Posts Tagged winter sun protection

Natural Ways to treat Sunburn

November 26, 2008 at 8:23 am · Filed under Prevention ·Tagged , , , ,

Whatever your plans are for this Thanksgiving remember to stay sun safe! If you plan to enjoy outdoor activities; whether in a warm and sunny place or enjoying the winter ski slopes, keep in mind that sunburn can still occur. Wearing the right clothing and always wearing the appropriate sunscreen are the first steps, but if you still happen to get a sunburn here are some natural ways to treat it.

1. Chamomile
You can apply bandages with chamomile infusion or essential oil. This plant helps our body to quickly regenerate its damaged cells. Not to mention its antiseptic properties. Chamomile protects the skin against infections and reduces the well known unpleasant sensation caused by sunburns.

2. Marigolds
Are very efficient for calming down scathing. Apply bandages with marigold infusion over th affected skin areas. In one day you will see how the skin starts to heal.

3. Aloe Vera
If you have this plant in the house it is great, for you can apply directly on your skin the juice obtained from squeezing one leaf. If you do not have the plant you can buy aloe gel which is useful against sunburns as well.

4. Strawberries
Besides the fact that they taste great, they are also good for the skin. Apply a mixture of strawberries and yoghurt on the affected skin areas and rinse after 15 minutes.

http://www.healblog.net/natural-treatment/natural-treatment-4-plants-to-treat-sunburn/

5. Baking Soda Compress
Dissolve baking soda in water, and make a compress using a clean cloth. Alternately, put 1/2 cup of baking soda into your tepid bathwater, then let the affected area air dry.

6. Cucumbers
Rub the sunburned area with fresh cucumber slices.

7. Lemon Water
Mix the juice of three lemons into two cups of cold water, and then sponge the mixture onto the sunburn.

8. Shower
Take a warm shower to draw out the heat of your sunburn. The warm water will increase circulation to the area while hydrating it, thereby speeding the healing process. Be sure to moisturize afterward as the water will dry your skin.

Have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!

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ABC’s of Skin Cancer

November 18, 2008 at 9:39 pm · Filed under Prevention ·Tagged , , , , ,

Can you believe that it is the middle of November?! Here in Southern California the weather has been unusually HOT and DRY! But I know the weather is taking a turn for winter in many other places. Along with the cold weather comes warmer clothes and layering. Sun protection and skin cancer detection is still very important even if most of it is covered during these colder months.

As part of the legacy of Darren and Darren Lee Farwell Foundation, UV Skinz wants to educate people on the dangers of sun damage and how to look for the warning signs of skin cancer. Skin cancer is 100% preventable if caught early! It is in the best interest of yourself and your family, especially children under 18 years, to check for irregular moles all over your body on a monthly basis.

Most people have moles, but if you ever see a change in the color or shape–that is when you should see your physician. There is a simply way to look for signs of skin cancer, it’s called the ABCD Rule:

A. Asymmetry-One half of the spot does not match the other half.

B. Border irregularity-Normal moles are round or oval.  The borders of a melanoma may be uneven or notched.

C. Color-Common moles are usually one color throughout.  Melanomas may have several colors or an irregular pattern of colors.

D. Diameter-Common moles are generally less than 1/4 inch in diameter (the diameter of a pencil eraser).  Melanomas may be 1/8 to 1/4 inch, but are often larger.

Unfortunately, my husband is set in his ways and still tans at the tanning salon, but I make it my duty to check the areas on his body that he can’t see (back, neck and shoulders) for any changes in his moles. There are easy steps you can take to prevent skin cancer. Always avoid direct sunlight, wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and wide-brimmed hats. You will have to reapply sunscreen every few hours, but if you are wearing your UV Skinz swim shirt (which by the way is not just for swimming) you will never have to worry about reapplying sunscreen!

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How to Protect Skin during the Winter

November 15, 2008 at 9:51 am · Filed under Prevention ·Tagged , , ,

The winter months can be especially damaging to the skin. The wind blows harder and colder, the temperature drops, and moisture becomes depleted in the skin causing skin dehydration, scaling, and flaking cracked areas. Areas such as the lips, elbows, knees, heels, and hands become particularly parched during this season. UVA rays in winter are as intense and cause as much damage as UVA rays in the summer months. Here are some tips on how to give your skin ultimate protection during the winter months.

10 Tips for Hands, Feet, Body, Face and Lips

  1. Keep Water Lukewarm, Not Hot

    Hot water robs skin of moisture, so it’s best to shower in lukewarm water. If you can’t bear this rule — I can’t — try to keep your warm showers short and try showering only once per day. This also means skipping the hot tubs in winter (another rule I simply cannot bear). The hot, hot temperature, combined with drying chemicals, is torture on skin.

  2. Moisturize After Showers or Handwashing

    Moisturizer is the key to soft, supple skin in winter. Apply product when skin is slightly damp. For best effect, pat skin dry instead of rubbing with your towel before application.

  3. Exfoliate on a Weekly or Semi-weekly Basis

    Moisturizer is much more effective on properly exfoliated skin. Use a scrub in the shower and exfoliate facial skin with a mild scrub made for the face.

    It’s best to scrub skin when it’s dry. Apply scrub to dry skin before you turn on the water (mix with lotion if it’s not moist enough). Massage the scrub in for a good five minutes for best results.

  4. Invest in a Humidifier

    Furnaces rob air of moisture, leaving very little humidity in the air. I once read that your skin needs more than 30 percent humidity to stay properly moisturized. A room heated by a furnace can have as little as 10 percent moisture. In the winter, consider sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom. Keep doors closed so the moist air doesn’t escape the room.

