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| Smart Fun in the Sun |
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It's safe to say that everyone loves the sun. Our bodies need the sun for many reasons, from producing vitamin D to feeling good mentally and physically. Unfortunately, the sun isn't always safe. Today's rapidly changing atmospheric conditions make unprotected sun exposure dangerous to our health.
Sun Facts
Improve Your Sun IQ
Your Basic Blocks
The Sunless Tan
Save Your Skin Now
Simple Rules for Determining the Right Sun Care Products for You
Sun Facts
According to the UN weather agency, the "destruction of the ozone layer has worsened so much that it has become nearly depleted in the atmospheric zone about 12 miles above the Earth." Dr. Rumen Bokjov, the World Meteorological Organization's adviser on ozone states, confirms that the ozone in the atmospheric layer 10.6 miles to 13.7 miles above the earth's surface is "nearly completely annihilated."
This depletion, or "hole in the ozone layer," accounts for the change in the power of the sun's ultraviolet rays over the last thirty years. The infamous "hole" has doubled each year since 1992 and is now estimated to be 7.7 million square miles, or two times the size of Europe from the Atlantic to the Ural mountains. We can attribute this to CFC's, or chlorofluorocarbons, used as propellants in spray cans, refrigerators, and cooling systems for homes, cars, offices, and other modern conveniences.
Since ozone gas provides protection for all living things, its depletion is directly responsible for skin cancer and cataracts. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, by the year 2000, 1 in 100 Americans could expect to develop malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Human beings need to protect themselves from the sun at all times. "Sun protection isn't just for summers or weekend visits to the beach," says Ken Grand, president of Alba Naturals, Inc. "It's a year-round, everyday concern." Many people resist using sun protection because as children and teenagers they were able to "safely" go out in the sun. Times have changed, and what's important to realize is that sun damage is cumulative; the exposure you have throughout your life adds up. Consider the act of boiling an egg. If you hold a raw egg on a spoon and dip it in boiling water for thirty seconds, there won't be a noticeable change. Hold it under for a minute; still no noticeable change. But if you keep dipping it, even just for a few seconds at a time, it will eventually become hard boiled. This same type of exposure leads to both skin cancer and aging of the skin.
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Improve Your Sun IQ
The challenge is learning how to have fun in the sun while shielding our bodies from ultraviolet light exposure on a daily basis. Exposure to the sun is not bad provided you know how to protect yourself. To prevent cataracts, the eyes should be covered by sun glasses that provide both UVA and UVB protection. To guard against skin cancer and premature aging of the skin, a sunblock providing both UVA and UVB protection, with an SPF of 15 to 20, should be used on a daily basis. And if skin cancer doesn't scare you, consider this; approximately ninety percent of skin's visible aging over a lifetime is caused by exposure to ultraviolet light, which accelerates the normal breakdown of collagen and elastin in your skin.
If you're skeptical about the sun's effect on your skin, take this simple test in the privacy of your home. Stand naked in front of a mirror and compare the skin on the back of one hand with the skin on your buttocks. The only difference between them is sun exposure. The signs of aging are brown spots (hyperpigmentation), white spots (hypopigmentation), red spots (broken capillaries), loss of elasticity, dryness, roughness, wrinkles, and lines. If you haven't protected your face, neck, and hands from the sun, chances are they show some or all of these signs.
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Your Basic Blocks
Don't lose hope. With the proper treatment and protection, you can reverse between sixty and one hundred percent of the sun damage you already have. You can even reduce or erase precancerous spots. "Avoiding or minimizing exposure and using daily sun protection are best divided into two main categories: physical and chemical. Physical blocks work by reflecting ultraviolet rays away from your skin, while chemical blocks absorb the rays. Whichever you choose, be sure that it is "full-spectrum"-and that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. The chemical commonly used to provide this protection is called Parsol.
The advantage of physical blocks is that they prevent any penetration of rays; chemical blocks often allow some rays in. Also, physical blocks are non-chemical in nature. Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and other iron oxides are all natural minerals that act as physical protectants. None of them are irritating to even the most sensitive skin. Be sure that the product you choose doesn't contain common irritants such as alcohol, fragrance, or propylene glycol.
