When the temperatures drop, it’s easy to let down your guard and forget about sun safety. It may not be warm in the winter, but sun damage is still in the cards.

Despite the cold weather and overcast, melanoma risk is still high in the winter, especially among those who spend a lot of time outside. Cancer doesn’t hibernate just because it’s cold outside. The sun still emits UV rays, which are the main cause of melanoma. Even on cloudy days, you should be equipped with a defense against UV rays. Learn why you should protect yourself from sun damage this winter season.

While everyone under the sky is at risk, winter sports enthusiasts are particularly so. High altitudes, paired with UV rays being reflected by the snow, put skiers and snowboarders at an increased risk of sun damage, and even cancer. UV radiation exposure jumps nearly 5 percent with each rise of 1,000 feet above sea level. This means that at 9,000-10,000 feet, UV radiation is up to 45 percent more intense than it is at sea level. Additionally, snow reflects nearly 80 percent of the UV light emitted by the sun, ultimately compacting sun exposure. Even when it is cloudy, the sun is harmful, because up to 80 percent of the sun’s dangerous UV rays can penetrate cloud cover.

For winter sports enthusiasts at high altitudes, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed skin, making sure to get all the nooks and crannies. Reapply every two hours. For others, a moisturizer with a SPF of 15 or higher should be enough to protect your radiant skin. Use a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher and keep it in your pocket as you go about your day or hit the slopes.

If you are trying to maintain your summer tan throughout the cold months by regularly visiting the tanning salon, reconsider this habit. Recent studies show that using tanning beds increases the risk of skin cancer by 800 percent. Regardless of what tanning salons boast about the safety of their beds, don’t fall for it. Instead, save time, money and your healthy complexion by nabbing a tinted moisturizer for your face and body, like Ilia Beauty’s Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, which is made with organic ingredients, such as white tea, rosemary extracts and aloe, and is vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free.

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A lack of natural light in your life can be disastrous. Here are some reasons to get outside, even when it’s cold.

For the past two days, the winter wind has been howling outside my door. This is not a metaphor. My home is tucked up against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and when the wind comes zooming down over the mountains, there’s only a wide open field between it and my front door. It sounds like a hurricane and always brings a chill.

Needless to say, my motivation to get outside in the natural light has been slim to none. But when I spend too many consecutive days holed up inside, I start to feel a very special type of crazy. Although we’re scared of what excessive sun exposure can do to our skin, natural light is pretty important to our health. When we don’t get enough, bad things can happen.

If the howling wind (or snow, ice, and freezing rain) has been keeping you indoors lately, here are nine compelling reasons to get outside in the natural light. Even if it’s only for a minute or two.

Natural Light: 9 Reasons Your Life Needs More Of It

1. Cancer Prevention – Let’s start with the jaw-dropper. That’s right, all of this time we’ve been thinking the sun = cancer when in fact regular exposure to natural light can actually help prevent this disease. In 2012, “a groundbreaking new meta-analysis on the sunlight – vitamin D connection, published in the journal Anticancer Research and based on data from over 100 countries, found ‘a strong inverse correlations with solar UVB for 15 types of cancer,’ with weaker, though still significant evidence for the protective role of sunlight in 9 other cancers,” reports GreenMedInfo. (Note: prolonged, unprotected exposure to sunlight is STILL correlated with skin cancer, however).

2. Healthier Skin – If you suffer from certain skin conditions, more exposure to natural light could be the key to gaining some relief. In one study, an outdoor four-week sunbathing therapy was shown to promote significant clearance of psoriasis symptoms in 84 percent of subjects.

3. Improved Mental Health – Natural light “…tends to elevate people’s mood, and there’s usually more light available outside than in. Physical activity has been shown to help people relax and cheer up, so if being outside replaces inactive pursuits with active ones, it might also mean more smiles,” reports the Harvard Health Letter. “One solid study found that sunlight actually increases levels of a natural antidepressant in the brain. On sunny days, the brain produces more of the mood-lifting chemical serotonin than on darker days,” writes Dr. Michael Murray for Care2.com.

4. Stronger Bones – “In building bone, calcium has an indispensable assistant: vitamin D. This vitamin helps the body absorb calcium, and some researchers think that increasing vitamin D can help prevent osteoporosis,” reports the Harvard Medical School.

5. Better Concentration – A recent study found an association between the amount of natural light exposure and the severity of ADHD symptoms in some children. Researchers found that “sunny” regions with high solar intensity, such as the U.S. states of California, Arizona, and Colorado, and countries like Spain and Mexico have lower prevalence of ADHD. The authors speculate that this may be related to sunlight’s effects on our biological clock and sleep patterns.

6. Sharper Vision – While you should never look directly at the sun, and always wear sunglasses in extremely bright situations (the beach, or a sunny winter day), some research suggests that natural light is a great optometrist. Scientists have found a correlation between lack of sun exposure and nearsightedness–the more time spent outdoors, the less likely children were to develop poor eyesight.

