5 Myths About Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer

Sara spends much of her summer near the beach. She lives in a mild climate and is very athletic. She loves to swim, bike and play games outdoors. Sara knows the dangers of the sun and so she opts for tanning salons to get her 'golden glow' while being sure to apply sunscreen every day before heading out.

Joseph lives in a cooler, northern climate. The summers can be very humid, but most of the year is mild or even below freezing during the harshest winter months. The beach has never been much of a draw for him and he spends most of his time doing indoor activities or at his job. Joseph doesn't worry about sunscreen and only had one sunburn that he can remember and that was when he was a child.

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Which of these examples do you most associate yourself with? Did you know that Sara and Joseph are both at risk of developing skin cancer? We have all heard the warnings about the dangers of sun exposure. We know all about the importance of wearing sunscreen and hats. But are YOU protected from skin cancer? Consider these myths and facts:

MYTH ONE: Tanning Beds are Safer than the Sun

20 minutes of exposure in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to four hours in the sun. Although sun beds use UVA rather than UVB rays, 'The Skin Cancer Answer' states that UV-A penetrates more deeply into the skin than UV-B, can cause skin cancer, and may suppress the immune system.

MYTH TWO: Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is Protection

85 percent of UV rays can even make it through on cloudy days. That means you are equally at risk in the car, walking the dog or letting your children out to play at any time of year - even when you're not at the beach. Of course, you are usually less attired at the beach and so covering up is recommended even when wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off with sweat and water and should always be applied every two hours or after getting wet.

MYTH THREE: Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will Protect You

Sadly, skin cancer can take 20 or more years to develop. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that most people receive about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of melanoma later in life. Taking better care now will reduce the risk, but not eliminate the damage already done.

MYTH FOUR: Having a Tan Means You're More Protected

Dark skinned individuals are less likely to develop cancer, but tanned skin is actually damaged skin. Repeated tanning injures the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.

MYTH FIVE: You Can't get Burned on Overcast Days

Just because the sun is hidden by some cloud does not mean that you don't need protection from the harmful effects of the suns rays.

So how do you plan to protect your family this year? Some suggestions are to limit exposure to the sun - especially for infants. Examine your skin for early signs of damage. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply it at least 30 minutes before exposure and every two hours after that. Teach your children good safety habits and be sure you and they are covered up when outdoors. Have fun and be safe.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

How and Why Skin Ages

For as long as one can remember, it has always been the pursuit of many to keep their youthful looks, even at great costs. And in this day and age, the trend has not changed. Now more than ever, methods, techniques and treatments meant to retain that ?youthful glow? proliferate everywhere. As it is the most telltale sign of getting old, anti-aging goods and services account for billions of dollars spent in the hopes of delaying the onset of skin aging.

Unfortunately, many have been and are misinformed on how and why the skin ages misleading these same people into buying products that only offer short-lived, if not unsuccessful and disappointing, results.

It is therefore only smart to know just how the skin develops over time. In understanding the hows and whys of aging skin, the correct habits and treatments can then be developed to retain as much one?s youthful looks for as long a time as possible.

First off, there are two types of aging for the skin. There is the intrinsic (internal) aging, which is caused by factors within one?s own body, such as genes and body condition; and extrinsic (external) aging, which is caused by factors outside one?s body, such as sunlight and lifestyle.

Intrinsic (internal) aging

Aging is a natural process and our genes determine how one goes through that process. For some, aging can set on earlier or later than most. On average, signs of skin aging begin to appear in the mid-20s.

As one grows older, the skin?s ability to snap back to shape (elasticity) starts to decrease. That is because skin cells do not regenerate as fast as they used to - resulting to tougher, older skin. Although internal aging begins in one?s 20s, the typical signs of wrinkles and sagging skin do not appear for until about a couple of decades more.

Other signs that indicate skin aging are thinning, loss of firmness, dryness, and reduction of sweat production that prevents proper cooling of the body.

Extrinsic (external) aging

Factors outside one?s own genes accelerate skin aging. Lifestyles and habits carry more impact of why aging skin occurs more prematurely in one?s lifetime.

