Beauty Home

Natural aromatherapy

Alternative medicine



Repelling the Sunshine Killer


A Protective Cover for Your Skin, with Sun Block

UV rays from the sun are extremely damaging. They accelerate aging in the skin and cause it to lose its natural whiteness. For this reason, dermatologists recommend daily usage of anti-UV ray skincare products, to prevent skin damage caused by UV rays. In other words, to maintain a healthy and radiant complexion, sun protection must be considered.UV Rays: The Sunshine Killer

UV rays are all around us. Even if you do not step out of your house, your skin will still be subjected to damage caused by UV rays from the sun. A dermatological report from USApointed out that the damage UV rays cause to the skin is accumulative. For sceptics, just look at the vast difference between the skin on your inner arm and outer arm. This is the evidence of solar-induced damage.

UV rays can be divided into three types, according to their wavelengths. There are UV-C (200-280nm), UV-B (280-320nm) and UV-A (320-400nm). The shorter the wavelength, the stronger the impact on the skin. Fortunately, the shortest UVC is already absorbed by the ozone layer before it can reach the earth surface. However, both UVB and UVA can reach to the ground level to inflict direct damage on the skin.

UVA can penetrate the dermis layer of the skin to damage the elastic fibre and collagen fibre, making skin lose its elasticity. At the same time, it darkens the epidermis layer, inflicting the greatest damage on skin. Unstoppable by umbrellas and indoor protection, its effects rage unbridled even on cloudy days.

UVB is the main culprit for those unsightly spots. It stimulates the epidermis, activates the self-protecting mechanism, accelerates melanin formation, darkens the skin and causes a surge of wrinkles.

The latest scientific research has proven that the skin cells will suffer irreparable damage when exposed with no protection to the sun, even if it is only for a day. Furthermore, 90% of skin problems are caused by UV rays.

All-Pervading UV Rays

To resist the damage caused by UV rays, it is vital to first develop a correct understanding. Many think that umbrellas and hats can easily replace sunblock products in preventing UV rays. This could not be further from the truth. Umbrellas, hats or long-sleeved shirts can only block the sunlight; they are unable to keep out UV rays. This is the case even at seaside and beaches.

To step up on sun protection, try to avoid exposure to the sun between 11amand 3pm, for this is when UV rays are the strongest and most damaging. However, sun protection should not be carried out only when there is intense sunlight, as UV rays are all-pervading, regardless of seasons, weather or location (indoors and outdoors). UVA can penetrate deep into the dermis layer even if UVB is blocked by the clouds. So do not be deceived and think that UV rays are absent during cloudy days, as this would lead to negligence in preventing the damage caused by UV rays.

SPFand PA

Among the various sunblock products that we have come across, SPF is a phrase that springs up often. This Sun Protection Factor actually refers to the time phase for the skin to resist UV rays. The higher the SPF, the longer the time frame for sun protection, thus the more suitable it is for long-duration outdoor use.

By and large, UVB causes damage and redness to the skin due to sun exposure and most SPF products are designed to resist UVB, so as to prevent skin damage under the sun. On the other hand, UVA is the culprit that causes tanning and spots and is controlled using products with PA indices, which are divided into three ranks based on their sun prevention effects. PA+indicates effective, PA++indicates very effective and PA+++indicates extremely effective.

Choosing the Right Sun Block

There is a wide range of sun block products in the market, presenting more choices than the consumers can handle. We recommend that you refer to the criteria below for choosing a good sun block.

1. Functions: Good sunblock products should possess sun protection, skincare and safety functions.

a) Sun Protection: Prevent tanning and damage due to sun exposure

b) Skincare: Anti-oxidant, free radicals scavenger, no irritation

c) Safety: Non-allergic, non-carcinogenic

2. Safety: Generally, these are the mechanisms used in sunblock products in the market:

a) UV Rays Absorbents: Sun protection by the application of chemicals, has irritation and safety

concerns. Hence most of the ingredients are strictly controlled. Be cautious when choosing such

sunblocks. If they contain Benzophenone-3 and Benzophenone-4, they are more dangerous.

Specifically, they should not contain Octyl Dimethyl PABAas research has verified that this substance

carries carcinogenic effects.

b) UV Rays Blockers: Sun protection by the application of physics, safe but not easy to produce, will

coagulate. The safest and most effective blockers are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.

