HERE COMES THE SUN

SUMMER HEAT WAVES: ARE YOU GETTING ALL THE FACTS?

There are three kinds of dangerous rays. UVB, or “burning,” rays are the primary cause of skin cancer and are the most intense in summer. UVA, or “aging,” rays pose a risk in any season and penetrate deeper into the skin, causing wrinkles, sagging, sunspots and cancer. A third kind of light, infrared radiation (IR), can also cause both premature aging and cancer. To protect yourself from all three, you must wear sunscreen every single day, even when it’s cloudy. It may sound like a chore, but once you’ve become an expert on everything from SPF to the powers of vitamin C, safeguarding your skin will, and should become second nature.

How long can you stay in the sun without burning? Do the math. Multiply the SPF number on the label by the number of minutes it takes you to start burning without protection. For example, if you start to burn after ten minutes of exposure, SPF 15 has been shown in lab tests to protect you for 150 minutes. If you burn in five minutes, SPF 15 will shield you for 75 minutes. As SPFs go beyond 30, the effectiveness is less dramatic, but since most people don’t apply as much as they should, a higher SPF is always a safe bet.

SCREEN SAVERS:
• Do not burn. Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.

• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.

• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.

• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month. See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

BURN, BABY, BURN!

ARE TANNING SALONS SAFE?

No! No! No! Tanning beds are extremely dangerous. Studies have shown that they increase the risk of cancer. Tanning lights mainly contain UVA and sometimes also UVB rays. Both those wavelengths can contribute to melanoma and the intensity of energy from light bulbs is many times stronger than natural light.

Tanning is also skin damage! Although skin cancer has been associated with UVB radiation and sunburns, scientists say that even tanning in moderation produces the same harmful effects, as would a burn. Tanning causes premature aging, causing the skin to appear leathery and wrinkled, and also damages the immune system. So think twice, before you lather up your activating tanning gel! Is is worth sacrificing your health and beauty for a semi-permanent color?

LOOK YOUNGER

STEPS TO AGING WELL

1. Consume enough calories. With too few calories in your diet, the appearance of skin, hair and posture can suffer. In particular, foods rich in antioxidants, like berries, leafy greens and soy products, and those with omega-3 fatty acids, such as certain fish (salmon and sardines), olive oil and some nuts, may help ward off wrinkles.

2. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. They contain antioxidants, which fend off free radicals. (Free radicals build up in the body through daily living, are increased by pollution, smoking and sunlight, and breakdown cell membranes, contributing to aging.)

3. Cut back significantly on refined sugars and sugar packed soft drinks. Sugar causes reactions in your body that can contribute to the breakdown of collagen. Sometimes, I’ll have a craving for something sweet, like chocolate, instead I’ll find a substitution. I’ll have a bowl of blueberries instead.

4. Drink ten to twelve 8-oz. glasses of water or green tea a day. Inadequate hydration can lead to dry skin, which can make wrinkles more obvious. I love iced green tea, unsweetened of course, with a slice of lemon.

5. Limit yourself to no more than five to seven alcoholic beverages per week. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption will leave your skin looking sallow.

6. Take a multivitamin daily. Your supplement should have at least 400 IU of vitamin E; 25,000 IU of beta-carotene; 2000 mg of vitamin D; and other antioxidants. Among other positive effects, these antioxidants, combined with sun avoidance and protection, help skin wrinkle-free.

7. Always wear at least SPF 30, even indoors. Tanning robs the skin of collagen and leads to loss of elasticity. Even some indoor lighting emits damaging UV waves. If I could drink sunscreen for maximum protection, I would. I never go outside without a generous layer.

8. Use products with anti-aging ingredients. By your mid to late twenties, you need skincare with anti-aging ingredients: alpha-hydroxy or glycolic acids and vitamin-rich serums. Additionally, moisturizing daily will help keep wrinkles from becoming more dramatic.

9. Consider microdermabrasion or a chemical peel. These dermatologist-performed procedures can help erase the appearance of some sun damage.

10. Stop smoking. Smoking creates vertical lines around your lips and robs your skin of oxygen, muddying your complexion and undermining collagen production.

11. Exercise at least four times a week. A cardio workout will help keep your weight down and your energy levels up, and will improve circulation.

12. Reduce stress daily. Try yoga or meditation. Exfoliating is a simple stress reducer for me.

13. Get at least seven hours of sleep nightly. Less sleep may undermine the immune system and further stress the body by keeping it from repairing and replenishing cells.