Sun Protection – Get the facts!

The most effective sunscreens are those that protect from UVA as well as UVB rays. Arbonne’s sunscreens not only protect from UVB and UVA rays, they also contain vitamins A (retinyl plamitate) and Vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate). These are important anti-oxidants that act as scavengers for the sun-spawned free radicals that damage skin cells. Antioxidants also help prevent sunburn, redness and swelling. 
As an Arbonne consultant, part of your job is to educate your clients about the importance of proper sun protection. Here are some facts that will assist you in doing just that!

Definitions:

• UV  an abbreviation for ultraviolet, meaning the ultraviolet rays that are emitted by the sun.
   
• UVA  Represents the long-wavelength rays. They do not produce as serious sunburn as UVB, however, they penetrate more deeply into the dermis & exposure to them can lead to long range skin damage. UVA rays damage skin beneath the surface , contributing to Photo-aging, cancer and melanoma.
   
• UVB  These are the rays responsible for most sunburns. 
  PABA  Paraaminobenzoic Acid is a sunscreen that was once widely used, but has since been pulled from the market.  The main reason is due to the fact that it caused high levels of irritation and could actually increase sun sensitivity.
   
• Broad Spectrum protection is essential in any product containing a sunscreen.  This term, Broad Spectrum, refers to the fact that the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
   
• Both UVA and UVB rays can contribute to skin cancer, however, UVA is associated with aging and UVB associated with burning.
   
• There are different types of sunscreen ingredients.  There are synthetic ingredients such as Octyl Methocycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Octyl Salicylate and Oxbenzone.  These ingredients work by absorbing the UV rays.  Natural mineral sunscreens such as Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide work by reflecting the rays off the skin’s surface.

Summer, in all its blazing, sunny glory, is back!  Lots of long, happy days of swimming, sailing, sunbathing, and beach volleyball spread out before us, right?  Well, not quite --  and you probably know the catch:  Spending too much time in the sun is not only bad for you, but can, in fact, be deadly.
Statistics show that not nearly enough of us are heeding the warnings of health professionals:  This year, more than one million Americans will develop one of three forms of skin cancer.  And though it may seem that the sun is just another addition to the lengthening list of what’s bad for us, the news isn’t all grim.  It’s possible to have fun in the sun; we just have to be smart about it.
http://homearts.com/depts/health/07sunf1.htm


SIMPLE SUN SAFETY

• Avoid the sun between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M., when its rays are strongest.
   
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 that shields both UVA and UVB rays.
  Reapply sunscreen every two hours when outdoors, even on cloudy days.
   
• Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and pants.
   
• Wear a hat with a four-inch-wide brim and sunglasses, even when walking short distances.
   
• Stay in the shade whenever possible.
   
• Avoid reflective surfaces; they can reflect us to 85 percent of the sun’s damaging rays.
   
• Protect children by keeping them out of the sun, minimizing sun exposure, and applying sunscreens beginning at six months of age.

Source:  American Academy of Dermatology
http://homearts.com/depts/health/07sunb4.htm