Category: Cosmetic Health

The Positives Of Sunning-Lets Talk About The Sunny Side

With all of the talk about the dangers of spending too much time out in the sun I though it might be about time for someone to talk about the positives of sunning for a change.

The entire world is always talking and dwelling in the negative side of things, why do we do that all of the time? Just trying to be careful I guess.

The first and most obvious of the positives of sunning is only cosmetic in nature, in other words, how good you look. Getting a suntan helps people with lighter skin look healthier. (I am not talking about that woman who took a good thing to the extreme and who made the news in the past month or so, she doesn’t look healthy at all.)

There is a substance in the skin, called melanin, that gets activated any time we go out in the sun. The melanin is what makes your skin darker. It is your body’s own, natural protection against the sun’s rays.

The only problem with that is that people tend to not let the melanin do it’s job in the time frame it needs to do it. They want their sun tan all at once. If they would gradually let it build up over time then the dangers of the sun would not be a problem.

Of course, letting the skin do it’s job to protect each of us up here in the northern climates is a problem. The summers just are not long enough to allow this to happen.

You know what happens, right? You work all summer on your tan and in the fall when the sun is not as strong your tan begins to fade. It continues to fade to the point that you have to start all over again in the late spring, early summer when the temperatures allow us to be outside for extended periods of time.

Of course you can elect to go to a tanning salon to maintain your tan year round if you have the budget for it.

The next positive is that the sun helps the body make Vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for the health of your skin and bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium to keep bones and teeth, heart and other muscles strong and working properly.

The last of the positives of sunning I would like to discuss is the one that can help your newborn baby. Some doctors and nurses will tell you to let your newborn get some sunlight, indirectly of course, so they do not get jaundiced after they are born.

Jaundice occurs in the newborn because the new little body has to rid itself of an overabundance of bilirubin. Bilirubin is the byproduct of red blood cell breakdown. Babies have an overabundance of red blood cells in their bodies after the umbilical cord gets cut and their livers have to take over cleaning their blood.

The new little liver may take ten days to two weeks to become proficient at doing this itself so a little sunlight is needed to help breakdown the bilirubin.

Suns Aging Effects-Everyone Wants To Look Their Best

Everyone wants to look their best all the time but if you tend to spend too much time outside in the summertime without protection the suns aging effects will eventually be quite noticeable.

I think we have all see pictures of the “Sun Tan Lady”, you know, the lady who was chastised in the news for tanning too much and taking her child in the tanning bed with her?

Well, personally, I think she looks terrible and I think a lot of other people do, too. She looks like she is made of leather. She should be made the poster woman for the suns aging effects and what not to do.

We all know that the sun puts out two types of harmful rays, UVA and UVB. The UVA rays are the ones that will eventually age your skin well beyond it’s years by increasing your chance for those deep creases, wrinkles, and brown spots (also called “age spots”).

UVB rays are the ones that cause more immediate damage like sunburn. Repeated overexposure to the suns harmful rays can eventually lead to some form of skin cancer.

So, what to do? Avoidance is the best policy when it comes to sun exposure but we all know that is virtually impossible. We need the sun, in moderation, so our bodies can produce the Vitamin D that so many of us are deficient in.

If you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, in the winter time then you know what I am talking about. The sunlight also affects the serotonin levels in our brain and that’s why we get to feeling better and our moods lift when it is sunny out.

You best bet is to just limit your time in the sun and find some shade or use sunscreen with a high sun protection factor, at least 30 spf.

Read the label of your favorite sunscreen and see how often you should reapply it and follow the directions closely. Most people think they can put in on once when they first go out and then wonder why they got sunburned anyway.

They did not follow the directions, that’s why.

If you happen to be like me and tan easily under the sun, you still should wear sunscreen. Getting a tan is the body’s natural defense to skin damage but they say that a tan is still damage.

You possibly could get away with using a lower sun protection factor sunscreen but you should still reapply it as directed. And just because you tan easily doesn’t mean you can’t get sunburned if you spend too much time in the sun because you can.

A good skin care regimen is also essential to keeping your skin healthy as you age. Keeping your skin clean and using lotions or creams to give your skin some extra hydration are best. You do not need anything fancy or expensive to do this.

The suns aging effects do not have to be a big concern if you take care of your skin and use adequate protection when you venture out into the sunlight.

