Speech On Tanning Persuassive

Max-Anne Fuhlbrugge

Professor Rochman

Effective Communications

15 March 2007

Tanning:

A tanning bed or sun bed is a device releasing ultraviolet radiation resulting in a cosmetic tan. Excessive tanning can lead to severe complications involving skin cancer and other skin problems, as well as eye deficiencies, even mental troubles such as addiction. The dangerous risks that a tanner exposes his or her self to are not worth the brief bronzing results they are acquiring.

Skin cancer is one of the most advertised consequences of excessive tanning. Ultra violet radiations from sunbeds cause cancer by altering DNA structure. Sunburned or tanned skin is ruined skin. According to the Department of Health for New York State, "Most of a person's lifetime skin damage, which increases the risk for skin cancer, occurs before the age of 18." UV rays damage the skin's epidermal cells, generating enzymes that race to refurbish damage. These enzymes cannot repair the DNA successfully all the time resulting in mutations that increase chances of skin cancer. Repeated unprotected tanning or exposure to UV rays causes physical damage to the skin including wrinkles, spots (discoloration), and sagging. Three kinds of skin cancer are melanoma, basal, and squamous. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer resulting from tanning beds and begins usually in a mole and/or spreads rapidly to other organs. Melanoma also causes the most skin cancer cases in the United States. Basal cell carcinoma arises from the basal cells that are located in the base of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin). Last but not least, squamous cells make up the surfaces of the body and are found in tissues that create the surface of the skin, lining of the hollow organs of the body such as the bladder, kidneys, and uterus as well as the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts.

Most tanning salons, in most states require tanners to wear goggles. Goggles are extremely important while tanning. Arc eye is a popular eye deficiency that occurs from tanning. Arc eye is a painful condition that occurs from intense exposure to ultraviolet light that causes random piercing pains for hours after contact. According to a scholarly essay written by Elizabeth Carruth, "UV-mediated corneal inflammation can be found in people who are exposed regularly to UV radiation." Also, conjunctivitis and corneal infections will damage the cornea and retina, these are caused by not cleaning goggles or not using them frequently enough.

A tanning addiction may seem ridiculous to some, but researchers at Wake Forest University stated that "both male and female tanners are able to experience a UV radiation high." A "tanorexic" is an individual who obsessively tans despite the fact that they are aware of the dangers of over-exposure. Believe it or not, UV rays from tanning beds are found to effect the production of endorphins (chemicals released from the brain that create a pleasant feeling in the body), also referred to our body's