Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Skin and the Aging Process

Your Skin and the Aging Process
Zits. Brown spots. Sagging.
Forget PMS--now you can blame your hormones for bad skin, too.

Up until your 30th birthday, you lose about a million skin cells every 40 minutes. Sounds gross, but this desirable sloughing is actually what gives you the dewy skin that radiates youth, it's the reason young children reflect the light differently then older people. "For the first few decades, your epidermis renews itself every 30 days, but by the time you're 40, it takes about 45 days," says Dr. Kathy Fields, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCSF. Unfortunately, this shedding slowdown is a reflection of your body's gradual aging process. Long before menopause, the same hormonal production shifts that sap your fertility will start showing their signs on your face. But before you start stockpiling your pantry with soy and estrogen supplements (which may raise your risk of breast cancer because of their systemic effects), try treating your hormonal skin issues safely, from the outside in.

Breakout Role
Just as you may see a little thinning in your hairline or the slight shadow of a moustache, more blackheads and blemishes are a sign of aging. "About a third of women will get adult acne, usually in their early 30s, even if they didn't have breakouts when they were younger," says Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Stuart Kaplan. "Starting in your late 20s, estrogen levels decline faster than testosterone." Because testosterone is an androgenic hormone, it increases masculine qualities (hence the new facial hair) and boosts oil production, plugging your pores and causing blemishes. The difference between adult acne and the teenage type? Small red bumps (not painful, cystic pimples) are more common when you're older, according to Kaplan, and acne along the jawline or around the mouth are a telltale sign that you're dealing with a hormonal breakout. Going on the birth-control pill or spironolactone (a diuretic with antiandrogenic effects) will balance hormone levels and reduce breakouts. For a nonprescription approach, try combination acne-and-wrinkle-fighting formulas that gently keep skin clear without over-stripping.

Seeing Spots
Even if you haven't had a baby, brown, patchy melasma (aka the pregnancy mask) can appear if you take birth-control pills. "Estrogen turns on melanin pigment production, so being on the Pill can be a trigger," explains Fields. "If you're genetically prone to melasma, you'll have brown spots, even if you stop taking the Pill." Since pigment problems are notoriously difficult to treat, Fields recommends strict sun avoidance and a cocktail of antioxidants and sunscreen to keep dark dots at bay.

Dry Spell
Thyroid function naturally peters out over time, which means less hormone production overall. But many women are diagnosed as hypothyroid during or after pregnancy. "When your thyroid function is low, skin becomes dry and scaly," explains Miami dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt. He also notes that the epidermis starts losing moisturizing hyaluronic acid when you hit your late 20s. Since estrogen enhances hyaluronic acid production, declining estrogen levels mean less moisture. Kaplan describes the result: "Your skin becomes leathery and starts to crack like an old raincoat. The purpose of skin is to act like a barrier. As your face gets drier, it also gets more sensitive." The good news is that you can replenish hyaluronic acid topically. Sealing in serums with a cream will protect against irritation and further moisture loss.

Not to sound like a commercial for Sun:Soul, this product helps in more then just protecting your skin from UV rays.. But you now have to put on less chemical sunscreens and in turn reduce the outbreaks and dry skin issues.

I can give you plenty of reasons you should wear Sun:Soul, but one stands out more then all the others.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN, YOU WILL MISS IT WHEN IT'S NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION ANYMORE.

www.sunscreenwear.com


Portions of this article was found on WebMD
Feature from "Marie Claire" Magazine ~ By Ning Chao

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

SunScreen, the Myth

Part 1
After reading a ton of information on the subject I would like to pass a little ‘usable’ information to my readers.

The idea that sunscreen prevents cancer is a myth. It's a myth promoted by a profit-seeking tag-team effort between the cancer industry and the sunscreen industry. The sunscreen industry makes money by selling lotion products that actually contain cancer-causing chemicals. It then donates a portion of that money to the cancer industry through non-profit groups like the American Cancer Society which, in turn, run heart-breaking public service ads urging people to use sunscreen to "prevent cancer."

The scientific evidence, however, shows quite clearly that chemicals in sunscreen actually promotes cancer by blocking the body's absorption of ultraviolet radiation, which produces vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D, as recent studies have shown, prevents up to 77 of ALL cancers in women (breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors, multiple myeloma... you name it). Meanwhile, the toxic chemical ingredients used in most sunscreen products are actually carcinogenic and have never been safety tested or safety approved by the FDA. They get absorbed right through the skin (a porous organ that absorbs most substances it comes into contact with) and enter the bloodstream.