Sun exposure

With the present condition our atmosphere is in, harmful rays from the sun pass through in ever increasing amounts causing damage to the skin and hampering its ability to repair itself. Over a period of time, a few minutes a day of exposure to ultraviolet rays results in changes to the skin (freckles, age spots, rough skin). An even graver symptom would be the onset of skin cancer. Dermatologists call this effect photo aging in reference to the sun?s rays that reduce the production of collagen responsible for maintaining the skin?s elasticity.

One?s susceptibility to photo aging is determined by the amount of pigment in the skin as well as the frequency and duration one spends under the sun?s rays. Given these factors, fair-skinned individuals and those who spend long periods under the sun stand to have more pronounced effects of photo aging compared to those who are darker-skinned and spend more time in the shade.

Facial Exercises

Ironically, the routine once prescribed to prevent facial wrinkles is actually one of the causes of that very thing one aims to avoid. Facial exercises cause the muscles on the face to fold and crease the skin. As the skin?s elasticity decreases, the skin starts to take on the creases more permanently causing deep wrinkles on the face.

Smoking

Cigarette smoking does not only cause harm to the body internally but externally as well. This is most pronounced with the condition of the skin. Nicotine intake causes changes in the body that speeds up the break down of skin cells, among other harmful effects.

It is a common finding that individuals who?ve been smokers for at least a decade look comparably older than those who do not smoke. In addition to wrinkles, yellowish discoloration of the skin has been observed in smokers. However, the good news is that those who have given up smoking show improvements in their skin condition shortly after quitting.

The signs of skin aging will inevitably show up on everyone at one point or the other. All sorts of products and treatments can be availed of but it is only meant to delay the outward symptoms.

Perhaps the best solution is to understand the aging process and not view it as a disease, but rather see it as another stage of development the body undergoes - a solution that requires no prescription and is free of charge.

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Hair Care Home Remedies

Save money and give yourself a break from the chemicals found in most hair care products by using the following natural home remedies.

Tame your frizzy hair by rubbing coconut oil into your hands and applying sparingly onto your hair. You don't want to overdo it - too much will make your hair look greasy. Shampooing your hair less frequently also helps with the frizzies. Excess shampooing strips natural oils from the hair.

Rinse your hair with one tablespoon baking soda mixed with one cup of water to get rid of shampoo build-up and styling residues.

Rinsing your hair with one juiced lemon and one cup of water is said to bring life and shine back to dull hair.

1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar mixed with two cups of water will give your hair shine and bounce.

Add essential oil of ylang ylang to your shampoo, conditioner and styling agents as a hair rejuvenator.

Ylang ylang and rosemary essential oils are also believed to stimulate hair growth.

Drinking plenty of water and eating plenty of raw fruits and vegetables and getting plenty of rest is probably the best way to achieving healthy hair.

What goes into your body is reflective on the outside including your hair.

Elizabeth Kiely is the owner of EK Shower Caps: http://www.EKLBC.com

Aloe Vera Skin Care

1. Silky Aloe Vera Skin Care Body Lotion
1 cup Aloe Vera gel 1-teaspoon lanolin 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil 1/3-cup coconut oil 1/2 to 3/4 ounce beeswax 3/4 cup almond oil 1 ? teaspoons essential oil Use a blender (or food processor) to mix the Aloe Vera gel, lanolin, & vitamin E oil. Microwave coconut oil & beeswax in a glass container on high 30 seconds, and stir. Repeat heating in 10-second blocks until fully melted. Stir in almond oil, reheating if necessary. Run blender or processor at low to medium speed, and then pour in melted oils in thin stream. As the oil is blended in, the cream will turn white and blender's motor will start to grind. As soon as melted oils are added and you've achieved mayonnaise-like consistency, stop the blender; add essential oil and pulse-blend. Do not over blend. Transfer cream to glass jars while still warm - the lotion will thicken quickly. This lotion really absorbs well and leaves no residue on skin. This recipe makes two cups.

2. Oats & Aloe Vera Exfoliant for your skin
1 tablespoon finely ground oats 1 tablespoon finely ground almonds 1-teaspoon honey 1-tablespoon Aloe Vera gel Combine ingredients in a bowl and stir until well mixed. Apply to face and neck skin after cleansing and before toner is applied, using gentle circular motions. Rinse well with warm water and gently pat excess moisture from face. Follow with facial mask.

