Tag Archives: Prevention

03.20.09
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Would you? Could you…with Hippo Sweat?!

I want to know…Would you? Could you?….get better sun protection with hippo sweat?! If hippo sweat could be used to find an actual biological cure to one of the deadliest cancers, melanoma, would you? Could you? Seems far fetched, but ‘researchers have found that hippo sweat (actually an oily secretion) provides hippos with multiple types of protection: from the sun, disease and bugs.’ A professor, Christopher Viney from University of California has been researching hippo sweat since 2004!

‘Viney and his team found that the red-colored secretion acts as both a sunscreen and sunblock, with microscopic structures that scatter light, preventing it from burning the hippo’s skin.’

Nature is amazing isn’t it? Hippo’s are the ultimate in the world of chemical-free sun protection. Unlike our sunscreens that rely on chemicals to block out the uv rays–hippos have sweat that blocks the uv rays naturally!

Viney also found that ‘the sweat also deters bugs, and helps hippos keep wounds or scratches clean no matter how much mud or filth they’re exposed to. The researchers left the sweat stored in sealed containers for months, and it didn’t show any signs of microbial contamination.’

He has dreams of using his findings to create a four-in-one product that included sunscreen, sunblock, antiseptic, insect repellent.

Well, I have a hard enough time trying to get my girl’s to slather on regular  sunscreen. Could you just imagine asking your child to put on their hippo sweat? It probably would have to have a snazzier name…maybe “Sweat No More!” Or maybe just “H” because nobody really wants to remember that they are wearing hippo sweat. Plus it sounds kind of incognito and mysterious!

The ultimate mystery.(hee hee!)

On a more serious note–It is about time that we do more research on biology like this. Most animals have been around longer than humans have. They must hold the secret to life and we should be taking more advantage of that. Nature is simply amazing! It would be kind of cool to get a better sunscreen based on hippo sweat.

So tell me would you? Could you…with hippo sweat? I really love reading your thoughts so tell me what you think!

Source: Greener Design

03.20.09
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It’s Party Time!–Giveaway Ended

Ultimate Blog Party 2009

Hi! Welcome to the UV Skinz blog! I’m Kalisha, your host and resident blogger here at UV Skinz.  This is UV Skinz first time at a 5 Minutes For Mom Ultimate Blog Party and I am so excited to party it up with you today!! Take a look around…and read on for a Surprise Party Favor Giveaway!

With my new found sun savvy-ness I will be bringing you lots of great giveaways, sun protection information, my own personal adventures in the sun and new sun protection products that I come across.

UV Skinz was established after Rhonda Sparks, the founder and President, lost her husband to skin cancer when he was just 32 years old.  This sparked Rhonda’s passion to raise awareness and educate others about sun protection, but never losing sight of how valuable it is to PLAY and HAVE FUN outdoors!

I feel so lucky to be a part of a such a family-oriented company. I am a SAHM mom to two feisty and loving little girls; Journey-3yrs and Faith-2yrs. Living in So. California has us all spoiled because 80% of the time we are outside at the park, taking walks, or just exploring.  My daughter’s are bi-racial, but sun protection is crucial for everyone–no matter skin type or race.  I became a fan of UV Skinz after I had an opportunity to  review their swim shirts for my personal blog the Mommy Lounge last year. Journey and I both fell in love with the uv swim shirt (she wouldn’t take it off!) and the UV Skinz  mission to prevent skin cancer and get all kids covered.  That is how I came to blog for UV Skinz. I have enjoyed learning and sharing with you so far and I hope that you come back and visit again!

Here are a few ways you can stay connected to UV Skinz;

You can expect to receive newsletters from us about once a month and our goal is to bring you all the latest and greatest sun-safety information possible; whether that be in the form of the best sun screen lotion we’ve found on the market or what the latest medical statistics are saying about skin cancer. And we will always be sure to share with you about UV Skinz special offers or when we get new styles and items in.

  • Sign-up for our  RSS Feed
  • Follow UV Skinz on  Twitter (I will follow you back!) for some twitterific tweets!

I love hearing your comments, suggestions, questions, or expertise you have on sun protection and skin cancer prevention–so you can always email me at kalisha(at)uvskinz(dot)com

Thanks again for stopping by, but you shouldn’t leave before you’ve had the chance to enter into my Surprise Giveaway!………I have a UV Skinz party favor that three lucky winners can win!

Surprise!

hats1

Prize: 3 winners will be chosen–each will win a UV Skinz Sun Hat of their choice!

Here is how to enter:

(Only one entry per household please)

Entry #1

  • Visit UV Skinz About Us on the UV Skinz main website, then Leave a comment with one of the reasons why we come to this place every day and the philosophy that governs us—at UV Skinz
  • For example…Laughter heals!

Extra Entries (Entry 1 must be done first):

If you complete all 4 of the entries then only leave 4 separate comments–each stating the entry that you completed. That’s it! Good Luck!!

*I will be using a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. The winners will be emailed and also announced on here on Tuesday March 24, 2009.

