Created By Stephen Tuffery
www.stephengraphics.com
Terms of Use Statement Privacy Policy Purchase Agreement
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is not intended to act as a substitute for
medical advice provided by a qualified health care provider, nor is any information
on this site intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If anyone
has a specific health issue they should always seek medical advice.
FTC Disclosure:
If you decide to purchase any products recommended on this site I may possibly receive
some commission.
By Dr Peter Dingle and Toni Brown
Please note this site may not display properly in the AOL browser
Skin Care, Sun Damage and Why I'm Feeling Pretty Smug Today
Jean Shaw© -
www.bestorganicsforhealth.com
—-
I have to admit to feeling pretty smug today.
At a party last night I was told by
a few people I looked considerably younger than I actually am and I don't think they
were all drunk at the time either.
This came as a pleasant observation to me as over
the years I have certainly not been kind to my skin.
Up until my early thirties I
abused it terribly. I coated it in baby oil, carrot oil and coconut oil , not all
at the same time I hasten to add, and fried in the sun. My quest for a tan led me
to spend more time on sunbeds than is now deemed safe and generally I took my skin
for granted.
Top of Form 1
Enter your search terms Submit search formBottom of Form 1
Not surprisingly my misspent youth has caught up with me and I've had numerous questionable spots cut off or frozen from my arms, legs and shoulders. According to my doctor they were all attributable to "sun damage".What I didn't realise until far too late is that there's no such thing as a safe tan.
Any tan is a sign of skin damage and if you go out in the sun and burn you damage your DNA which makes you more susceptible to skin cancer. Once you start to go red it is a sign that you are doing some damage so the current advice is to limit your exposure to 15 minute intervals.
That's probably the amount of time I used to stay out of the sun, but not any more. With climate change, the thinning of the ozone layer and generally being older and wiser I realise the importance of sun protection.
Each year there are more and more cases of skin
cancer reported. In UK just last year (2006-
Most people have now heard
the advice of Slip-
However, it seems that even these may not be enough to protect us from the damaging
UV rays of the sun unless we are a bit more conscious about things.
The sun gives off UVA, UVB and UVC rays. The A ones are ageing, the B ones are burning
and the C ones are not quite so specifically defined. Sunshine also promotes the
production of Vitamin D which is vital for healthy bones and reducing the risk of
cancer. It gives us that feel good factor.
We are advised and encouraged to use sunscreens
with a minimum sun protection factor of 15 (SPF 15) and in some shops that is the
minimum protection you will find. It is also recommended we reapply them frequently.
However, whilst this should provide protection from the harmful UV rays there could
be a downside.
Most of our vitamin D is made in the skin when we absorb sunlight so if we block
the absorption with sunscreens we can reduce our ability to produce it. Some of the
higher SPF sunscreens block the absorption by as much as 95%.
Also, some sunscreens
contain potentially harmful chemical such as PABA and Oxybenzone which can cause
allergic eczema and photo sensitivity in some people.
Another ingredient, titanium
dioxide is now being blamed for the rise in skin cancer for users who stay too long
in the sun.
So what is the answer?
Well it seems the best way is to cover up and
wear dense clothing where the fibres are close together. Linen and thin cotton are
not sufficient as the UV rays can penetrate the material. If you do choose to wear
light flimsy items of clothing it is highly recommended you also wear sun protection
of at least SPF 10 underneath.
I take much more care of my skin now and don't sunbathe
at all. Of course it's too late as the irreversible damage has already been done,
but the natural organic products I now use ensure I am now treating it with the respect
it deserves.
My skin care is 100% free of synthetic toxic chemicals which you find in most products
and contains only purely natural beneficial ingredients. I figure I've done enough
damage over the years without exposing myself to potentially harmful toxins which
have never been tested either individually or in combination as well.
It must be
working which is why I'm feeling pretty smug today.
Syndicate Jean's articles on your site! Fast, Easy & Free!