cells and melatonin levels. Too little light interferes with melatonin regulation and this is believed to cause Seasonal Affective Disorder symptoms.
It may seem strange to consider indoor tanning as anything other than cosmetic, but some health insurance companies will now pay for a tanning bed as a Seasonal Affective Disorder light therapy. Indoor tanning is a way to apply heliotherapy, which literally means "sun treatment" and indoor tanning is basically artificial sunlight.
Light boxes and special lamps have long been part of the treatment of SAD which may also require "talk" therapies and medications such as antidepressants, but tanning methods are newer. Not all therapists agree that this is a good treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder but the numbers of health providers considering it continues to grow.
An added benefit to using indoor tanning as the means of increasing UV exposure for SAD is that a tan may make a person feel better about their appearance and be an additional treatment for this seasonal depression. Improving melatonin balance in the body can also help other symptoms such as insomnia. Heliotherapy also increases vitamin D production which has many important roles in body function and acts as an antioxidant.
If you or a loved one suffers from SAD, or you think they or you may have the condition, you need to discuss heliotherapy with your physician before buying equipment or signing up with a tanning salon. There are some conditions which make heliotherapy inadvisable, such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, eyes sensitivity, lupus, bipolar illness or any rash with a fever. Certain medications also do not mix with too much sun, real or artificial, so discuss all medications you take as well.
Aaron Andrews is a long time tanning bed user. After working in tanning salons since the mid-80's, he started working for a tanning bed manufacturer and supply company. He now puts his years of knowledge and experience into a series of tanning tips to help you make the best tanning decisions and operates TanIndoors.com a site dedicated to improving your tanning experience.
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