3. Aloe Vera Face Mask for Healing and Soothing
(Great for sensitive and dry skin, especially after sun bathing) Ingredients: -3 TBS pure and certified organic aloe Vera juice -1 drop Helycrisum essential oil -1 drop Rose essential oil Combine all ingredients and apply mixture evenly on face and neck. Leave it on for at least 7 minutes and rinse with warm water. Pat dry, and apply the following healing and soothing aromatic blend, prepared in advance in a 10-ml bottle filled with vegetable oil: -1 drop Neroli essential oil -3 drops Lavender essential oil

4. Aloe Vera Skin Toner
Soak a cotton pad with pure aloe Vera gel and use it to freshen your skin and remove excess oil. Use daily, following with moisturizer. This is especially good for normal and oily skin and is a great overall toner. Dilute the gel 50/50 with spring water if you have sensitive skin. You can also use the juice of a leaf from your aloe plant. Cut off the amount you are going to use, and put the remainder of the leaf in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The leaf will keep for about 3 days.

5. Floral Aloe Vera Gel
1/2 cup Aloe Vera gel (available in most natural food stores) 1 tbsp. dried lavender flowers or 3 tbsp. fresh. 1 tbsp. dried calendula flowers or 3 tbsp. fresh. 1. Mix together the aloe Vera gel with the lavender and Calendula flowers in an ovenproof glass container, then heat the container gently by sitting it in a hot water bath on the stovetop. 2. Let the mixture cool completely, and then pour it through a clean, fine strainer (to remove all of the solids) into a clean container.

6. Exfoliating Foot Mask
1/2-cup oatmeal 1/2-cup cornmeal 1/2-cup coarse salt 1/2 cup unscented body lotion 4 tablespoons Aloe Vera gel in a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Slide feet into mixture and rub, beginning at toes, working up to heel and ankle. Do one foot at a time, rinsing in a separate bowl of warm water.

7. Exfoliating Aloe Vera Face Mask
4 Tbsp. Pumpkin puree 1 Tbsp. Honey 4 tsp. Cornmeal 2 tsp. Aloe Vera gel 2 tsp. Pineapple, diced 1 tsp. Green tea 1/2 tsp. Sunflower oil 6 drops frankincense essential oil (optional) 4 drops cinnamon extract (optional) Directions Steep green tea in boiling water. Set aside to cool. In blender or food processor puree pineapple and place in medium-sized mixing bowl. Add pumpkin, honey and aloe. Mix well. Stir in sunflower oil, green tea and cornmeal. Discard the remaining green tea. Add frankincense and cinnamon. Stir. Apply small amount of pumpkin mask to cheeks, forehead, chin and neck. Massage in circular motions gently buffing skin. Repeat. Apply more product as needed. Leave a thin layer of pumpkin mask on face and neck for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with tepid or cool water and pat dry with soft towel. Follow with appropriate moisturizer. Store remaining mask covered in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Benefits: Pumpkin enzymes dissolve dead skin cells while the cornmeal sweeps them clean. Honey has antimicrobial properties as well as moisturizes and softens. The result is a beautiful glowing complexion. Use this mask as often as you like.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the most common illnesses and health problems.

Make An Easy Lotion For Your Skin

Years ago I found out how incredible easy it is to make lotion. It is so inexpensive and organic that I wondered why anyone would even consider spending a dime on the chemical rich lotions on the market.

Besides I had an added incentive, I have eczema, so I am extremely sensitive to what I put on my skin. Making my own lotion was a great alternative for me.

To begin, for a lotion base all you need is water, oil and an emulsifier. An emulsifier is simply an ingredient that blends the water and oil together. Here is the base that I begin with to make my lotion:

? cup distilled water
? cup oil (I usually use olive, almond, macadamia nut, or grape seed)
1 TBS liquid lecithin

You can experiment from here by adding essential oils, combining other oils; you can steep beneficial herbs into your water before you add your oil, etc?

Here is a nice winter lotion to get you started:

? cup distilled water
? cup olive oil
1 TBS lecithin
6-8 drops of geranium oil
2-4 drops Myrrh oil
400 IU Vitamin E oil (1-2 open capsules)

Geranium oil is good for supporting balance and rejuvenating dry skin conditions and for wrinkled and matured skin. Myrrh is a gentle oil that is effective in replenishing moisture.

Vitamin E oil is an excellent antioxidant and helps to protect the skin as well as a nice preservative.