3. Ingredients: Good sunblock products should contain anti-oxidants and free radical eliminators. If

they carry multiple nourishing ingredients, these would just go to waste. The addition of fruit acid into

sunblock products would offset the original effects and achieve results to the contrary. This is not

what an ideal sunblock should be.

Nur Syahid, a Natural Aromatherapist, specializes in Bio-Tech Aromatherapy including oxygen therapy, ozone therapy, health aromatherapy. Comments, Share and more info E-mail to : Healthybelair@yahoo.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Fresh looks for GIs' wives
San Antonio Express
Herlinda Bourassa (right), Quest College Beauty Health and Wellness director, greets Joan Cadena, whose husband is being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center. Jennifer Hart (right) works on Alisha Stanley's nails at the Military Wives Makeover Day ...



Designer Diane Von Furstenberg Insists on Healthy Beauty on Runways This Year
Daily Glow
Many times, Fashion Week runways have showed the world anything but images of healthy beauty. Instead, stories of very underweight and even underage models have been common. But that's about to change. According the International Business Times, ...

and more »


Plain Dealer

Health and beauty website YouBeauty offers tips based on science
Plain Dealer
By Evelyn Theiss, The Plain Dealer Jennifer RoizenJennifer Roizen does research to confirm that the science behind stories on the You Beauty checks out. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When you're in your 20s or early 30s, the topic of staying healthy into late ...



Beauty Breakthroughs From the American Academy of Dermatology
MarketWatch (press release)
The Academy recommends that patients choose an appropriate medical doctor who is certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties to ensure their health and safety during and after cosmetic procedures. Board-certified dermatologists have the ...

and more »


Trying to build beauty brand? Find a USP
TwoCircles.net
The Indian health and wellness market is estimated to be growing at the rate of over 25 percent per year and this is mainly because of the growing disposal income and changing lifestyle. Some feel beauty product manufacturers need a strong research and ...



Proactive Investors USA & Canada

Sino Payments' merger partner signs US$1.5 mln Chinese contract
Proactive Investors USA & Canada
The contract is with Wincor Nixdorf and is for the supply of helpdesk, hardware and sofware services to more than 1100 stores for the world's number 1 health and beauty retailer, the company said. It comes after Sino and TAP signed a merger agreement ...
Sino Payments Merger Partner TAP Signs New Large Contract With Wincor Nixdorf ...MarketWatch (press release)

all 11 news articles »


Beauty queen to use pedal power for heart charity
This Is Wiltshire
By Emma Dunn ยป A BEAUTY queen is using pedal power to help raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. Emily Cooper, 24, who is Miss Swindon Galaxy, is raising funds for the charity as part of a campaign being run by Nuffield Health Fitness and ...

and more »


Today's beauty standards unhealthy
The Observer (blog)
"Most of the cosmetics are made from chemical compounds, which are harmful to women's health like non-chemical tanning under UV lights causes cancer. They give only short term beauty", he says. Obsession about image and looks has driven many women to ...



Telegraph.co.uk

Santorum is Crowned Mr. Missouri in Republican 'Beauty Contest'
Patch.com
If Tuesday's presidential primary was nothing but a Republican beauty contest, then Rick Santorum was crowned Mr. Missouri and Mr. Congeniality. Santorum cruised to an easy 30-percentage point win over Mitt Romney, and received more than half the ...
Polls open until 7 pm for Missouri's 'beauty contest' todaySTLtoday.com
AP News in Brief at 11:58 pm ESTNewsday
Santorum wins Minnesota GOP caucuses and Missouri 'beauty contest' _ ...Newser
Reuters -Washington Post (blog) -Tucson Citizen
all 7,230 news articles »


28% of Brits Don't Believe in 'Beauty Sleep' : Dreams Beds
SourceWire (press release)
According to research by Dreams Beds, 28% of Britons admit to sacrificing sleep in favour of their beauty regime. Yet folk-lore, beauty experts and doctors all agree that sleep is nature's most powerful health & beauty 'product'.


Google News

Beauty home | site map | Massage oils | Essential Oils | Privacy and FAQ | Alternative medicine Courses
Massage oils 365 © 2011 Massage and Beauty