Sun Science Lesson
Nice tan, but...
Sadly, there really is no safe way to tan.
When exposed to sunlight, ultraviolet light is penetrating the
epidermis causing the skin to react by producing melanin (aka your
suntan). It may make you look nice in the short term, but
over time it causes just the opposite:
wrinkling, age spots or worse.
To help you achieve your best skin, we’d like to give you a little information about the sun
and science. This is important information that could save your life, or at
the least keep you looking younger longer.
Ultra violet rays
The sunlight that reaches us is made up of two types of harmful rays: long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wave ultraviolet B (UVB). In short, UVA rays can age us and UVB rays can burn us. Overexposure to either can damage the skin. As the skin is the largest organ in the body, exposure to either can have significant impacts upon our health.UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, the skin’s thickest layer. Unprotected exposure can lead to premature skin aging and suppression of the immune system. UVB rays will usually burn the superficial layers of your skin (the epidermis). The intensity of UVB rays vary by season, location and time of day, with 10AM to 4PM being the peak hours.
Chemical vs. Physical:
The main difference between chemical and physical sunscreens are the ingredients. Chemical sunscreens use active ingredients designed to absorb and dissipate
UVA/UVB rays, while Physical Sunscreens use mineral active ingredients like Titanium Dioxide and
Zinc Oxide to scatter and reflect UVA/UVB rays.
Remember this – the classic sunscreens should be applied at least 30
minutes before sun exposure, while our mineral sunscreens are effective
right after application.
All of Coola's formulations, both classic and mineral, guarantee broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays!
What does SPF mean?
SPF stands for sun protection factor. Sunscreens are classified by an SPF number which refers to their ability to deflect UVB rays.
SPF rating is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to burn sunscreen-protected skin vs. unprotected skin. So if a person who might typically burn after 10 minutes in the sun puts on SPF 2, they have double that time before a sunburn, so 20 minutes. Skin protected with SPF 15 would take 15 times longer, or 150 minutes for a sunburn to occur.
Keep in mind though, the increase from 20 to 45 level SPF provides only 2.8% more UV protection.
Incentive to use your sunscreen...
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths each year.
1 in 5 Americans and 1 in 3 Caucasians will develop skin cancer over the course of a lifetime. And get this - more than 90% of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. A person's risk for skin cancer doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns. So USE sunscreen, it could literally save your lifeSun care tips
Exposure to the sun is inevitable. But you can take precautions and protect you and your loved ones from sun damage.
- Generously apply a water-resistant sunscreen with minimum SPF 15 and UVA/UVB broad-spectrum protection to any parts of your body that are exposed to the sun each day. Reapply every 2 hours if you're in direct sun. A sufficient amount for your entire body is 1 ounce, or about 2 tablespoons.
- Don't forget the lips, be sure to use a lip balm that's SPF 15 or higher.
- Remember the ears. Everyone forgets the ears.
- Use sunglasses, long sleeved shirt or pants and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Seek shade between 10AM and 4PM, when the sun is at it's strongest.
- Remember that near the water, sand and snow the sun's rays are amplified (Stronger).
- While sunlight may stimulate vitamin D production, that only takes 10 - 20 minutes, and there are safer ways to get Vitamin D through diet and supplements without exposing yourself to the sun.
- Sunscreens should only be used on babies over the age of 6 months, so it's best to keep the little ones out of the sun. One or more blistering sunburn as a child or teenager can more than double your risk of developing skin cancer as an adult
- Skin that has been burned should be kept out of direct sunlight for a minimum of 72 hours
- Never use tanning beds. Ever. The FDA has classified "tanning" as carcinogenic to humans.
- Apply sunscreen to your face year round, even when not in direct sunlight, or on cloudy days.
- Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
- See your physician every year for a professional skin exam. Early detection is best.
- Examine your skin, head-to-toe every month. Look for new or changing spots or moles.
Coola - sunscreen goes au natural
While most sunscreens contain an emulsifier (barrier) to keep chemical "actives" from penetrating the skin, it is usually made of yet MORE chemicals. Coola uses Hydrasia O - a natural safflower derivative that acts as a water soluble barrier; preventing actives from penetrating into the dermis, while allowing moisture in to hydrate the skin. This just patented plant technology is rich in moisturizing Vitamin E and enhances sun safety by time-releasing UVA and UVB broad-spectrum protecting active ingredients - resulting in 75% less actives! Coola is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic & does not contain Oxybenzone - an active ingredient in many sunscreens that has been linked to hormonal imbalance. Coola's Classic Sunscreens and Mineral Sunscreens are blended into luxurious, moisturizing bases which make up about 90% of the product, and 70% of this includes certified organic ingredients. Coola is nano particle free, and follows the recommendations of the CDC, FDA, American Cancer Society and the Skin Cancer Foundation. We carry Coola for our body line of sunscreens, and Dermalogica for the face (see next paragraph). However, Coola is mineral oil free so it will not cause breakouts if you do use it on your face.
What about my face?
Unlike a generic or body sunscreen product, professional sunscreen products
accommodate
the specific needs of the user, allowing them to apply sun protection
while actively treating skin issues including skin aging, oiliness and
sensitivity. Many chemical sunscreens can irritate genetically
sensitive, sensitized or recently resurfaced skin, making physical
sunscreens ideal for this skin type. Dermalogica's line of sunscreens
for the face, protect from not only UVA and UVB but also delivers
antioxidants to the dermis which fights the oxidative stress and
resulting skin damage stemming
from IR radiation, environmental pollution, UV, and
even visible light.
Recent studies concluded that people who regularly use sunscreen
regularly develop up to 24% less wrinkles later in life. That should
serve as a powerful motivator to develop good routine for sun
protection.
Schedule an appointment and one of our therapists will help you determine which product is right for your skin type.
After Sun Care
Finally, sun damage does not require a beach, a bikini, or a passport.
It can happen anywhere. Even though it may only happen in a matter of
minutes, sunburn is
the skin’s response to extreme UV exposure and indicates severe damage. A
good ER (environmental control) treatment should be used to calm
inflammation, cool down
the temperature, minimize oxidative damage, rehydrate the skin and
deliver antioxidants, which plays a role in post-sun repair, to the
skin. These treatments may contain antioxidant enzymes can
repair some of the UV damage and plant extracts can mimic enzymes to promote cellular repair, and stimulate collagen & elastin production. Light therapy can also be beneficial, however none of these treatments should excuse us from being vigilante in protecting our skin. We carry after sun repair
products from Coola & Dermalogica, so whatever your post-sun care needs remember -
we've got you covered.
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