Ok so what are we going to do with this information?

1. Stop wearing sunscreen: Yes and no. you need to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation so yes, stop using the non-organic sun protection. Switch to natural, organic and or Blocks. Remember blocks don’t penetrate your skin so you don’t absorb them.

2. Start wearing sun protection clothing: www.sunscreenwear.com
There are other companies offering SPF clothing, please make sure they are FDA approved protection like Sun Soul is.

It’s up to you what happens to your skin, not the medical community or the big companies. Every day you put on or in your body various forms of poisons, be conscious of how you are reduce your risk.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Skin Cancer, Prevention

Overview: Skin Cancer - Melanoma
Can Melanoma Skin Cancer Be Prevented?

Not all melanomas can be prevented, but there are ways to reduce your risk.

Limit UV exposure

The best way to lower the risk of melanoma is to avoid too much exposure to the sun and other sources of UV light. Avoid being outdoors in sunlight too long, especially in the middle of the day when UV light is most intense. Be "sun safe" when you are outdoors. "Slip! Slop! Slap! … and Wrap" is a catch phrase to remind you of the 4 key ways you can protect yourself from UV light. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and the skin around them. These things can help you prevent skin cancer:

Protect your skin with clothing: www.sunscreenwear.com
Ok I just made a shameless plug for my site
you may think I'm just trying to sell you something and you would be right, I'm trying to sell you something that will protect and heal you. No fun watching my friends & family get sections of their skin removed... Please pay attention.


Clothes vary in how much they can protect you. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, or long skirts are the most protective. Dark colors are better than light colors. A tightly woven fabric protects better than loosely woven clothing. And dry clothing is better than wet clothing.

Some clothing is made with built-in UV protection. There are also newer products that can increase the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value of clothes you already own. Used like laundry detergents, they add a layer of UV protection to your clothes without changing the color or texture.

Wear a hat

A hat with at least a 2- to 3-inch brim all around is good because it protects the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. A shade cap (which looks like a baseball cap with about 7 inches of fabric draping down the sides and back) is also good.(or you might not want to look like you are exploring Africa all the time so put sunblock on the areas that are exposed) These are often sold in sports and outdoor supply stores.

A baseball cap can protect the front and top of the head, but not the back of the neck or the ears. Straw hats are not a good choice unless they are tightly woven.
AND still wear sun block on the areas that are covered, reflection is just as potent)

IF you are wearing a baseball cap, very important to apply sunblock to the back of your neck. Look around at the back of people's neck, it will become blairingly clear you need to remember that.

Use sunscreen/sunblock

Use sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Be sure to use enough--a palmful for your whole body. And put it on again every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days. For it to work best, sunscreen should be put on before you go outside.

and when you can, use SunBlock
As you read this blog understand I do my research and then share it. I do interject when the article does not cover everything or doesn't hit you over the head with specific instructions vs. some vague information.

I think you need at least 30 block both uva/uvb to really protect yourself. I put it on under my mineral make-up, light and not smothering.

OK, back to the Article:

Don't make the mistake of thinking that because you're using sunscreen, you can stay out in the sun longer. Staying out longer because you're using sunscreen just means you'll end up getting the same amount of UV light as you would otherwise. You won’t reduce your melanoma risk that way.

If you want the look of a tan you can use "sunless" tanning lotion. These help you look tan, without the danger of UV damage. You do not have to go out in the sun for these to work. The color tends to wear off after a few days.
Don't forget to look for ones with Organic ingredient, Stop poisoning yourself.

Wear sunglasses

Wrap-around sunglasses with at least 99% UV absorption give the best protection to your eyes and the skin around your eyes. Look for sunglasses labeled as blocking UVA and UVB light.

Stay in the shade

Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day, between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun's rays are strongest. Keep in mind that sunlight (and UV rays) can come through clouds, can reflect off water, sand, concrete, and snow, and can reach below the water's surface.

Protect children
We should say this to ourselves over and over again

Be especially careful about sun protection for children. Children tend to spend more time outdoors and they burn more easily. Teach them to protect themselves from the sun as they get older.

Avoid other sources of UV light

Tanning beds and sun lamps are dangerous because they can damage your skin. Most skin doctors say not to use tanning beds and sun lamps. There is growing evidence that they may increase your risk of getting melanoma. This is an area of active research.

For more information on how to protect yourself and your family, see the American Cancer Society Document, Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, YOU ARE GOING TO MISS YOUR SKIN WHEN IT'S GONE!
this information comes from the American Cancer web site.org