7. Faster Healing – Some research shows that the sun plays a key role in recovery from injury or illness. “People recovering from spinal surgery experienced less pain and stress and took fewer pain medications when they were exposed to natural light. An older study showed that the view out the window (trees vs. a brick wall) helped recovery in the hospital,” reports the Harvard Health Letter.

8. Sounder Sleep – Our bodies take cues from the natural environment. The amount of natural light we’re exposed to during the day helps tell our internal clock when it’s time to rest. If you’re having trouble sleeping, the answer could be to spend more time outdoors on sunny days.

9. Healthier Weight – If the sun is shining, we’re more likely to get up from the couch and move around outdoors. But the connection between natural light and a healthy weight goes even deeper. Sunlight is known to encourage production of vitamin D and serotonin, both of which play a role in weight management.

How To Safely Reap The Benefits Of Natural Light

The key to enjoying the benefits of natural light is to be careful “A small amount of sun exposure can help your body manufacture its own vitamin D — about five to 30 minutes of sunlight between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. twice a week to your face, arms, legs, or back without sunscreen will enable you to make enough of the vitamin. People with fair skin that burns easily should protect themselves from skin cancer by limiting sun exposure to 10 minutes or less,” explains the Harvard Medical School. Food and sun exposure should suffice, but if not, some experts advise getting 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily from a supplement.

Related on Ecosalon

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10 Benefits Of Sunshine You May Not Know

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Images: geralt, giuliamar, marcygallery

The post 9 Reasons Natural Light is so Important for Your Body (and Spirit) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Worried about what the summer sun is doing to your skin? This skin cancer-detecting smart phone app may be able to help.

Confession: I’m bad about protecting my epidermis from the sun. Even though I know all of the scary statistics and correlations between sun exposure and skin cancer, I often find myself outdoors without a hat or sunscreen. Which is all fine and good until something weird pops up.

If you’ve ever found a mole or strange patch of skin, it probably only took a single Google search for your mind to think skin cancer. Now, a new smart phone app called SkinVision makes it possible to do some analysis on your own before shelling out for an expensive visit to the dermatologist.

The smart phone app, which was recently nominated for an Index Award in the body category, allows users to analyze their skin lesions by taking a picture on their smartphone. “SkinVision technology uses a proprietary mathematical algorithm to calculate the fractal dimension of skin lesions and surrounding skin tissue and builds a structural map that reveals the different growth patterns of the tissues involved,” explains the app’s website. “By processing this map, SkinVision is able to see if the mole has an abnormal development and to alert the user if a medical visit is required.”

Any dermatologist will tell you that  moles or lesions must be actively monitored. While most moles are harmless, the sudden appearance of a mole, or change in a mole’s color or shape can indicate risk for skin cancer. Prevention through behavior change and early detection are key to reducing this risk, both things that are enabled by SkinVision.

The app is available for both Android and iOS, and comes in a free and paid version. The free version provides educational material on skin cancer or skin conditions, as well as UV information based on a user’s location, so it’s easier to know when your skin needs to be protected. Only with the paid version of SkinVision can users have their moles analyzed via a smartphone photo.

Still, $2.99 seems a small price to pay for the chance to catch skin cancer before it starts.

Images: SkinVision

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Not all sunscreens are created equal.

Every summer for the past decade, the media has issued staunch advisories reminding consumers to wear sunscreen. But this year, their tone has changed. Studies are showing that not only are many sunscreens filled with potentially harmful chemicals, but also that sunscreen wearers can actually be more susceptible to dangerous skin cancer strains like melanoma. Too much time in the sun can increase the risk of damage, but too little can lead to vitamin D deficiencies. What gives? This week’s Behind The Label attempts to explain the current debate around sunscreen, just in time for Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

The Good

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than two million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, a scary statistic that doctors and dermatologists say can be prevented through regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Broad-spectrum sunscreens are formulated to block two kinds of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun: UVA rays, which are associated with premature aging and skin damage, and UVB rays, which are linked with sunburns. The SPF level of a sunscreen specifies its level of protection against UVB: an SPF of 15 filters out about 93 percent of incoming UVB rays, while an SPF of 50 keeps out approximately 98 percent. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, most SPF 15 sunscreens do a sufficient job of protecting against UVB rays, but the added protection provided by sunscreens over SPF 50 is negligible.

It’s UVA rays that are trickier to understand and protect against. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays, damaging skin cells in the basal layer of the epidermis where most skin cancers occur. Sunscreens marked “broad spectrum”, “multi spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” usually contain UVA-blocking ingredients like stabilized avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.

