Everyone loves a great tan, but it turns out our love for bronzed, sun-kissed skin may be an addiction!

A new study suggests that the sun has addicting components, inducing a sort of high in humans that can explain our need to tan, sunbathe, and stay blissfully bronzed.

The study was conducted in laboratory mice. Scientists actually shaved the backs of each mouse and exposed them to a daily dose of UV light for six weeks, deemed to be the mouse equivalent to 20-30 minutes of midday sun for humans.

The results revealed that the endorphin levels of the mice rose within the first week of exposure. This aligned with the already known scientific fact that endorphins are generated in response to UV light.

The study confirms that sunlight can be addictive to some. People who tan often are said to show signs of both physical and psychological dependence. Skincancer.org explained that "when a substance causes physical dependency, repeated use of that substance causes symptoms of increased tolerance, craving, and withdrawal."

"UV light has been shown to increase release of opioid- like endorphins, feel-good chemicals that relieve pain and generate feelings of well-being, potentially leading to dependency," the organization said.

So where does our love for the sun come from? The human race really can't resist sunshine, as it's a part of our evolutionary drive to get sun exposure. Remember sunlight is also essential for us, triggering vitamin D synthesis.

But with this new study, don't think you're off the hook for protecting skin! While the sun can be somewhat addicting and especially alluring during the summer, we still need to ensure our bodies are armed and ready to block harmful UV rays with the right sunscreen.

And remember, if you're not one for the sun, you can still get your fill of vitamin D in food rich with this daily essential, like eggs, fish, and low fat milk.

A tan is great, but safe and sun-kissed skin is what we should all be addicted to!