Sun Care Smarts...
By Sharon Stajda,
Protecting your skin daily with an SPF product is important all year-round. Keep this in mind, your skin needs sun protection not just during the summer months, but in the colder months too. So-- keep up a good regiment of applying sunscreen all year round. It will keep your skin from getting sun damage that can ultimately make you look older. So, which sunscreens are best for the skin?
No matter what your skin type is, keep this in mind when choosing a sunscreen. The higher the SPF the better. Creams containing SPF of 15 is the bare minimum that you should consider. The creams that have an SPF of 30 or higher are really the better choice.
How to pick a sunscreen? Look for the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation when selecting your sunscreen. This Seal helps determine what is safe and effective in the very over cluttered skin care market.
One of my favorite sun products that received the Seal of Recommendation is Lancome's Soleil Ultra Expert Sun Care, with an SPF of 50, and can be used on the face as well as the body.This formula has a wonderful fresh scent, and provides great protection from the sun.
Make sure not to neglect your lips when your going out in the sun... Choose a lip balm that has SPf of 30 or higher.
Do I Need A Skin Cancer Check? It is smart to have a skin cancer check up at least every two years. But-keep in mind you should always have any skin abnormality checked with good speed. Don't take the chance of putting off a skin check, if you find a skin problem? It is also smart to perform monthly self-exams between visits to monitor any changes in your skin's appearance.
Is there anyway to tan safely? The only truly safe tan is a tan from a bottle. There are a variety of different self-tanning formulas available on the market. Self tanners come in a Varity of forms. Sprays, gels, lotions and wipes. Most products offer great alternative ways to get a glow without the harmful effects of the sun.
Is there an alternative to self tanners? One that will provide me with a safe healthy glow?
Yes... Try skin moisturizers with DHAs (Dihydroxyacetone). DHAs provides a very slight glow, and the lotion keeps the skin subtle and soft.
Tips On Using Self Tanners...
How can I remove streaked self-tanner? If you get stuck with a self-tanning streak, here's how to fix a bronzing blunder:
Step 1: Soak
Soak in a warm bath for 10 15 minutes to hydrate and soften skin.
Step 2: Scrub
Scrub the streaked area gently but thoroughly with a microdermabrasion cream, for five minutes.
Step 3: Moisturize
Slather on a moisturizer laced with glycolic acid or retinol to further stimulate cell turnover and eliminate unwanted color.
Step 4: Peel
On alternate days, swap the microdermabrasion cream for a peel. Peels speed up exfoliation by dissolving the mortar that holds skin cells together instead of sloughing off cells as microdermabrasion creams do.
Make sure to always protect your eyes from the suns harmful rays...
Sun Exposure And Vitamin D...
A little sun exposure goes a long way...
A bit of sun can benefit the body.Sun exposure is perhaps one of the most important source of vitamin D. Sunlight provides most humans with adequate vitamin D requirements. UV rays from the sun trigger vitamin D synthesis in human skin. An initial exposure to sunlight 10 -15 minutes allows adequate time for Vitamin D synthesis, and should be followed by application of a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to protect the skin. Sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 8 or greater will block UV rays that produce vitamin D. Keep in mind it is still important to routinely use sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer and other negative consequences of excessive sun exposure.
How important is vitamin D to ones health?
The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium, and phosphorus in the body. By promoting calcium absorption, vitamin D can helps to form, and maintain strong healthy bones. Vitamin D also works with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones to promote bone mineralization. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, and misshapen. Vitamin D aids in preventing rickets in children, and osteomalacia in adults, two forms of skeletal diseases that weaken bones. Research also suggests that vitamin D may help in maintain a healthy immune system. Plus help regulate, and aids with cell growth, along with promoting differentiation. Differentiation is a process that determines what a cell will become.
Pregnancy and Self Tanners --- Are They Safe?
Tanning creams, or self-tanning lotions, are products that are marketed and utilized heavily during the summer and winter months. The active ingredient tends to be dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which is absorbed through the skin. Because of the exposure of this chemical to the skin, the DHA will be absorbed and cross through the placenta to the baby. Amounts of transmission to the baby will vary, depending on the amount applied, frequency of application, and if there are any open areas of skin (abrasions, sores, etc.). The use of these products does not provide protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun, therefore, one must still use the commercial sun screen for protection.In general, when we do not know much about possible effects, doctors suggest erring on the side of caution. So, if you want to make 100% sure there are on problems, avoid using these lotions, and limit tanning. Avoidance is the only course of action, as we do not know their potential impact on fetal development.
Sun And Skin Cancer...
Are You At Risk For Skin Cancer?Leading scientist list three reasons skin cancer is on the rise.
1. People choose to have longer periods where they expose themselves to sun.
2. Use of tanning beds or booths.
3. The increased damage to the ozone layer.
Are You At Risk For Skin Cancer?
Your risk goes up with the following factor's.