And now, those sunscreens will be easier to decipher thanks to a set of new regulations passed by the Food and Drug Administration last December. The new regulations introduce restrictions on using the terms “broad spectrum,” “waterproof,” and “sweatproof,” and it requires that any sunscreen under SPF 15 be labeled with a warning that reads. “Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.” 

The Bad

Despite better labeling standards, the Environmental Working Group’s 2013 Guide to Safer Sunscreens, released earlier this year, cautions consumers against taking manufacturer claims at face value. The annual review found “only minimal improvements” in products on the shelves and concludes that “many sunscreens available on the U.S. market do not filter sun-damaging rays safely and effectively.”

The guide reports that melanoma rates have tripled over the past 35 years, despite the fact that Americans seem to be more aware of the sun’s dangers. The EWG believes that one reason for this paradox may be misleading sunscreen marketing – “hype that causes people to believe, wrongly, that their products are blocking harmful rays.”

While the FDA’s new regulations may help to mitigate the hype, the EWG points out that the FDA’s criteria are weak compared to European Union standards. “Half of the U.S. sunscreens that meet the FDA rules would not make it to store shelves in Europe,” states the report.

Then, there’s the recent obsession with high SPFs, which can lead consumers to believe that they can stay in the sun longer than usual. But while a high SPF sunscreen can effectively block against UVB rays, they do nothing for skin-damaging, cancer-causing UVA rays. The European Union already levies a cap on SPF claims at 50+, and the FDA is considering a proposal to do the same.

And finally, there is the preponderance of potentially harmful chemicals present in conventional sunscreens. A form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate (or retinol) is present in 20 percent of sport sunscreens and has been linked to the acceleration of skin tumors and lesions when exposed to the sun, according to the EWG. Oxybenzone, found in 80 percent of chemical sunscreens, is a suspected hormone disruptor.

The Skin Cancer Foundation maintains that both retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone are safe and effective when used as directed, and that claims otherwise are based on “questionable science that is not properly reviewed by experts in the field of photo medicine.”

So What Now?

Look for broad-spectrum mineral sunscreens.

One thing that the Environmental Working Group and Skin Cancer Foundation can agree on is the continued need to include sunscreen as part of a comprehensive sun safety plan. But not all sunscreens are created equal. U.S. consumers have the choice between chemical sunscreens, which penetrate the skin and may contain hormone disruptors, and mineral sunscreens, which often contain micronized particles of zinc or titanium, which are suspected to be toxic if absorbed. While each option has its chemical downside, the EWG recommends broad-spectrum mineral sunscreens as the safest option, since they don’t appear to penetrate the skin, are stable in sunlight, and offer superior UVA protection. Check out EcoSalon’s list of Eco-Beauty Approved Sun Care Products for our recommendations, or the EWG’s 2013 Guide to Safer Sunscreens report for a full list of the 180 products that met its criteria this year.

Stock up on European formulations.

Unlike the United States, the European Union requires that all sunscreens offer UVA protection that is at least a third as potent as its SPF – meaning that if a sunscreen is SPF 30, its UVA protection must be at least 10. Europe allows manufacturers to use seven chemicals specifically designed to filter UVA rays; the U.S., in comparison, has only approved three. According to the EWG, three chemicals – Tinosorb S, Tinsorb M, and Mexoryl SX – are effective in blocking against UVA rays, but their use in America has been held up by delayed FDA approvals.

Apply enough.

Make sure that you’re applying at least one ounce (two tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body, a half hour before going into the sun. Reapply every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

Dress appropriately.

That means dark clothing, a broad rimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Some performance activewear lines also include sun protection, such as prAna.

Avoid sunlight during peak hours.

Seek shade between the sun’s peak hours, generally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sun exposure during this time can be particularly harmful.

Get a free skin cancer screening.

The Skin Cancer Foundation sponsors the annual Road to Healthy Skin Tour each May at Rite Aid Pharmacy locations across America. For this year’s dates, visit skincancer.org.

Images: Robert S. Donovan, nemuneko.jc 

The post Behind The Label: The Safe Sunscreen Debate appeared first on EcoSalon.

Knowledge bomb: the sun may actually help prevent skin cancer.

Sun exposure may be one of the most misunderstood myths of all time, but not without good reason. It is marketed as a danger, not far from drunk driving, running with a knife, or unprotected sex – you’d be a fool not to protect yourself, and the consequences could be dramatic (read: cancer). However, there is more to sunlight’s affect on your body than meets the eye, and prescribing to mass marketing campaigns for sunscreens may do more harm than good.

The hullabaloo is well deserved. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the U.S. More than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year and it is estimated that the most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma, will account for 76,600 cases in 2013. And with UV radiation linked to skin cancer, it’s no wonder people are skirting the sun.

But the silver lining is this: proper exposure to the sun is the number one way can quickly and effectively ensure we are producing enough vitamin D to support our body’s systems. There are a limited number of food sources that provide vitamin D, and these include fatty fish, eggs, milk, and supplements. These food sources are incomplete, as we derive 90 percent of vitamin D from the sun.

