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: Sunscreen Application
I recently had a customer here in south Florida use SolarAegis in her hair while spending a day at the beach. She had gone swimming and when returning to her chair she noticed her hair was feeling dry and brittle. She was also concerned because she had recently had her hair colored and was worried about the sun bleaching her hair out. She decided to dump a glob of SolarAegis in her hand and run it thoroughly through her hair. Much to my surprise, she told me it made her hair feel soft and conditioned and it protected her hair coloring all day while at the beach. Imagine that!
We are always learning new things around here, but this one was a unique and interesting story. I’m now going to have to give this application a try and report back. If anyone else has had a similar experience, we would love to hear from you.
The American Cancer Society has posted a sun safety quiz. A fun way to brush up on your sun health facts. You can check it out here:
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!
We launched SolarAegis All-Natural Sunscreen into the market in January 2010. The goal for the first year was to get SolarAegis into a major, national retail chain and to launch our children’s product, Baby Elephant. Although I’ve been pleased with our overall progress the failure to complete these two key objectives was disappointing. Dealing with large corporations takes time and it would have been a tremendous accomplishment to get this done in the first year. We will continue our efforts in 2011 and think our chances for national market penetration will improve in year two. Baby Elephant continues to wait in the wings and was not launched primarily due to my waffling over minor details. This frustrated me because it’s not my typical M.O. and I plan to be more decisive on this line in 2011. I’m currently reviewing several strategies, with a couple of different entities, and will be moving on this product in Q1.
I felt good about the regional awareness SolarAegis attained during 2010. We are selling the product through several local businesses in Naples and I appreciate the support from the owners at Natures Garden, The Bike Route, Naples Soap Company and the staff at The Naples Botanical Garden. Sandy Feldblum has done a fabulous job repping the product through her beauty business and at a local market and seems to have a loyal following. Many thanks to these folks for your business in 2010. It’s much appreciated and we look forward to growing with you in 2011.
We were able to modestly expand our reach outside of southwest Florida with online sales through OverallBeauty.com and Upurea.com. We also did some business with the Myrtle Beach Soap Company in Myrtle Beach, SC. and Aesthe in Los Angeles. Our biggest surprise, however, was shipments into South Korea. It was exciting to have our first international sales and we appreciate the work of Coseco for the loyal following in South Korea. We continue to focus on penetrating the Brazilian market, with the help of Hague Technologies, in an effort to offset the seasonality of the business. Brazil is an exciting, developing economy with growing sun health awareness. Our ongoing challenge remains finalizing government approval so we can begin regular sales.
SolarAegis remains an infant company and the risks are still very high, but we look forward to a great 2011 and want to thank all of the customers that have been so supportive in our first year. See you in 2011!!
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!
We showcased SolarAegis at the Greg Norman Shark Shootout Golf Tournament in Naples, FL. back in December and a lady asked me if SolarAegis would burn her eyes. She went on to tell me how her sunscreen always runs into her eyes when she starts sweating and having to deal with the imminent sting and discomfort that soon follows.
My answer is that if you get anything in your eyes it has a tendency to burn, hurt or feel uncomfortable, so I never like to tell anyone that a dose of SolarAegis in the eyes is going to be a pleasant experience. I’ve actually rubbed it in my eyes, on purpose, to get first hand knowledge of how it feels. The advice is to avoid if you can. The good news, however, is that SolarAegis doesn’t feel like many of the chemical-based sunscreens which have UV filters, like avobenzone, which really sting in the eyes and even occasionally the skin. If you’re active, stay away from products with the chemical UV filters like avobenzone and choose a product with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, especially for application on the face.
I asked this nice lady if she wore a hat when she was outside and she exclaimed that she “always wears a hat outdoors”. I went on to ask her why she applied sunscreen above her eyes if she always wore a hat?? Her answer: “I don’t know, I never thought about it”. Obviously, if you have a hat with a brim covering your forehead, it’s not imperative to apply sunscreen above your eyes, but this exchange made me realize something…that people seem to have some strange habits when it comes to applying sunscreen. Some of these habits may be innocuous, but after a little research, it appears we all need a little primer in this department.
I took it to task and visited the American Academy of Dermatology website to delve into the recommended protocol. Here is what they say:
“Sunscreens should be applied to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes BEFORE going outdoors. When using sunscreen, be sure to apply it to all exposed areas and pay particular attention to the face, ears, hands, and arms. Coat the skin liberally and rub it in thoroughly — most people apply only 25 to 50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. One ounce, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered the amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body properly. Don’t forget that lips get sunburned, too, so apply a lip balm that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Sunscreens should be reapplied approximately every two hours or after swimming or perspiring heavily. Even so-called “water-resistant” sunscreens may lose their effectiveness after 40 minutes in the water. Sunscreens rub off as well as wash off, so if you’ve towel-dried, reapply sunscreen for continued protection.
Also, there are a number of combination cosmetic products, such as moisturizers that contain sunscreen, but it is important to remember that these products also need to be reapplied to achieve continued UV protection.”
A couple of other tricks I’ve learned over the years:
- I almost always have a hat on when outside so I typically do not apply sunscreen to my forehead where it could run into my eyes.
- Depending on my activity, I will apply a thicker layer of sunscreen to skin surfaces that are on a more direct angle with the sun’s rays.
- I assure I get adequate protection around my ears, including behind them. Remember, sun damage is cumulative so protecting even lesser exposed areas is important.
- I always wear sunglasses that block 99% of UVA/UVB rays.
- I apply sunscreen to my shoulders during the summer months in Florida. Although I wear a shirt all the time, UV can get through many fabrics, especially in geographies with intense sunlight and/or if there is a long exposure period during the middle of the day (my summer golf games are a good example).
Get outdoors. Have fun and keep yourself protected from the sun!