Krentcil appeared in a recent interview even tanner than she was in her mug shot, taken just a day earlier.
It has some people using the made-up word "tanorexia" and wondering if this is a sign of a problem.
I met with Dr. David Sarwer, an associate professor of psychology the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Human Appearance.
Dr. Sarwer has not evaluated Krentcil. But based on her appearance, he says she could have body dismorphic disorder, or BDD. It affects 1 to 2-percent of the population.
"These are individuals that become preoccupied with minor or imagined defects in appearance and then go to excessive means to address that dissatisfaction," he said.
He says with BDD, people don't see themselves as others see them.
As for whether someone can be *addicted to tanning.. There is a theory that tanning releases feel-good endorphins.
"But to leap to call it "tanorexia" or tanning addiction, the science just simply isn't there yet," said Dr. Sarwer. "I would prefer to see this as someone engaging in compulsive behavior and doing it excessively."
One of the real concerns about these obsessive behaviors is if they start to interrupt everyday living or impair judgment.
One of the questions in this case could be: Was this mom too preoccupied with her tanning to make sure her kids were safe:
The family denies any wrong-doing. The case is still under investigation.
