Showing posts with label sunscreen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunscreen. Show all posts

Sunshine and Palm Trees at Kona Tanning Orange County


Hello to all of our new Orange County friends! It's such a beautiful day out! Let's keep in touch!

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Balance Is The Key To Life


Happy Friday everyone!  Stay balanced and happy this weekend, and don't forget your sunscreen if you're going outdoors - a Kona Tan, although incredibly realistic looking, won't protect you from the sun.  SPF!  SPF!  SPF!  Need a recommendation of sunscreen for your skin type?  Check out San Diego Skincare guru Nicole Howard's article on sunscreens.




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Happy National Sunscreen Day! | 7 Sunscreen Tips to Save Your Skin

If there's a holiday RealSelf should definitely celebrate, it's National Sunscreen Day on May 27. Anytime someone asks our doctor community how to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging, their #1 tip is to wear sunscreen daily.



Unfortunately avoiding UV damage isn't always as simple as "my moisturizer has SPF 15." To help you avoid the risks of too much exposure, we turned to dermatologist Dr. Susan Van Dyke and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) to bring you these 7 facts about proper sun protection:

Anything greater than SPF 50 provides the same protection

"A 50 SPF blocks 98.00% of UVB light (the burning rays) while a 100 SPF will block 99.00%,” says Dr. Van Dyke. “This level of benefit [to either] is of course contingent on applying enough and reapplying frequently."
Makeup and moisturizers with sunscreen aren’t always enough
Unless your makeup/moisturizer provides broad spectrum sunscreen and is reapplied throughout the day, it isn’t enough protection for all day sun exposure. According to ASDS, it’s find if “you are only walking to your car from work or going into the store...But if you are going to spend a few hours outdoors, then you need to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen."

You need to reapply every 2 hours

"The active ingredients in sunscreens break down when exposed to UV light. To maintain the SPF on the label you need to keep reapplying as the ingredients lose effectiveness: every 2 hours, more often if you sweat or swim," says Dr. Van Dyke.

It’s not a free pass to suntan all day

"Sunscreen is not 100% even in the best of cases (applying an ounce every 2 hours and after swimming)," warns Dr. Van Dyke. "Realistically speaking few of us follow guidelines perfectly. If you really want to save your skin, the best approach is to use sunscreen, cover up (hats, sunglasses, SPF clothing) and seek shade."

Tanning oil with SPF 10 doesn’t count

“Less than an SPF of 15 will not protect you from the cancer causing side effects of sun exposure,” says Dr. Van Dyke.

You should use one ounce to cover your whole body

According to ASDS “Research shows that many people put on about half of the amount of sunscreen they need, so be sure to lather it on. Also, don’t forget your lips – use lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher.”

Don’t wait til you’re in the sun to apply

“Sunscreen should be applied one-half hour before going outside, giving the skin time to absorb it,” says ASDS.
The next time you're picking out sunscreen, here's what you should look for:
  • Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide
  • Minimum SPF 15, ideally 30
  • Broad spectrum UVA/UVB (UVB causes burns, but UVA is also damaging to the structure and health of skin)
  • Water resistance if you'll be swimming or sweating

Do you have a favorite sunscreen for summer sun? Share it with us in the comments below.


PHOTO CREDIT: HAVESEEN/DEPOSIT PHOTOS
link: http://www.realself.com/blog/7-sunscreen-tips-save-skin




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Sunless Tanners: Seeking Shade is Crucial for Sun Protection | Kona Tanning Company

