This is a great schematic I came across on Stumbleupon. Really gives a nice overview of sunscreen, exposure, skin cancer, etc. Worth a look as we approach summer.
http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2011/the-sunscreen-smokescreen/
Tag Archive: Sunburn
Here is a good overview on sunscreen from a very good website. It doesn’t get in to great detail but does a good job of answering some of those general questions most of us have about sunscreen……
Check out our friends at the Sun Safe-Tee Program out in Southern California! SolarAegis is a proud sponsor! Mark Wishner and his organization are doing tons to raise awareness about sun health and sun protection for our youth as they embark into the wonderful world of golf! Visit their website to learn more at www.sunsafetee.org. Also, see the video below with some of the PGA’s supporters of the SunSafeTee Program!
It’s that time of year again to remind ourselves to lather up when we go outside. Summer isn’t even here and we are already seeing high UV indices during the day. Lets take a moment to review some sun-safety guidelines as we prepare to enjoy the outdoors.
> Wear sunscreen everyday. SPF 15, or higher is fine for regular, daily use and make sure it is broad spectrum (UVA/UVB). For extended time in the sun, SPF 30 is a better option. Remember that SPF is the law of diminishing returns. No need to pay more for higher SPF’s because you’re really not getting much better protection. See my March 2010 post on same topic. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapply every two hours thereafter. More frequent if participating in intense physical activity, swimming and/or sweating.
> Make sure you use 1-2 shot glass amounts when applying sunscreen. More is always better than less.
> Avoid the sun, when possible, between 10:00am and 4:00pm when UV intensity is the highest.
>Wear sunglasses, a hat, long sleeves and long pants, when possible, to minimize exposure.
> Don’t allow yourself to burn.
> Stay out of tanning beds!! They are bad!!!
> Examine your skin for changes, at least monthly.
> Visit a dermatologist annually for a skin exam.
Have fun this summer and stay protected. Check back regularly to the SolarAegis site for additional information on sun health and to check out our products!
In gearing up for summer, we have introduced a 16oz. pump bottle. Great for refilling your 2.5oz tubes and keeping around the house to lather up the family before heading outdoors. We have also added a large, after-sun bath bomb to soothe your skin after a long day outside. Come by the website and check them out!
We are working on Baby Elephant production now. We are currently procuring raw materials for manufacturing and plan to have it available on the website by the end of May!
Another month has quickly slipped through our fingers and October is here….summer is gone, the kids are in school and cooler weather prevails. Beach and pool clothing has already been packed away in the north and quickly replaced with sweat shirts, pants, boots and jackets. How quickly the lazy days of summer fade into our memory as we move into the next season.
As we look ahead to winter, it’s easy to forget sun protection, as more time is spent indoors, clothing becomes thicker and more protective and our awareness of the sun’s presence diminishes as the days grow shorter. The fact is, we need to remain diligent about sun health year-round. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, sun damage is cumulative. It doesn’t stop in the fall and winter and staying protected, even through the colder months, is a smart move. Most people don’t realize that UVA rays have a pretty consistent intensity year-round. UVA rays are stronger than UVB waves, penetrate deeper into the skin and are the predominant carcinogen responsible for skin cancer. So even though you may not get a sunburn watching your favorite football team in the stadium you can bet you’re getting a good dose of high energy radiation. Sunscreen should be standard issue equipment even before you get to the tailgating party. Bring it, put it on and reapply at halftime. Make sure you wear your hat and sunglasses too!
A few other things to quickly consider during the winter….First, snow and ice have a very high reflective index so take note during your skiing, sledding, ice skating and hockey events. You’re getting the “double whammy” during these activities so make sure you wear proper sun protective gear, including sunscreen. Secondly, those of you with fair skin (like myself), build up a little sun resistance over the summer. As you get deeper into winter that resistance begins to diminish and sun sensitivity increases. Be super diligent in late winter and wear sunscreen regularly. Your skin will thank you.
Have fun and stay sun smart!
When I first started delving into sun protection it appeared the Environmental Working Group (EWG) was a stern advocate of the consumer, especially when it came to personal care ingredients. I have since learned this group is essentially a lobbying firm out to promote their own political agendas. My concern over their criticism of sunscreen use is that they use scare tactics and fear mongering to progress their internal objectives. This could be done at the expense of the consumer, possibly influencing their decision to not use a product like sunscreen, to protect themselves from UV damage and possibly skin cancer. I have read all of their claims as they relate to sunscreen and sunscreen ingredients. I will post more here as I deem fit, but for now, it is important to know they are not the noble consumer advocates they lead you to believe they are…..
Here is a link to the Skin Cancer Foundations web page that addresses some of the EWG’s recent claims. Please keep your mind open and wear sunscreen. Protect yourself and your kids from the harmful rays of the sun….
The interest level in Baby Elephant seems to be gaining momentum as summer approaches and there have been inquiries about the release date. We decided that Baby Elephant would be the most important product from SolarAegis, no matter what came before, or what followed. We believe that skin cancer prevention and proper sun health starts in childhood and parents have a huge role in establishing good habits in their children early in life. As a result, we have taken this product release very seriously and are taking some very tactical steps to assure an effective and successful launch.
In April we commissioned a market survey of mothers with children under twelve years old. The survey is composed of open-ended questions and will be asked within a pre-qualified sample population. It will help us determine things like packaging (type and size), formulation specifics, label coloring and several other key variables. The survey will be completed by the end of April and the data will direct production, marketing collateral and advertising. We now expect to go into production in mid to late May with online availability before Memorial Day weekend. Our retail outlets and associated timing are currently unknown and will be determined by the survey results. Once we understand where our customer want to buy the product, then we can work to get distribution set up and pass on the timing to our customers.
Baby Elephant is an all-natural sunscreen product for babies and children. We will support this product with awareness campaigns and sun health education to provide a whole solution to mothers wanting to protect their children with a safe, fully disclosed products.
Ever stop to think about the history of sunscreen? It was first developed in the late 1930′s to prevent sunburn and took a commercial foothold during World War II. It achieved the desired result for the next 50 or so years and many bad sunburns were prevented along the way. Good news.
Did you know that UVB rays are the rays responsible for giving you a sunburn? They penetrate into the upper layers of the skin which is enough to get things cooking. Good thing we have sunscreen, eh? Did you know that UVA rays penetrate into the deepest layers of the skin (subcutaneous)? These rays, although not responsible for causing sunburn, play a large role in causing skin cancer because they affect the DNA in the cells which ultimately leads to abnormal cellular replication. Not so good news. Fortunately, broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreens are available in the market today so we can protect against both types of UV rays and they damage they can cause.
Now the bad news: Consumers used sunscreen from the 1940′s until the 1990′s and thought they were adequately protecting themselves. The reality is they were, in most cases, only protected from UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburn) and not UVA rays (the ones that contribute most heavily to skin cancer). The result is people were staying out in the sun for longer periods thinking they were protected, but it was only partial protection. Think about the past 40 or 50 years of UVA exposure that went unchecked by all of us enjoying the outdoors. The result: Over one million NEW cases of skin cancer are being diagnosed in the U.S. annually. This is a rate higher than the rates of breast, lung, colon and prostate COMBINED! Skin cancer has become the most common type of cancer in the U.S. Looking back at the history and use patterns of sunscreen over the last 60 years, is it any wonder? Think about your age. Your time outdoors. Your sun exposure. Are you at risk? Probably so. Take the necessary precautions and get to the dermatologist and get checked. Your life might depend on it.
Question: How did we let this happen? Is anyone responsible? Or is it one of those things that just slipped through the cracks? Stay tuned…..