1. If you or anyone in your family has had cancerous molds or a melanoma.
2. If you have molds larger than a pencil eraser.
3. If you have had a bad sun burn that resulted in blisters as a child.
4. If you have light colored skin that burns easy or freckles with sun tanning.
5. If you use tanning booths or sun lamps of any kind.
6. If your immune system is weakened by illnesses or certain medications.
Sun Tanning Your Face - Stop! It will prematurely age your skin...
We all love a bit of sun shine on our face, it feel great, but is it healthy, and can the sun do irreparable damage to our facial skin?The suns ultraviolet rays(UVA and UVB rays), that are actually present all year round, no matter the what climate you live in are proven to play a significant role in "photo damage" also known as premature skin aging.
The suns premature damage can result in skin that shows signs of thickness,leathery texture, wrinkles, discoloration(freckles), decrease in firmness and tone, and broken capillaries.
We've heard the bad news, how the sun can play havoc with our facial skin, lets hear the good news... So-how does one avoid facial skin damage from the suns rays?
The good news is, we all have the power to keep our skin healthy, and avoid the above mentioned problems.
Protect your facial skin daily by using product's that contain a good amount of "sun protection factor" (SPF). Actually its very easy to find facial products that contain SPF. From Moisturizing creams, lotions, to makeup foundations - you name it. Most cosmetic companies are adding SPF to their facial products, to insure the recipients of their product's, that they are protected from the suns harmful rays. Here are just a few great product's that have adequate amounts of SPF, that will help you keep your skin healthy.
Banana Boat Sun Wear Faces Daily Sunblock lotion SPF 30 $6.79
Nivea Visage Sun-Kissed Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 $6.99
Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55 $8.99
Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer SPF 20 $6.99
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 70 $9.99
Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Daily Regenerating Moisture Lotion SPF 15 $12.99
Hey ! Check out how Green Tea can help your skin on a sunny day...
Green Tea can sooth skin...Going out in the sun? Green tea can helps block sun-triggered skin cancer, whether you drink it or apply it directly to the skin...So mix up some green tea in a spray bottle, take it along next time you are going out for some sun.
Got a cut? To any cut scrap or minor sun burn? add a little leftover green tea to the area of inflammation? Soak a cotton pad in it and dab it on the inflamation. The tea is a natural antiseptic that relieves itching and swelling also. Also try green tea on inflamed breakouts and blemishes, sunburns, even puffy eyelids. You will be pleased with its curing results.
What happens when you walk around all day without sun screen...
Okay, so I didn't take into account my shorts riding up while applying sunscreen...
People often don't realize that using sunblock is important during the winter an...
Sunburn Pout...
A Few Interesting Articles...
- Symptoms Of Diseases Of The Skin
- For the recognition of the various skin diseases, two groups of symptoms are to be considered. These are termed the subjective and the objective. The subjective symptoms include itching, burning, stinging, feeling of heat and pain. Please read on...
- Skin Cancer: Saving Your Skin From Sun Damage
- The sun's rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays) damage your skin. This leads to early wrinkles, skin cancer and other skin problems. please read on...
- Architecture Of The Skin
- In this modern age, when so much attention is devoted to the care of the skin, exact knowledge of the proper measures for the preservation of its youth, vigor and health is interesting and valuable. Please read on...
But I Love The Beach!
Tips for a safer day at the beach...
Get that sun screen on...
protect your lips with balm that has SPF of 30 or higher
![eGS Site G.A. by [2]rokbot[2]y](http://static.flickr.com/54/138225410_3e0dc8a399_s.jpg)
Umbrellas help keep the harmful rays away...
Beach hats are a must...
swim early morning or late afternoon...Less rays the better
New Amazon Standard
Sun Protection For Life: Your Guide To A Lifetime Of Healthy & Beautiful Skin
Amazon Price: $10.75 (as of 07/14/2009) 
Safe in the Sun
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
Sun-Damaged Skin: Pocketbook
Amazon Price: $99.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
Sun Sense: A Complete Guide to Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment of Skin Cancer
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Skin Under the Sun
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Great Stuff on eBay
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Please take time to leave me a message...
thehealthydancer wrote...
great lens. Perhaps you can find more info on this topic at my lens
http://www.squidoo.com/healthylivingandoptimaldiet
I teach about natural health and sun is very important to have. I talk about how much we should have, why it is crucial to have SOME sun and why it can be harmful to use some sun screen. Perhaps you would like to use mine as a health reference to back up your lens.
Posted July 26, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
I love the idea of drinking green tea to prevent cancer. Find out what Hugh Grant is doing for cancer the Marie Curie Cancer charity in England on my Love Actually lens.
Posted March 03, 2008
attractfitness wrote...
Eating a healthy diet that includes lots of antioxidants can also protect us from the damaging effects of the sun. Braeburn apples are especially good.
Posted September 20, 2007
Ireen wrote
in sunless tanning mousses and creems there are acid called DHA, that when it somes in touch with the dead cells of skin it make it dark - tann, my qwestion is how this acid works and is there some risk of using it?
Posted September 10, 2007
Elee wrote...
Interesting lens though I don't quite agree with it. Please visit my lens at to see why. Thanks!
Posted September 01, 2007
