Sun Care & SPF

Melanoma is REAL, very real, so listen up!

Everyone needs to take precaution when it comes to the sun and sun health. Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center looked at 43 different characteristics in 300 Melanoma patients and 300 healthy patients as the control. They found there are 6 factors that count the most and you must be especially vigilant if you have a history of any of the following:
1. History of blistering sunburns as a teenager
2. Red or blond hair
3. Marked freckling of the upper back
4. Family history of melanoma
5. History of actinic keratosis (early stage skin cancer)
6. Outdoor summer jobs for three of more years as a teenager
Here are the stats:
• One of these factors your lifetime risk of melanoma goes up 200 to 300 percent
• Two factors – risk goes up 500 to 1000 percent
• Three of more the increase is a HUGE 2000 percent increase.

Those are the FACTS so please be smart. Protect yourself, be more diligent, wear an SPF and see a dermatologist once a year or if you see any changes in a new or existing mole.

Why Mixing SPF Lotions Can Lead To Negative Effects!

It can seem nearly impossible to find a high numbered SPF and excellent moisturizer rolled into one mega product. When talking about the face, moisturizers with an SPF of 30+ can feel greasy and have very little moisturizing effects. This is because the product is mainly full of effective SPF ingredients, leaving little room for all those yummy moisturizing ingredients (which can often interfere with the SPF). With this known, it can also seem tempting to mix your two favorite products! I’ve always advised against it and The Beauty Brains agree with me! Mixing moisturizers and SPFs can dilute them to the point of being ineffective against UV rays. Certain ingredients used in moisturizers and body lotions can inhibit the way sunscreen ingredients work on the skin. I suggest applying your favorite sunscreen first then wait 7 to 10 minutes to let it absorb before applying another product on top of it.

I’ve also been asked about mixing two different sunscreens to achieve greater protection. Don’t do it. Mixing an SPF 15 with an SPF 20 does not equal an SPF 35. It’s not only wasteful, but you’re likely to have just concocted an ineffective product!

Finding a 2in1 product (SPF with moisturizer) has already been tested for it’s effectiveness. So as long as you feel hydrated, you’ve got it all! What 2in1 product have you found to be both moisturizing and protective?

Take the Guess Work Out of SPF Re-Application!

This time of year is filled with summer festivals, street faires, picnicking in the park, and BBQs in the backyard.  With so much fun it’s super easy to lose track of time, especially when it comes to re-applying sunscreen.  So I’m curious what you all think of this product - UVSunSense wristband.  Before you leave the house, apply sunscreen to your face, body, and the exposed side of the wristband.  After time in the sun, the wristband changes from purple to tan when it’s time to re-apply, and from tan to orange when it’s time to head inside.  I don’t honestly know the science behind it, but I am curious – have any of you tried this on yourselves or your kids?

WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT A SUNBURN…

Back to work after another sunny weekend.  Fortunately, I remembered to protect my skin, but I’m guessing a lot of you are probably feeling the effects of the sunburn and wishing you had remembered to re-apply your SPF! So with the burn comes the discomfort, but sunburns are a little more complicated than that.   Do you know what’s really going on under the skin?

UV rays cook skin cells.  Your immune system detects the dead cells and sends out a signal that your skin is under attack!   The pink you see immediately after sun exposure are dialated capillaries rushing white blood cells to the skin’s surface to fight back.  This also eventually causes the skin to peel.

An article called The Science of Sun tells us, “The actual burn you see later comes from a series of chemical reactions. Mast cells in the skin release chemicals like histamine and serotonin, triggering more chemical production and inflammation. Within 12 hours, skin cells begin to die, and inflammation turns the skin a darker red.”  As all this is happening, another line of defense called Melanocytes  release melanin in an effort to block UV rays.  Melanin forms a tan, but unfortunately, UV rays have already damaged the DNA and the damage is done!

CLOTHES FOR ACTIVE KIDS PROTECT THEIR SKIN FROM HARMFUL RAYS!

According to the American Skin Cancer Foundation, 80% of a person’s lifetime exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation occurs before the age of 18.  Agóó has come up with a great line of children’s clothing that uses 100% UV protected fabric.  Each piece is cute and stylish -  perfect for any active kid roaring down the sidewalk on their big wheel.   Each piece is stain resistant and anti-bacterial too!

Are Any of You UV Tanorexics?

Despite guaranteed wrinkles and cancer risks, 30 million Americans visit tanning salons each year because many of them are literally addicted to UV.  UV radiation increases endorphins, making you feel good.  In a study where sunbathers and tanning booth goers were given endorphin blockers, they actually reported withdrawal symptoms – nausea, dizziness, and the shakes!

It is true that having a glow gives me a boost of confidence and I feel better about my body.   It’s also reinforced by my friends telling me, “you look great!” or “have you lost weight?”  I admit it.  I feel healthier when I have a bronzed glow on my skin but I am all about the faux glow not the UV tan!

Are you still using tanning beds?  Knowing the risks, why haven’t you switched to self-tanning?

Will Ferrell is stripping down and greasing up for summer!

This is incredibly amazing and hysterical at the same time!  Will explains, “I’ve always dreamed of owning a lotion company. And I’ve always hated cancer.”  Will’s three SPF 30 lotions, Sun Stroke, Sexy Hot Tan,  and Forbidden Fruit, give 100% of proceeds to the charity Cancer for College which grants college scholarships to cancer survivors and amputees.

Lotions start at just $12 bucks each and you can get em on Amazon or directly from Cancer for College (get all three bottles and you’ll get a free T-Shirt!)

5 Reasons Why SPF’s Don’t Work…

THE WAY YOU EXPECT THEM TO!  Why is it so many people still struggle to adequately protect their skin from UV rays?  The market is saturated with product and with makers producing triple digit protection, you pick the one with the highest number you can find.  But do you know what that number really represents? …

1.  It’s merely a numbers game meant to confuse you -  According to the New York Times, high numbered SPFs offer only slightly better protection against sunburns than an SPF 30.  It’s logical to think SPF 100 offers 50% more protection than SPF 50. The truth is, SPF 100 blocks 99% of UVB rays, SPF 50 blocks 98%, and SPF 30 blocks 96.7%.  At 1% to 2.3% difference, I’d hardly call that a less than half the protection!

2.You have no idea how much to apply – To get the benefits of the SPF number on the bottle, you must use 1 oz for your body. That’s a shot glass full!  Have you ever done that?  That also means a 4oz bottle only lasts you a few outings.  How many of you are still dabbing into that bottle you bought a year ago???

3. You assume one application has got you covered for the day – Sunscreens rub and slide off, and the ingredients naturally breakdown just after a couple of hours.

4. You are waiting until you get burned before you apply sunscreen – Waiting until your chest, shoulders, or cheeks look pink is the worst way to protect yourself.  You are already burned!

5. You don’t use sunblock because you fear you’re not getting enough Vitamin D.  All it takes is 10 minutes of sunshine everyday to get what your body needs.  So, unless you are diligent and use the correct amount of sunscreen, plus re-apply it every two to three hours, your skin is most likely unprotected throughout 10 minutes of the day.

Tell me, what is the highest SPF you’ve used and how did it work for you?