* Contest ends at 11:59pm on Tuesday March 24,2009. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. (Good reason to subscribe in reader–so you don’t miss the chance to claim your prize!)

03.18.09
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Talking about Skin Cancer

Read this! I received this email update a few days ago;

In case you don’t watch the ABC-TV Show Grey’s Anatomy I found this
episode last week very telling.

In July, a magazine reported that the show’s higher ups were considering
killing off popular character Izzy Stevens played by Katherine Heigl
after she withdrew from Emmy contention because she didn’t feel she was
“given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination.”

Producer Shonda Rhimes and the writers were reportedly upset with her,
and a source told the press that producers were considering giving her a
brain tumor. It’s their way of screwing with her. She won’t know whether
she’s going to live or die..

Instead the show revealed that the character discovers it’s metastatic
melanoma and it’s spread to her brain. The interns working at hospital
then say “The girl’s pretty much toast, Survival rate is five percent,”

While this is just a TV Show of course it will immediate heighten
awareness as I am sure many fans had no idea what melanoma was before
the show and just how serious it is.

Strange how this is finally getting national attention .

Wow! I didn’t realize that shows could use death as a kind of stab at an actor or actress!! At least one good thing would come of it by raising awareness about sun protection and skin cancer. Skin cancer is 100% preventable and that is something we all should remember. I know I never wore sunscreen as a child. Only when we went swimming because I was told the sun would reflect the worst from the water. Crazy! Right?! So, needless to say every time I smell that sunscreen smell I think of the swimming pool!

Regardless of the reasons behind this decision, it creates a buzz about melanoma. Melanoma and sun protection should be talked about a lot more. Especially to our younger generations.  Now that Journey is three she is asserting her own independence by asking me the “why’s?” of everything with hopes of  changing my mind or just plain saying “No” she won’t do something I ask of her. (How I miss those baby days when she just complied because she didn’t know any better) So, it caught me by surprise a little bit (well, kind of!) when Journey told me she didn’t want to wear her sunscreen the other day.  She flat out said, “No, I don’t want that on me!”

“You have to wear it, it’s not a choice.”

“Whhhy?!

Since I didn’t really know how to explain it to her, I just told her straight and simple.

“Sunscreen protects us from the sun ray’s because they could give us cancer and we could die. So, it is very important we protect ourselves with sunscreen. Even if you are brown–you still wear sunscreen.” (We have already talked on the subject of death–I don’t want you to think that I would say it to her so harshly. I have explained to her that everything lives and dies–it’s the circle of life).

She accepted my answer and allowed me to put her sunscreen on. (Mission accomplished!)

I hope I went about it the right way…So, tell me how you explain sun protection to your kids and family. Do you talk with them about skin cancer? I really would love to hear all of your comments so don’t be shy!

Our giveaway ends today and I will announce the winner tomorrow! If you don’t win this one then come back on Friday for the start of the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom. We will be giving away a party favor to one winner! It’s a surprise too. So, be back her on Friday to join in on the party fun!

01.27.09
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How to safeguard yourself against malignant melanoma

How to safeguard yourself against malignant melanoma
By Samuel Broder

The term malignant melanoma and melanoma describe the most serious form of skin cancer, whose frequency is rising due to increasing sun exposures, especially when intermittent high-dose exposures (sunburns) come into play. Melanomas originate in melanocytes, which are specialized skin cells that make a protective brown pigment (melanin) to shield the skin against the harmful effects of the sun. Melanomas may arise in a mole (nevus). Individuals with a special skin condition called dysplastic nevi are at increased risk, as are people with a very large number (more than 50) of ‘ordinary’ moles.

full article HERE

12.03.08
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Melanoma cases likely to decline

Article found on stuff.co.nz:

*New Zealand could lose its unenviable reputation as the skin-cancer centre of the world thanks to climate change.*

Extreme levels of ultra-violet (UV) radiation caused by clear skies and bright sunshine kill between 250 and 300 Kiwis a year, giving New Zealand the highest death rate from melanoma in the world.

However, there may be cause for celebration, with some scientists believing that by the second half of this century the rate will be falling.

Scientists think that climate change will speed up a recovery of the ozone layer over much of the world and block out more of the damaging UV rays.

The maximum value of the UV index which at this time of year can reach “extreme” levels of 12 over the South Island and 13 further north would drop by two or more steps under such a scenario.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research scientist Greg Bodeker said the peak in the skin-cancer rate was expected about 2040.

Beyond that, increased ozone concentrations were likely to take New Zealand and the rate back to where it was in the 1950s or 60s.

“It’s a good story, absolutely. We are already seeing ozone recovery over New Zealand,” Bodeker said.

“Skin-cancer rates of today are caused by UV exposure 20 or 30 years ago.

“All the indications are that climate change will accele-rate the recovery of the ozone levels.”

Some people were concerned that if UV radiation levels fell lower than so far experienced that might lead to vitamin D deficiencies, but that seemed unlikely, he said.