ezShade Sun Protection
ezShade Sun Protection
If you live in the far northern part of the country, it is easy to forget that spring is arriving in the southern states and that now is the time to really pay attention to sun protection.  So for the next few weeks I will take each letter in SunAWARE and let you know how to achieve the protection suggested.  Starting with A – Avoid unprotected exposure to sunlight, seek shade, and never indoor tan – this blog will discuss ways to seek shade.
Most organizations concerned with preventing skin cancer recommend finding shade as the first line of defense when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.  Seems like an easy solution – trees, umbrellas, canopies, all offer some protection and are readily  available.  However, shade from direct sun rays does not always protect from sun rays that bounce or are reflected from surrounding surfaces -  sand, water, concrete, building sides etc.  The UVR reflected from these surfaces does reach your skin and eyes and can cause harm.  This is why even in shade you should use a combination of protective methods – sun protective clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen.
Further, adding a side to your umbrella or canopy will create block to the reflective rays from the surfaces mentioned.
Recently I was made aware that there is an easy way to attach a ‘drop-cloth’ or ‘shade curtain’ to the side of beach umbrellas and other shade structures which creates a protective side.  (I used to try to do this with beach towels, but they fell off or were pulled off by wet children.)   The additional side created by this curtain will block reflected UV rays while doubling shade area.
The Melanoma International Foundation has approved ezShade and I would be remiss not to pass on the information about this important new and easy way to create more comprehensive protection.
ezShade attaches to the side of beach umbrellas or canopies to create an instant “wall” which blocks 99% of UVA and UVB rays.  It’s lightweight and rolls down into a tote that can be tucked into your beach bag.
Another way to create shade is to find shade sails.  These can be attached to poles or the sides of buildings.  They are used frequently in parks and school playgrounds and are well worth the investment as they provide years of shade protection.  Again, however, sun protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen should be used in conjunction with shade to provide comprehensive protection.
Start the spring by remember to A- Avoid unprotected exposure to sunlight, seek shade and never indoor tan.
Be Safe! Be SunAWARE!

link:  Seeking Shade Crucial for Sun Protection



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Does Your Sunscreen Help Prevent Skin Cancer?

With summer around the corner and Skin Cancer Awareness Month underway, you slather yourself in sunscreen, then relax onto your beach towel. Skin cancer avoided, right? 
Not necessarily.  Although sunscreen is a good tool for blocking harmful ultraviolet rays and thereby limiting the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, some lotions lack the necessary sun-protection ingredients. Others may cause allergic reactions. 
If you’re a sun worshiper or work outdoors, it’s important to know the facts about skin cancer and sunscreens:
  • Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., according to the nonprofit Skin Cancer Foundation. More new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined.
  • Until age 39, women are almost twice as likely as men to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
  • “Broad-spectrum protection,” “UVA protection” and “all-day protection” claims on sunscreen labels sometimes are untrue, leaving you vulnerable to dangerous sunrays.
  • Only 4 active sunscreen ingredients in U.S. products offer full-spectrum protection, according to the FDA. 
To find out which ingredients work and everything else you need to know about sunscreen, read this story.

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May is Melanoma Awareness Month: Keep Your Hair and Scalp Safe

TIPS FOR BEAUTIFUL, SAFE RED HAIR:
Redheads, and people with fair skin, are born without the ability to tan and excessive burning and/or exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer. In most cases, you can prevent skin cancer and it’s pretty easy to do so. My number one advice is, if you have fair skin, stay out of the sun. When you have to be in the sun, protect yourself by covering up, wearing a hat, and applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
Many women are so busy applying sunscreen on their bodies, that they forget that the scalp can burn too. The best thing you can do is use a hair sunscreen because it will protect your locks and keep your scalp from burning. There are great products out on the market that will prevent burning and fading while also giving your hair definition.
If you are on a budget, in a spray bottle, combine ½ cup of sunscreen (can be lotion or liquid based), ½ cup of non-sticky hair gel and ¾ cup water. Shake. Spray evenly and very sparingly in hair. Make sure to work this mixture with comb.




link:  May is Melanoma Awareness Month: Keep Your Red Hair Safe | How To Be A Redhead


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Kona Katie's New Year's Resolution: Be Better to My Skin!


One of my New Year's Resolutions is to be better to my body.  First: my largest organ, my SKIN!  I already spray tan, so I'm going to find the perfect sunscreen for my super-sensitive complexion, and get regular facials with TLC.  Someone told me about a gentle sunscreen called Ocean Potion, which can be found at local surf shops.  Has anyone out there tried it?