Because almost all foundation makeup contains iron oxides as colorants, your face will get some amount of protection. However, unless a foundation makeup displays an SPF (sun protection factor) number, you can't be sure exactly how much protection you are receiving. Heavier foundations (without SPF numbers) provide more protection. Although many foundations are undesirable because of chemicals they contain, a wide selection of natural foundations are available in natural food stores and some beauty supply stores.
The problem with most products containing titanium dioxide is that they give a white or grayish tone to most skin. Newly released products containing zinc oxide leave no discoloration to the skin at all.
Chemical blocks exist in many forms: waterproof, water-resistant, water-soluble, oil-based, wax-based, and "oil-free" or silicone-based. Silicone is derived from rocks or sand, making it a more "natural" base ingredient than petroleum-derived ingredients such as mineral oil and petrolatum. Choose a product based on your skin type and sun protection needs.
Water or silicone-based products are usually good for all skin types to use on a daily basis; foundation is often preferable if you wear makeup. Oil-based products should only be used on a daily basis by those with dry skin.
It is usually necessary to use a chemical block when waterproofing is required. Please be sure to wash it thoroughly from your skin with cleanser and water as soon as possible.
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The Sunless Tan
If you love the look of a tan, create one safely with either a self-tanning or bronzing product. Hundreds of these are available in department, drug, beauty supply, and health stores. Bronzers come in various forms: gels, creams, and powders. Once applied, they give the look of a tan, but wash off the skin completely with soap and water. They are easy to color test to find the one that's right for your skin tone. Self-tanners are available in either creams, lotions, or sprays. Different products work in different amounts of time from 1 to 12 hours. To find the one that's right for you, apply one or two on the underside of your forearms and wait the allotted time to see how color develops on your skin.
Enjoy the benefits of the sun without fear or harm. Being smart means being safe so that you can stay healthy while keeping your skin beautiful.
Save Your Skin Now
Stop tanning! A tan is your skin's way of shouting "Help!" There is nothing "healthy" about a tan. In fact, a tan is the first step toward degeneration and destruction of your wonderful skin. Remember: the skin is the largest organ of your body, performing a myriad of functions, from protecting organs and regulating temperature, to sending messages to your brain.
Use an appropriate sunscreen every day that you'll be exposed. Ultraviolet rays are present all the time, even when it's cloudy, and UVA (aging rays) are able to penetrate glass. Yes, that means through the windshield of your car.
Practice a skin care program that includes daily exfoliation with Alpha hydroxy, Beta hydroxy, or enzyme products. This may include masks, peels, cleansers, and moisturizers. Use a reparative moisturizer with the above ingredients and/or antioxidants day and night.
Include antioxidants (like vitamins C, E, and beta carotene) in your daily diet. Check with a nutritionist to recommend an appropriate program for you.
If you should get a sunburn, the best antidote is pure aloe vera. Taking the aloe gel straight from a growing aloe plant gives the best result. Also, several good quality aloe gels may be purchased at your local natural food store.
Simple Rules for Determining the Right Sun Care Products for You
If you have oily skin, use oil-free sunscreens and oil-free foundation makeup (the iron oxides used for color provide good physical sun blocking).
If you have dry skin, use oil-based sunscreens and oil-based foundation makeup.
If you have combination skin, you may use either of the above depending on the oiliness or dryness of your different facial areas.
Only use water-resistant or waterproof sunscreens when necessary: at the beach, swimming, or exercising outdoors. These products contain silicone derivatives which are only meant to be on the skin for a short period of time (not more than 8 hours). If they're left on longer and not thoroughly removed from the skin with cleanser and water, they can be irritating, clog pores, or cause breakouts. Chemical sunscreen ingredients can also be irritating, especially if the SPF is higher than 15. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to use only natural, physical blocks containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, even if they appear a little bit white on your skin. Avoid products containing PABA (papaminobenzoic acid). This ingredient has been shown to cause skin cancer when used in conjunction with exposure to ultraviolet light. Very few products currently contain this ingredient.
In addition to the types of products mentioned above, the only other natural sun blocking ingredient is green coffee extract. Although its protective ability has never been proven, it has been shown to boost the efficacy of other sunscreens such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
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Reprinted with permission from Natural Land.
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