Posts Tagged ‘caribbean tan products’

• Why is using the sunbed bad for your skin?

  Date: 2010.08.06 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

  

   

  WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUNBEDS

  Sunbed radiation can produce adverse health effects, including malignant melanoma, similar to those of natural sunlight, most notably in fair-skinned persistent users.

   

   

  Who should never use sunbeds?

  •children and teenagers under 18 year of age

  •people who have very fair skin

  •people who burn easily or tan poorly

  •people with a lot of freckles or moles

  •people who have had skin cancer or have a family history of the disease

  •people using medication that could make their skin more sensitive to UV

  •people who already have extensive “sunlight” damage

  ABOUT SUNBEDS

  Sunbeds emit predominantly UVA and some UVB, both of which can damage the DNA in cells of the skin. However, in recent years, lamps of sunbeds have been manufactured that produce higher levels of UVB to mimic the solar spectrum and speed the tanning process. While UVB has well known carcinogenic properties and whose excessive exposure is known to lead to the development of skin cancers, recent scientific studies suggest that high exposures to the longer wavelength UVA could also have an impact on skin cancer occurrence.

  As with sun exposure, recent studies indicate a relationship between the use of sunbeds and malignant melanoma as well as non-melanoma skin cancers such as squamous and basal cell carcinomas. Thus, the consequences of regular sunbed use may include disfigurement from removal of skin cancers, early death if the cancer is a malignant melanoma, as well as substantial costs to national health systems for screening, treating and monitoring skin cancer patients.

  UV rays from sunbeds

  Sunbeds, sunlamps and tanning booths give out the same type of harmful radiation as sunlight:

  •UVA rays make up about 95% of sunlight. They can cause your skin to age early, making it look coarse, leathery and wrinkled.

  •UVB rays make up about 5% and cause your skin to burn.

  A tan is your body’s attempt to protect itself from the damaging effect of UV rays. Getting a tan using a sunbed is not safer than tanning in the sun. In some cases, it may be more harmful, depending on, for example:

  •the strength (dose) of UV rays from the sunbed,

  •how many times or how often you use a sunbed,

  •how long your sessions are,

  •what type of skin you have, such as fair or dark, and

  •your age.

  •the type or strength of UV rays that sunbeds give out, or

  •who can use sunbeds.

  Damage from UV rays

  Prolonged exposure to UV rays increases your risk of developing malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

  You cannot always see the damage that UV rays cause. The symptoms of skin damage can take up to 20 years to appear.

  UV rays can also damage your eyes, by causing problems such as irritation, conjunctivitis or cataracts, particularly if you don’t wear goggles.

  Advice about using sunbeds

  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued advice on the health risks linked to UV tanning equipment, such as sunbeds, sunlamps and tanning booths. They recommend that you should not use UV tanning equipment if:

  •you are under 18,

  •you have fair, sensitive skin that burns easily, or tans slowly or poorly,

  •you have a history of sunburn, particularly in childhood,

  •you have lots of freckles and/or red hair,

  •you have lots of moles,

  •you are taking medicines or using creams that make your skin sensitive to sunlight,

  •you have a medical condition that is made worse by sunlight,

  •you have had skin cancer, or someone in your family has had skin cancer, or

  •sunlight has already badly damaged your skin.

  The HSE advice also includes important points to consider before you decide to use a sunbed. For example, if you do use a sunbed, the operator should advise you on your skin type and on how many minutes you should limit your session to.

  For further information contact us on:

  011.327.4490

  info@somabodytherapy.co.za

  www.somabodytherapy.co.za

   

• Protecting your skin against UV Damage

  Date: 2010.08.04 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

  

  PREVENTING UV DAMAGE

  Adopting simple precautions can make all the difference.

  Tips to Save Your Skin

  •Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen (which protects against UVA and UVB rays) that carries the CANSA Seal of Recognition (CSOR) – apply daily and reapply throughout the day.

  •Buy sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.  If possible keep the extra pair in your car.

  •Install window film that protects against UV rays on your car’s side and back windows.  

   

  •For men apply an after-shave balm, with an SPF of at least 15, after shaving.  If you can’t find one you like, buy a CSOR sunscreen for the face. Don’t forget your ears and all around your neck.

  •For women apply a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. If you can’t find one you like, buy a separate CSOR sunscreen for the face and apply it before your moisturiser.

  •Wear a hat with a brim, not a baseball cap. Wear it when you’re outdoors -especially for men who are balding or thinning on top.

  •Use a lip balm with an SPF of 20+ and apply it regularly.   

  •Keep a bottle of sunscreen with an SPF of 20 or higher in the glove compartment of your car, reapply the product frequently.

  •Ask your barber or hairdresser if he sees any moles or bumps on your scalp, if he or she does, go to a doctor or dermatologist and have them checked out.

  •Partners should regularly check one another’s backs for any changes in existing moles or the development of new moles.

  Children are at Risk

  Children are at a higher risk of suffering UV damage than adults, and therefore require special protection. A short time outdoors in the midday summer sun can result in serious burns – and even a single sunburn in childhood may significantly increase their skin cancer risk. Children love playing outdoors and spend much more time in the sun than the average adult. Estimates suggest that the majority of a person’s lifetime exposure to UV radiation is received before the age of 18.

  Think about sun safety all year round – whether you’re at the beach, at a soccer game, or in the garden. 

  Ways To Protect Children

  •Sunscreen Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF20+) that carries the CANSA Seal of Recognition (CSOR)

  •Encourage children’s lotion devotion. Apply sunscreen every day after they’ve brushed their teeth or before they get dressed. They’ll be more likely to make it part of their routine when they’re older.  

  •Keep sunscreen and lip balm (SPF 20+) in all your bags—handbags, kids’ sports bags, backpacks, cooler bags.

  •Pack sunscreen for your child at preschool or day care and talk to his teacher about reapplying it.

  •Remember to cover the ears, nape of the neck, chin, tops of the feet, backs of the hands, hair partings and any sparse spots on the scalp with sunscreen.

  •Use more than you think you need. When manufacturers test a sunscreen’s SPF, they’re required to apply a thick layer to skin.  Allow enough time to apply the sunscreen properly.

  •Reapply sunscreen every hour especially after swimming 

  •Don’t save it for sunny summer days. The sun’s reflective power is strong -17 % on sand and 80 % on snow. Even when it’s cloudy, 80 % of invisible UV rays still hit your child’s skin and they can cause surprisingly bad burns.

  •Use your imagination. Tell your child that sunscreen is special “makeup” or “paint,” and write words or letters on her body (and let her do the same to you).

  •Let your kids see you putting sunscreen on yourself

  •Check the expiration date of your sunscreen.

  •Clothing Less UV passes through tightly woven or knitted fabrics, darker colours usually block more UV radiation. Garments that are over-stretched, wet or worn out may lose some of their UV protection properties.

  •Hats Children should wear wide brimmed hats that give better protection – not baseball caps

  •Seek shade – Remember the shadow rule: Watch your shadow – No shadow, seek shade!

  •Explain to your children that too much sun is bad for their skin. Just as you tell them about the dangers   of smoking and the importance of eating healthy foods, talk to them about risks from the sun.

  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT US ON:

  011.327.4490

  info@somabodytherapy.co.za

  www.somabodytherapy.co.za