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10 Worst Sun Slip-Ups | Lifescript.com

10 Worst Sun Slip-Ups | Lifescript.com

By Michele Bender, Special to Lifescript
Published March 16, 2010


You wear sunscreen outdoors and limit exposure to a few hours a day. You must be safe from skin cancer, right? Wrong! When it comes to protection, there’s a lot more you need to know. Here are 10 sun slip-ups and what you can do to ward off troubles...

We know that staying healthy means eating right and exercising regularly. But do you wear sunscreen every day? And are you choosing the right product and applying it correctly?

Many women make simple sun protection mistakes that put their skin - and lives - at risk. Here are 10 common slip-ups, plus ways to fix them:

Sun slip-up #1: Having a “damage has been done” mentality
If you spent your teen years working on a golden tan, in your 30s, you may figure the worst damage has been done. No need to fuss with sunscreen, right? Think again.

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study found that only 23% of a person’s lifetime sun exposure happens by age 20. So even with a misspent youth, it’s not too late to stop sunbathing and start protecting your skin.

Here’s why you should: Skin cancer is a daily threat. Melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease, kills more than 3,000 women a year.

Sun solution: Use sunscreen every day.

“It can decrease the risk of skin cancer and, by reducing UV exposure, you allow skin time to heal and give your immune system the chance to repair existing damage,” says Jordana Gilman, M.D., a spokeswoman for the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Sun slip-up #2: Not wearing sunglasses
You can’t find your sunglasses, so you head outdoors without them. Bad move.Going without shades increases the risk of sun damage to your skin and eyes, which can lead to cancer, cataracts and macular degeneration.

Sun solution: Always have sunglasses on hand and keep an extra pair in your purse or car.

“Sunglasses should block 100% of [UVA and UVB] rays, so make sure it says so on the glasses’ label,” says Southlake, Texas-based dermatologist Naila Malik.

She recommends larger-framed glasses with a close-fitting style, which provide “the best protection by reducing sunlight exposure to the eyes from above and beyond the periphery of your lenses.”

Plus, sunglasses keep you from squinting, which can create crows’ feet – and no woman wants those.

Sun slip-up #3: Avoiding sunscreen around your eyes

Sunglasses alone aren’t enough to shield the thin, delicate skin around your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.

Unfortunately, many people avoid putting sunscreen there because they think it’s too sensitive, says Jeannine Downie, M.D., director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, N.J., and co-author of Beautiful Skin of Color (HarperCollins).

In fact, that’s exactly why you need sunscreen under your eyes. The sun’s rays can break down its fragile skin more easily than other parts of your body.

Sun solution: Use a product that’s hypo-allergenic and fragrance free or an eye cream with sunscreen.



Sun slip-up #4: Looking only at the SPF number


A product’s sun protection factor (SPF) is important, but it’s not enough to fully protect you, since it only wards off UVB rays, not UVA.

“UVA rays make up the majority of the UV radiation that we get and are present from sunup to sundown in equal amounts during summer and winter,” says Katie Rodan, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford University and author of Write Your Skin a Prescription for Change (Pair O' Docs MD Publishing).

And why is it important to make sure we protect ourselves from both kinds of rays?

“The sun’s UVB rays cause burning and skin cancer,” Rodan says. “Its UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and cause all the things we hate about our complexions as we get older, like wrinkles, sagging and brown spots.”

Sun solution: Check the label for other active sunscreen ingredients that block UVA rays.

These include avobenzone (Parsol 1789), octocrylene, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, oxybenzone and Mexoryl SX (also called ecamsule).

Other clues on the bottle? Words like “broad spectrum,” “multispectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection.”

To test-drive a few UVA/UVB sunscreens, pick up Sephora’s Sun Safety Kit ($115; www.sephora.com), a re-usable cosmetic case filled with samples of 12 protective products. An added bonus: 100% of net proceeds benefit the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Sun slip-up #5: Skimping on sunscreen
If you’re using an SPF 15 but don’t apply enough, you’re actually getting just an SPF 6 or 7. And if you’re like most people, you only apply 25%-50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).