Despite the sun’s association with skin cancer, according to studies published by the British Journal of Cancer and Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers found that higher vitamin D levels actually improve survival for skin cancer patients. An Italian study found that melanoma patients with intermittent exposure to the sun prior to diagnosis were associated with improved survival in the long-term.

Vitamin D is also extremely healing for other purposes and is necessary for the proper absorption, utilization and preservation of calcium in the body and bones. A vitamin D deficiency, which is prevalent in three-quarters of U.S. teens and adults, can lead to bone loss, osteoporosis, diabetes, depression, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. It is especially essential in preventing and fighting all kinds of cancer and it has been estimated that higher levels of it could prevent some 30 percent of worldwide cancer deaths each year. Women with light skin color can cut their risk of developing breast cancer in half with sun exposure.

So how much sunlight should you get? To maximize vitamin D production, expose your face, hands, back, and however much skin as possible, to the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for between 10 and 20 minutes. Lighter skin requires less time than darker skin. If you can’t get under the sun, consider a supplement, but it is not the dosage but your blood level of vitamin D that matters. The optimal value is 50-70 nanograms per millimeter (ng/ml), but be sure to consult a doctor to measure and determine your personal level.

Keep in mind that excessive supplementation of vitamin D can be harmful, whereas your body knows to how control vitamin D production that is incited via sun exposure. If you are planning on staying out in the sun longer than a half hour, avoid applying toxin-laden sunscreens and embrace green alternatives.

Photo Credit: Vincent Boiteau

The post The Truth About Sun Exposure and Your Health appeared first on EcoSalon.

It took me years to realize that not only were sunglasses necessary to do the basic job of keeping the sun out of my eyes, they were also meant to protect the fine skin around my eyes.

Now, with sun damage lines grooved deep into the corners of my eyes, I wish I’d always worn sunglasses while out in the sun and thrown all care away for sunglass lines. According to All About Vision, an eye care journalism site, the UV Index developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) has made many Americans more aware of the risks of sunburn and skin cancer from the ultraviolet radiation, but when it comes to eye protection are we just not listening?

FYI, extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays has been linked to eye damage, including cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae, pterygia and photokeratitis that can cause temporary vision loss.

Thanks to a slough of really hip sunglasses out there, you can protect your eyes while still looking hip and yes, even sustainably so.

Here are four lines I love and seven more from Eco-Chick Starre Vartan on MNN:

iwood

Made in the U.S. from FSC certified, reclaimed exotic woods, these glasses are feather light and offer 100 percent UVA/UVB protection.

icu

Made from recycled plastic and metal (and bamboo), this sunglass line (and this particular style) is a favorite with Oprah.

Moonwoods

Made conscientiously without harsh chemicals out of mill ends that would otherwise be discarded from a small (but growing) company based in Portland, Oregon.

eco

Utilizing recycled plastic and metal, eco plants a tree for each frame sold. A sunglass line doing double duty makes us smile.

Image: orangeacid

The post Screw the Tan Lines, Time for Sunglasses appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s medical news comes with a heaping side order of mixed messages. Tanning is bad! (But you already knew that.) Sunscreen is also bad! There’s a lot of conflicting medical advice out there about sun exposure. My advice? PANIC.

Medicine and health writers make a living from informing readers about the innocuous, daily habits that are killing you right now. It’s their bread and butter. So it’s important to take alarmist headlines with a grain of salt. But not too much salt, because you’re already eating too much and it’s slowly killing your sodium-bloated body. You’ll know it’s working when you’re afraid of everything.

Proponents for increased Vitamin D intake like Dr. Mark Hyman of The Huffington Post claim that Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to “cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression – and multiple sclerosis.” The human body naturally produces Vitamin D during sunlight exposure, so those of us who slather on the sunscreen religiously are missing out, especially because the only food sources that provide Vitamin D are herring and cod liver oil. Eating herring is (probably) worse than skin cancer or rickets.

For those of you who live in places where sunning yourself outside isn’t possible about eight months out of the year (hello, Minnesota readers!), you might be tempted to build up your Vitamin D levels by visiting a tanning salon. You’ll also build up your melanoma levels, unfortunately; the American Association of Cancer Research links indoor tanning with a “74-percent higher risk of skin cancer.” Thanks for playing!

There’s no need to despair just yet, however: NYU dermatology professor Dr. Darrell Rigel claims many studies show that elevated levels of Vitamin D don’t make a difference. So stay in. Or go out. Or go out, but only swathed in white cotton and SPF 45. Or rub yourself down with cod liver oil and go tanning. Just stop getting your medical advice from the Internet, okay?

Image: Evil Erin

The post Things That Will Probably Kill You, Vol. 3 appeared first on EcoSalon.