Solarium turned family life into a nightmare

Artificial tanning turned the life of an American family into a real nightmare: a woman who never got out of the tanning salon, became the reason for firing her spouse from work and bullying their children at school.
According to New Jersey resident Patricia Krentsil, she wanted to look beautiful with a tan when she was young.

“I can’t remember when my skin was pale, because even as a young girl I used to spend hours tanning at the beach or in the garden. The darker my tan got, the more attractive I became. About 12 years ago I went to the tanning salon for the first time and was amazed – in a few minutes I got the same effect as after many hours in the sun,” recalls the tanning bed addict.

Ever since Patricia became aware of the treatment offered in beauty salons, her life as well as that of the rest of her family changed dramatically: the woman started spending more and more time under the UV lamps, not realizing that she was developing a psychological addiction to UV rays or tanorexia.

With each visit to the tanning salon, the American woman’s skin was getting darker and darker, which drew the attention of doctors.

“Doctors said this habit could kill me because it promotes cancer. But I’ve been sunbathing this way for years, and there’s nothing wrong with my health. So what do they know? – Krentsil asks contemptuously and continues. – There are more dangerous hobbies, like smoking or drug use. And tanning doesn’t do me any harm, it’s an aesthetic pleasure. I feel as if I just came back from vacation.”

The woman with tanorexia not only ignored the warnings of doctors, but tried to attract her own daughter Anna to the dangerous procedures: the mother took the child with her to the salon City Tropics, which provided a regular customer unlimited sessions for 99 pounds a month.

The burns on the face of the red-haired, freckled girl were noticed by the school nurse, who summoned the dark-brown parent for a talk. But Patricia pleaded not guilty, saying her daughter had received the burns while playing in the garden.

The story was widely publicized and caused the firing of the American woman’s 47-year-old husband Richard, who was the only working member of the family. Moreover, after the incident with Anna, Patricia’s other children, Ashley, Alec, Austin, and Addison, were attacked by peers, bullying them and their mother.

Beauty salons also did not stand by and closed their doors in the face of the unwanted clientele.

“I have been lauded as the cruelest mother in the world, even though I love my children more than life. My family members shy away from going out with me for fear of ridicule and abuse. My husband doesn’t work, and we have almost no money left. But worst of all, I can’t go to the tanning salon. This life is killing me, and I cry all the time. The only thing that keeps me hopeful is the thought of moving to London, where no one knows us. Besides, the British are more educated and less petty people,” thinks the woman, rubbing her body with self-tanner.