  5. Skip the Drying Soaps

    Stick with a creamy moisturizing cleanser that contains glycerin or petrolatum, such as Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash, or Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash (my current drugstore pick).

  6. Baby Your Hands & Feet

    Hands and feet can suffer terribly in winter. Put on moisturizer and gloves BEFORE you head outdoors, and consider lathering up your feet in thick moisturizer and sleeping in cotton socks at night.

    Extra tip: Cover feet in a thick moisturizer, wrap feet in Saran Wrap, then pull on a pair of socks for a couple hours. Try to sit or lie down while the moisturizer soaks in or risk sliding into a full split and pulling your groin muscles. The same treatment can be done on hands, except try plastic bags and keep hands in a pair of socks. A half-hour should do you.

  7. Don’t Forget Your Lips

    Licking your lips will not moisturize them and instead will help dry them out. Lips retain less moisture than other parts of the body, so they tend to dry out more quickly. A simple lip balm helps, as does my all-time favorite lip trick learned in high school from “Seventeen” magazine: moisturize your lips with Vaseline. Take a toothbrush and “brush” your lips in a circular motion. This will remove dead flakes and leave your lips soft and supple.

  8. Your Face Needs Extra Care in Winter

    Cold, winter wind can wreak havoc on skin. To keep your face supple in winter, apply moisturizer to your face before going out into the cold and cover your face with a scarf in harsh wind.

    If you have super, duper sensitive skin, consider avoiding rinsing your face with tap water, which can contain harsh minerals that are especially drying to the skin (Dr. Dennis Gross once told me New York water contains a lot of harsh minerals, while Seattle water, for example, does not. Go figure).

    Instead, do like the French and cleanse skin in winter with a cleaner that does not require rinsing, like Pond’s Cold Cream. You can also rinse with special water that contains selenium and chamomile.

  9. Consider Fish Oil Pills

    New studies show omega-3 fish oil pills may soothe super dry skin. Patients who took fish oils pills in a study reported in Allure magazine, saw significant results within a few weeks. “You can see, within six weeks, the skin, hair and nails improve markedly,” according to skin expert Dr. Andrew Weil in Allure.

  10. Wear your UV Skinz! 

           UV Skinz swim shirts always keep your skin protected with its chemical-free super soft material and  SPF 50+. Check out our Holiday Sale to get your loved one the perfect gift!!!

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Winter Sun Protection

October 23, 2008 at 11:19 am · Filed under Prevention ·Tagged , , , ,

As we transition from Fall to Winter, many people don’t realize that during these next few months of clouds, lower temperatures and possibly snow sun protection is still important. I grew up in Colorado, with hot summers and very cold and snowy winters. During those winter months I would never touch a drop of sun screen. I didn’t think that sun protection in general was very important, unless I was headed to the pool! Now I’ve learned that snow actually is a contributing factor to skin damage. The National Cancer Institute says that “snow reflects the sun like a mirror.” Fresh snow can reflect up to 95% of the sun’s rays.

The sun’s rays are also still coming through the clouds. That seems like a no brain-er, but in my naive days I would think that if it was cloudy then there was no need (again) for sunscreen. So not true! Skin damage is still occurring even if we don’t see or feel a sunburn.

I’m not trying to scare you from enjoying your winter games and sports. There are ways that we benefit from the sun. Being outside for at least 15 minutes a day is important for your body’s vitamin D production. Vitamin D helps to protect against osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer (breast, prostate, colon). Sunlight helps alleviate depression, insomnia, and over-active immune system. My husband always tells me that sunlight makes him energized, which helps your body stay active and healthy. And that reminds me of a lady on that show Wife Swap that said she didn’t need to eat because she stared at the sun for 10 minutes each morning! O.K. Some people enjoy the sun and may take it a little extreme, but the sun does produce happy feelings in us. The sun is just so amazing, but I don’t think I will be starring at it anytime soon and I don’t suggest you do either.

It’s healthy to get outside even in cold weather for at least 15-20 minutes without sunscreen, but if you are outside longer than 20 minutes it’s recommended that you apply sunscreen before you bundle up. Making sure to cover the bridge of the nose and face. That may be the only part of your body that you need to cover in sunscreen because you can wear UV Skinz long-sleeved swim shirts as apart of your winter layers!

Where I live in California, the mornings are gloomy and cold while the afternoon gets sunny. I dress my daughters in cotton pants, a long-sleeved UV Skinz swim shirt, with another short sleeved top over the swim shirt, and maybe a light sweater. That way, as our morning progresses at the park they can strip their layers all the way down to their swim shirt and still be protected with an SPF 50+. Just one less thing that I have to worry about and they can just play (in the sun or shade!).

I feel that I’m becoming a little more sun savvy each day. I guess making up for lost time because skin protection wasn’t important or even discussed with me when I was a child. Now we know that that is when the majority of skin damage occurs, between 0-18 years. So, even though these winter months may be gloomy and cold remember that sun protection is still important. I’m not an expert on skin care, but I am a Mother so that automatically makes me an expert! HA! Well, it’s added to my list of things to learn more about like; the names of the dinosaurs and how to pronounce them, how to cook tofu, how to sew a barbie dress and talk a two-year old out of a tantrum.

My escapades with dinosaurs and two year olds can be seen on my mommy blog, Mommy Lounge. I loved having the chance to experience UV Skinz swim shirts and that experience led me to write this review and now I’m here blogging to you.

I encourage you to add UV Skinz blog to your blogroll and check back to see what else I have to share with you!

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on proper skin protection during the winter or any questions you may have. I would love to hear how your family incorporates UV Skin swim shirts into your fall and winter months!

UV Skinz Bloggin’ Mama,
Kalisha

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