GRAPE NEWS FOR SUN PROTECTION

Need a reason to enjoy a glass of wine this summer? Good news! A glass of wine can offer several benefits to your health.While we’ve heard of its effects on the heart and brain, we haven’t heard too much about its benefits for the skin. Published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a new study from The University of Barcelona and the Spanish National Research Council found that eating grapes and drinking wine might actually be able to protect the skin from sunburn and possibly skin cancer.

According to the research, a chemical found in grapes can protect skin from sunburn by protecting cells. Researchers discovered that the flavonoids found in grapes can stop the chemical reaction that kills cells and causes damage to the skin. As you know, such damage from the sun not only can cause skin cancer but also premature aging.

COSMETIC LASER MD toasts this excellent news! We hope you're enjoying your summer (and wearing your chemical-free sunscreen!).

F.D.A. Unveils New Rules About Sunscreen Claims



Terms like “sunblock,” “waterproof” and “sweatproof”
 will be banned under tougher standards.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

By GARDINER HARRIS

Published: June 14, 2011

WASHINGTON — After 33 years of consideration, the Food and Drug Administration took steps on Tuesday to sort out the confusing world of sunscreens, with new rules that specify which lotions provide the best protection against the sun and ending claims that they are truly waterproof.

The F.D.A. said sunscreens must protect equally against two kinds of the sun’s radiation, UVB and UVA, to earn the coveted designation of offering “broad spectrum” protection. UVB rays cause burning; UVA rays cause wrinkling; and both cause cancer.

The rules, which go into effect in a year, will also ban sunscreen manufacturers from claiming their products are waterproof or sweatproof because such claims are false. Instead, they will be allowed to claim in minutes the amount of time in which the product is water resistant, depending upon test results.

And only sunscreens that have a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 15 or higher will be allowed to maintain that they help prevent sunburn and reduce the risks of skin cancer and early skin aging.
The rules have been under consideration since 1978....CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE....

DEAR 16 YEAR OLD ME - A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE

With summer just around the corner, I wanted to send you this very important and moving video. Please watch the entire video and forward it to anyone that you truly care about.

SUNSCREEN - the most effective anti-aging ingredient

You’ve all heard me lecture about the importance of using proper sun protection. Nothing is more proven than proper protection from ultraviolet light.

Sunscreen is the most effective anti-aging ingredient on the market today.

An effective sunscreen is the best way to maintain a youthful appearance, prevent immunosuppression, and avoid skin cancer. Though it was once believed that UVB radiation was the only wavelength harmful to the skin, evidence now suggests that the UVA radiation is more significant regarding long-term effects on the skin. For full protection against the sun, it is essential to use a sunscreen that protects against a broad range of both UVA and UVB radiation. Unfortunately, 99.99% of the sunscreens available in drug stores and even department stores, are chemical based, meaning they only protect against a small portion of the sun’s damaging rays. Only titanium oxide and zinc oxide are proven to effectively block ALL of the UVA and UVB rays. The problem is, most of the chemical-free sunscreens are thick and white and gloppy – not the look you’re going for! After much trial and error, we have found a line of “melt into your skin” micronized particle zinc and titanium-based sunblocks. Please click here to see our full line of "cosmetically elegant" UVA and UVB sunscreens.

Sun damage is responsible for up to 90% of the visible signs of premature aging on the human face. In addition to wrinkling, visible blood vessels, skin roughness, pigmentation changes, and skin discoloration, the long-term consequences of photoaging include dramatic loss of skin elasticity and thinning of the skin. This is the result of ultraviolet radiation’s direct effect on the collagen matrix, which is the ‘scaffolding’ that gives firmness and strength to the skin. When exposed to ultraviolet radiation the collagen folds on itself, and as this happens, the skin thins, and wrinkles and furrows appear.

The Facts of Light:

• The skin is the largest organ in the human body.
• Normal, healthy skin acts as a barrier and protects us from injury. It regulates our temperature, receives sensory impulses and synthesizes Vitamin D.
• Not all skin is the same. Different skin types respond differently to sunlight. Know your skin type and determine your vulnerability.
• Sun damage to the skin is cumulative.
• A suntan is a sign of skin damage.
• Any level of tanning indicates photo-damage that can lead to wrinkling, aging and skin cancer.
• Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.
• Skin has a memory of all previous sun damage, resulting in greater susceptibility to skin cancer.
• More than 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers occur in fair skinned people who tend to burn. Dark skinned people, as well as fair skinned people, need to practice sun protection.
• Sun Protection needs to be a lifelong commitment.

SKIN CANCER ON A BED

What is our PROBLEM? Apparently we can’t get it through our heads that tanning isn’t a healthy habit. According to a survey from the American Academy of Dermatology, a significant percentage of young women went out of their way to use tanning beds or tan outdoors in the last year.
 With all the news coverage that’s been hitting us over the head lately, these results are pretty scary. According to a release on the study, “Thirty-two percent of respondents had used a tanning bed in the past year, and of those respondents, 25% used a tanning bed at least weekly, on average. An overwhelming majority (81%) of all respondents reported that they had tanned outdoors either frequently or occasionally in the past year.”

Deemed a known carcinogen by both the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization’s International Agency of Research on Cancer panel, ultraviolet light from tanning beds can increase risk of melanoma by up to 75 percent. With approximately 75 percent of skin cancer deaths coming from melanoma, this is serious business. So who is ignoring it?

According to the study, indoor tanning was twice as likely among young women ages 18 to 22 (40 percent of respondents) than it was for teens ages 14 to 17 (22 percent of respondents).

The importance of sun protection is one topic that has not been presented silently. The risks and real-life consequences of not using a daily UVA and UVB sunscreen are serious, and even though many doctors shout it from the rooftop, the warnings may still be falling on deaf ears.

A growing number of medical organizations want to make it harder—if not impossible—for teens to take trips to the tanning salon. Until the FDA is willing to ban tanning beds, the American Academy of Dermatology wants them to prohibit access to indoor tanning for minors, educate all indoor tanning customers about cancer risks and require informed consent, implement and enforce labeling recommendations outlined in the Tanning Accountability and Notification Act, and encourage enforcement of state regulations.

They also support the indoor tanning tax, which would be a signal from the federal government to young people that indoor tanning is dangerous and should be avoided. It has the potential to save patients from the many adverse effects of chronic ultraviolet light damage, including most importantly, melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.