Blend all ingredients in the blender either on whip or cream. You will have a nice creamy firm lotion. Add more water to make a lighter lotion. Store in the refrigerator in hot climates or store in a cool place. Shake well before use.

Enjoy your lotion. Hopefully this little recipe will inspire you to become creative!

About The Author

Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home. Now she offers this information in an e-book entitled Wrap Yourself Slim: Body Wrap Exposed. Monthly newsletter is also available at her web site. for more information go to http://www.wrapyourselfslim.com

links@wrapyourselfslim.com

Makeup Tips for Busy Professional Women

In today?s busy world many women are finding it hard, to have the time to look their best, but they must still look professional and make-up does make a big difference. But, how you can find the time to apply your makeup, cook breakfast, send your husband off to work, get the kids off to school and drop some off at daycare. This is not an easy feat for most women. But, I believe this makeup application tip will aid you in getting yourself ready and still be able to handle what ever is on your plate for the day.

First, a beauty makeup tip would be to purchase these items, a good moisturizer, and an easy to apply foundation, eye shadow, eye concealer, blush, and mascara. That?s it. Do not go over board on your beauty routine during the times you have to rush off to work.

Now, for the quick makeup application tip. First, if you can do without foundation, skip it. Do not forget the moisturizer; your skin needs the extra moisture. If you cannot do without the foundation, the quickest way to apply the foundation is to dot your forehead, chin, nose and cheeks. Now, with a sponge or a tad damp cloth smooth the foundation until it is blended completely on your face. Pay close to attention to your hairline, chin and jaw line. Applying the foundation will take the longest. Always remember to smooth upward, when you rub downward, you are only helping those wrinkles find their way.

The next beauty makeup tip is to use only one color eye shadow. You are not trying to win a beauty contest or become the next diva. Remember you desire to look your best in the shortest amount of time. The best eye makeup tip is to check and see if you have dark circles, they do appear from time to time and then you must apply an eye concealer, if not skip this step. Only use it when you have to, this will save you plenty of time and could be the best beauty makeup tip of all for those of us in a hurry.

Next, for your eye makeup tip, apply a small amount of eye shadow on the eyelid only, use the eye shadow as an eyeliner, and run the applicator under your bottom eyelashes. Add just a bit of mascara to your eyelashes. There the eyes are finished.

The next beauty makeup tip is to apply just a bit of blush on your cheekbones and brush toward your ears. Apply a tad of lipstick and you are out the door and ready for anything.

If you use these makeup application tips every day when you are in a hurry you should be able to completely apply all the makeup in about 5 minutes. Now that is one great beauty makeup tip that every women on the go will be happy to know about.

Natalie Aranda writes about beauty, makeup & skin care. In today?s busy world many women are finding it hard, to have the time to look their best, but they must still look professional and make-up does make a big difference. But, how you can find the time to apply your makeup, cook breakfast, send your husband off to work, get the kids off to school and drop some off at daycare. Beauty makeup tips would be to purchase these items, a good moisturizer, and an easy to apply foundation, eye shadow, eye concealer, blush, and mascara.

3 Easy Ways to Treat Body Acne!

Are you suffering from Body acne? or Zits below the neckline? Don?t worry. You are not alone! Lot?s of teen get body acne. It is common in the winter months, when you are wearing piles of heavy clothing.

Sweat can clog skin pores and lead to breakouts all over. Other things that can cause body acne are tight fitting clothing ( It traps sweat against the skin, leading to clogged pores and blemishes) stress and hormones. Body acne commonly pops up on the chest and back.

? To zap body acne and prevent it from coming back, you can wash your body daily with a salicylic acid based cleanser. Look for this ingredient on product labels.

? Shower daily and be sure to shower as soon as possible anytime you have been sweating ? such as after playing sports, working outside or just being in the sun. After your shower, you can follow up by a body moisturizer that contains Alfa Hydroxy acid. This will exfoliate skin and help prevent breakouts, without drying skin out.

? At Nighttime you can treat body acne just like facial acne, by applying an acne zapping gel or cream at the effected parts.

? If your body acne is particularly bad and wont respond to this treatment after about a month, you will probably need to see a dermatologist.

Venkata Ramana is a Health Enthusiast. Visit his Acne and Depression websites and gain maximum Information to stay fit and healthy.