Wednesday, December 2, 2015

The mercury is rising and it is Summer Holidays.-Vitaderm Reflective Sun Barrier SPF 25+ and Vitaderm Reflective Sunscreen SPF 15+

The mercury is rising and it is Summer Holidays and we have to take care to prevent sun damage.-Vitaderm Reflective Sun Barrier SPF 25+





There are so many articles about the dangers of sun exposure and how to prevent and treat it, but it is something that I am very passionate about, so here we go again!

What causes skin cancer?
  • Sun tanning also darkens the colour of any scarring, even acne scars, making them more obvious.
  • The sun dries the skin out, resulting in dry, scaly patches appearing all over your body.
  • Extended exposure to the sun's ultraviolet  (UVA) rays is one of the risk factors associated with eye disorders such as cataracrs. Sunlight reflected from the surface of water or other reflective medium can cause conjunctivitis and keratitis.
  • Even a slight sunburn, can inflame your eyes, leaving it red and irritable.
  • Only one day of improper tanning will leave your freckles darker, more and more obvious.
  • All sun exposure accumulates over time and will sneak up on you later in life.  Bridget Bardot, famous actress and ‘sex’-kitten of the 60’s and 70’s, now refuses to leave her house and to be seen in public as  she looks quite awful due to years of sun- tanning, burning and blistering.


It is mainly the ultra violet rays, UVA and UVB which cause the damage. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, gradually destroying elasticity and causing premature ageing. UVB rays cause skin damage and can alter the structure of skin cells, and ultimately lead to possible skin cancer. UVC rays are the most dangerous but as they are blocked out by the ozone layer, they don’t reach the earth’s surface

A few people inherit a high-risk faulty gene, and some families tend to have large number of moles, which may increase the risk that these can become malignant.

Should one wear a sunscreen?
One should always wear a sunscreen when being outdoors, whether it is raining, snowing or shining, not only when tanning! However, be careful not to spend longer in the sun and so increasing the risk of burning.

“Studies are now confirming that sunscreens can protect against non-melanoma skin cancer, but keeping out of the sun completely is the best way to reduce risk”, says Dr Catherine Harwood, honorary consultant in dermatology at Barts and The London NHS Trust Centre for Cutaneous Research.  As this is not quite possible to always stay out of the sun, one should always protect oneself adequately.

Which sunscreen to use?
Sun protection creams/oils are rated according to their sun protection factor (SPF).  It refers to the amount of time a product increases your skin’s natural level of protection.  For example, SPF15 allows you to stay in the sun, without burning, 15 times longer than if you were not wearing any cream/oil, providing that you re-apply it often. However, SPF50+ sunscreen does not mean you can stay out of the sun for longer periods of time, without re-appying it often and you should also use sunscreen in conjunction with other sun protection measures - hats, sunglasses, clothing, shade.

Look at the ingredient in the sun cream.  Any word which end with –cinnamate or –salicytate protects against UVB only.  Avobenzone or Parsol 1789 protects against UVA only.  Oxybenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide protect against both. Please ensure that you use sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

A sunscreen labelled Broad Spectrum offers protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

Vitaderm is offering an extra-special discount on both the Reflective Sunscreen SPF 15+ and the Reflective Sun Barrier SPF 25+, for the month of December 2015

Vitaderm’s sunscreens are non-greasy, making them a popular choice with all.  A reflective sunscreen contains particles that reflect the sun’s rays. This allows the product developers to incorporate fewer chemicals to achieve the required SPF. 



Vitaderm’s sun screen and sun barrier creams contain:
Octyl methoxyciinamte; a FDA approved most popular chemical sunscreen world-wide for excellent UV absorptions capability with a good safety profile.
Bensophenone-3; becoming very popular as manufacturers become ome concerned with potential safety problems with more traditional sunscreen chemicals.
Titanium dioxide; physical sunscreen
Zinc PCA; physical sunscreen

Apply a thick layer 15 to 30 minutes before going into the sun to give the skin time to absorb it.  Reapply every 2 to 4 hours and after swimming or exercise.

One should always wear a sun protection on the face, neck and décolletage, as the glare of the sun that reflects from the dashboard of your car, water, sand and other surfaces, can burn your face without you even being aware thereof.

Sun beds.
The type of UV light used in sun beds can cause all types of skin cancer. 

People who use sun beds are three times more likely to develop melanoma of the eye than those who never use one.  The British Medical Association is now advising people not to use sun beds. It reports that the risk of developing cancer increases by up to 20% per decade of sun bed use before the age of 65.  Makers of sun beds may tell you they are safe, but there is definite evidence to the contrary.  Both fair and dark skins can get cancer. 

In one session of 15 to 30 minutes on a sun bed, you are exposed to the same amount of damaging UVA & B rays that you would have been exposed to, if you were in the sun for one whole day, according to the American Academy for Dermatology.

Other little devils….
Exposure to sun, damage and age the skin prematurely.  This has been proven via scientific studies numerous times.  Not only does it cause wrinkles, loss of elasticity and damage the skin ability to produce collagen and elastin, it also gives the skin a leather-like look and feel. Do you really want to look like tanned cowhide?

The sun bleach facial hair, and as your tan deepens, your facial hair becomes more obvious.

Sun tanning also darkens the colour of any scarring, even acne scars, making them more obvious.

The sun dries the skin out, resulting in dry, scaly patches appearing all over your body.

Extended exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays is one of the risk factors associated with eye disorders such as cataracts. Sunlight reflected from the surface of water or other reflective medium can cause conjunctivitis and keratitis.

Even a slight sunburn, can inflame your eyes, leaving it red and irritable.

Only one day of improper tanning will leave your freckles darker, more and more obvious.

All sun exposure accumulates over time and will sneak up on you later in life.  Bridget Bardot, famous actress and ‘sex’-kitten of the 60’s and 70’s, now refuses to leave her house and to be seen in public as  she looks quite awful due to years of sun- tanning, burning and blistering


Afterwards
Caring for sun-tanned or –burned skin is a must.  It not only calms and soothes, but it also nourishes, repairs and regenerates any skin damage.

Just fake it!
Fake tanning is so easy these days, with the self-tanning lotions being one of the most used products in beauty salons word wide.





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