Weekly Written Analysis 4 Assignment 4-1

It is that time of year when everyone wants to look good in their bathing suits.  They are working on their tans before going to the beach on vacation.  Thank goodness for the invention of the tanning bed for those of us with busy lives.  The tanning bed was invented by a German scientist Friedrich Wolff in the early 1970’s and brought it to the United States in 1978 (Zimmerman, J., 1999-2011).  He is who the company Wolff system tanning beds is named after.  They are a very popular tanning bed system. 

            Wolff discovered that the tanning effects of UV light caused him to create specialized lamps so those using the tanning beds would get an even tan all over (Zimmerman, J., 1999-2011).  The creation of the tanning bed saves us from spending hours upon hours out in the sun to get the tan that we desire to have.  To achieve the desired tan you would only need to tan twenty minutes a day three to four times a week.  You can also use a tanning lotion that will help accelerate your tan while keeping your skin healthy. 

            While most people believe that there is nothing wrong with using a tanning bed others disagree.  A lot of people think that tanning beds cause cancer.  Tanning beds do not cause skin cancer anymore than any other UV exposure.  It seems like anymore whatever we do can cause cancer.  Because of this tanning beds have to follow strict regulations and have imposed a “sin tax” on each session purchased.  The “sin tax” is a ten percent tax that the consumer has to pay on top of any other taxes.  The government is trying to discourage people from tanning because they believe it is harmful.

            It is great that the tanning bed was invented and has been very popular every since.  It is quick and convenient for a lot of people’s life styles. Who would have thought that we could get a tan by lying in a bed of lights for twenty minutes a day?  I personally think that it was a great invention. 

References:

Zimmerman, J. (1999-2011).  Who Invented the tanning Bed?  Retrieved June 11, 2011 from: http://www.ehow.com/facts_4870207_who-invented-tanning-bed.html.