Sun solution:
For a day outdoors, use a shot glass full (an ounce) for an adult and half that for a child, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Reapply this amount every two hours.

After a day at the beach, a family of four should use up a 6-ounce bottle if everyone applies it twice during the day.

That may seem like a lot of pricey sunscreen. Still, don’t skimp on the amount you use; buy the cheap stuff instead.

Price doesn’t dictate quality or sun protection, Rodan says. “As long as it’s got an SPF of at least 15, it doesn’t matter what it costs.”

So you don’t miss any spots, get naked and apply sunscreen from head to toe a half hour before heading outside. That’ll give it time to absorb into your skin.

Sun slip-up #6: Keeping the same bottle of sunscreen for years
Most sunscreens come with expiration dates, and they shouldn’t be ignored.

That’s because “a sunscreen’s active ingredients break down and don’t work as well,” says Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Sun solution: Toss sunscreens that have passed their expiration date and buy new bottles. Besides, having out-of-date ones means you’re probably not using enough.

Sun slip-up #7: Thinking sunscreen is all you need
Sunscreen is just one part of good sun protection, because no matter how well you use it, some UV radiation gets through to skin. So slathering it on and doing nothing else isn’t enough protection, especially if you burn easily.

“No sunscreen blocks 100% of UV rays,” Fusco says. You need to take additional steps.



Sun solution:
Other critical ways to protect skin include:



  • Seeking shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when sun is strongest.

  • Covering up with clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

  • Doing monthly self-skin exams and getting an annual one by your doctor or dermatologist. The AAD offers free screenings; find one near you at http://www.aad.org/.

  • Wear sun-protective clothing, the AAD recommends. You can usually find a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) on its label. This rating system measures a fabric’s ability to block the sun. UPF 20 protects against 95% of the sun’s rays; UPF 50 protects against 98%.

Sun slip-up #8: Skipping sunscreen when you’re indoors
Ninety percent of the sun’s aging effects is incidental, not from long lazy days at the beach, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

“UVA light knows no bounds; it even goes through window glass,” Rodan says. “I can look at patients in their 40s and 50s and tell whether they spend a lot of time in the driver’s seat, because the left side has far more sun damage than the right.”

Sun solution: If you’re a frequent driver or your desk is near a window, apply sunscreen.

Wear it even when you’re barely in the sun – for example, when you’re walking to the mailbox or eating lunch in the park. A teaspoon for your face and neck is all you need.

Sun slip-up #9: Relying on label lingo
Claims like “protects all day,” “sweat-proof” and “waterproof” sound good, but their meanings can vary from one sunscreen to the next.



Sun solution:
No matter what labels promise, you should reapply, “because the active ingredients in most products begin to break down when exposed to the sun,” Fusco says.

Plus, their effectiveness is reduced if they’re washed or sweated off. So slather on the sunscreen after swimming, sweating and every two hours.

Sun slip-up #10: Believing the “base tan” mythTanning salons claim a lot of things: bronzed skin you get from beds is safer than the sun and a base tan protects you from burning. Wrong!

“In fact, the UV radiation you get from tanning beds is 12-15 times as strong as regular sunlight,” Downie says. “Tanning beds should be avoided at all costs.”

Also, studies show that having your first exposure to tanning beds before the age of 35 increases your melanoma risk by 75%, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Need more evidence? A report published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), affiliated with the World Health Organization, said that a tanning bed’s UV radiation is as dangerous as radon and plutonium for causing cancer.

Sun solution: If you’re craving color, use a bronzer or apply a self-tanner, which contains a chemical that reacts with the amino acids in your skin to darken your skin. To be really safe, embrace the color you were born with.

Test Your Skin Cancer IQ
Consider this: Skin cancer is diagnosed more often than all other cancers combined. Have we caught your attention now? Find out just how much you know when it comes to skin cancer and prevention.