Sun Skin Damage -Sunscreen And Lots Of It

There has long been cautions and warnings about how prolonged exposure to the sun can cause sun skin damage. But who wants to stay inside on a nice, warm , sunny, summer day? Not too many!

So what is the answer? Sunscreen and lots of it.

Did you know, though, that most people don’t use sun screen correctly? They go out and they put it all over their bodies one time and think they will be protected all day.

Some sunscreens may be able to protect you for an extended period of time but you should always reapply it every few hours. Some wash off in the water if you add swimming to your summer day and some are affected by sweat.

Always read the label and follow the directions closely to avoid sun skin damage, especially when children are involved.

Let’s talk about the sun’s rays for a minute. There are two main types that affect your skin: UVA and UVB

UVA rays are the ones that can cause age spots and other skin discolorations. You may not even realize that this is skin damage, but it is, and was caused by the sun shining on unprotected skin when you were younger.

UVB rays are the ones that cause you to get a sunburn. If you notice that your skin is red and painful after a day out in the sun, you have damaged your skin. The redness will fade after a few days but you will notice that after a week or two your skin will begin to “peel”. This is usually not a painful process but you will not like the way it looks.

Always use sunscreen! Even on cloudy days the sun’s rays can affect your skin. They pass right through the clouds so do not be fooled into thinking that you are safe.

Too many sunburns and/or prolonged exposure to the sun without being protected can lead to a more serious condition like skin cancer and premature aging of the skin.

Sunscreen comes in several different levels and you can find them everywhere this time of year. The lowest protection factor is 4 on up to at least 50 maybe even higher. Sun tan oils are different and do not provide any protection from the suns rays.

Tanning booths or beds are no better than lying in the sun. In fact, they can be even more harmful and can cause eye damage, accelerated premature aging, immune system suppression and they can even cause allergic reactions as well as skin damage.

To avoid sun skin damage, you should stay out of the sun from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. These are the hours of the day are when the rays of the sun are most damaging. If you cannot avoid the sun at these times then you should at least try to limit the time that your skin is exposed by finding a nice shady spot to sit in and/or protecting yourself by wearing sunscreen.

Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief-Get It Fast

Few things are as painful as the searing pain associated with sciatica. If you suffer from this condition, all you really want is a surefire way to relieve sciatic nerve pain. The faster you can get relief, the better. Once you are stricken with the pain of a sciatic attack, you can’t do much of anything and are temporarily disabled. In fact, it’s quite common for people to freeze up in these situations, and they may completely incapable of moving. The following information will help you to understand the problem, and show you some ways to minimize the pain of sciatica.

Your sciatic nerve travels from the base of the skull down to your feet, and happens to be the longest nerve in your body. Because it is so long, it is frequently under pressure or gets otherwise irritated. At times this may only lead to tingling or throbbing, and you can go about your normal routine. However, when the pressure on the nerve becomes too great, it can overwhelm you with pain. If this is something you have experienced more than once or twice, then you need to make an appointment with your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.

Many people find relief from sciatic nerve pain by taking anti-inflammatory medication each day. This prevents any pressure on the nerve that may be caused by surrounding tissues being inflamed. You may wish to try an over-the-counter medication, or you can have your doctor prescribe something for you.

If you are having severe pain that is lasting for more than a day, then you can use this simple trick for easing the pain. Lie down with your back on a firm surface (the floor or a suitable mattress) and put a small pillow underneath your knees. This removes a great deal of pressure from the sciatic nerve, and allows the inflamed area to start healing. In fact, this position has long been the prescribed treatment for dealing with sciatica. However, it only brings temporary relief, but that’s better than nothing when trying to get rid of the pain.

Some people have found they can control their pain by using either cold or heat therapy. Which one is more effective will depend on what is causing the pain in the first place. Try one or the other and see how it feels, moving to the other method if needed.

Having proper posture will keep everything in your body aligned, and that can reduce the chances of unnecessary pressure being placed upon the nerve. Sit with your back straight, as though your head is being pulled straight up by an invisible string. When walking, be careful that you are not hunched over. If you have fallen into a habit of sloppy posture, you will be amazed at how much of an improvement this tip will make.

Trying to relieve sciatic nerve pain can take time, but keep trying. There is no reason that you should have to live with the pain. Once you find something that works you will feel a whole lot better.