Beach Butter

Archive for October, 2009

The question about whether any sort of sun tan is safe is one that’s asked constantly and brings a different answer depending on who you ask.

Recently U.S. and British researchers reviewed published studies and noticed that both tans and skin cancer start with changes to the DNA that comes from ultraviolet light. “The signals in the cells that induce sun tanning appear to be DNA damage,” said Dorothy Bennett, a cell biologist at St. George’s University of London. She insists that anything that causes mutations in the cells will increase your risk of cancer. The link between skin cancer and tans that come from the sun or tanning booths is well documented, but the new study presents the idea that even a little bit of exposure of either kind can be dangerous.

The World Health Organization estimates that 60,000 people die each year from exposure to too much ultraviolet light. According to the information provided on the site, “A large number of studies indicate that the risk of malignant melanoma correlates with genetic and personal characteristics, and a person’s UV exposure behaviour.”

Beyond the skin cancer risk, exposure to the sun speeds up aging, cataracts and other eye problems, and may even reduce the effectiveness of the immune system.

Here are some surprising things you might want to know about sun tanning:

- Your tan is your body’s defense against further UV damage.

- The protection of sunscreens depends more than anything on applying them correctly.

- A deep tan only provides an estimated SPF of 4.

- UV exposure is cumulative over a day.

- UV radiation can’t be felt; a hazy sky or water can enhance your exposure.

But don’t we need some sun exposure?

The sun brings us light, heat and UV radiation, which aren’t all bad. UVB rays from the sun help our bodies convert precursor chemicals into vitamin D – giving us about 90% of what we need. Deficiencies of vitamin D are very common, and without enough of this essential nutrient, you’re at risk for developing many serious diseases including osteoporosis and some cancers, infectious disease and heart disease.

“Sun is crucial to your overall physical and mental well-being,” says Dr. Michael F. Holick, author of The UV Advantage, and professor of Medicine, Dermatology, Physiology and Biophysics at Boston University Medical Center. Holick is the expert who uncovered evidence that vitamin D is produced by sun exposure and is necessary to say healthy.

So what to do? Too much sun exposure increases your skin cancer risk, too little puts you at risk for not having the vitamin D your body needs.

Here’s the way to strike a balance:

- Get natural sunlight in the off peak hours – early morning or later in the afternoon. Be sure to apply (and re-apply) any sunscreen you use when you’re out in the sun during peak hours – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

- Avoid tanning beds and the risks of UV exposure (and DNA damage), especially important for younger women.

- Get that golden, sun tan glow from sunless tanning products that are safe to use (they don’t enter the body) so long as you follow the package directions.

As far back as recorded history man has had this unusual, special and reverent respect for the environment, especially the sun. This can be seen in primitive societies where people even worshipped it because doing so could warm their souls and also gave them a full harvest. During modern times, people revere it because it makes them feel better. It also provides needed energy and is important for mental and physical operations.

However, what is undeniably obvious with society today is the love for sun tanning. Although this kind of activity hasn’t always been historically popular, it has constantly been a very common practice, even amongst people of different cultures. If you’re curious about the history of sun tanning, read on and learn how people started this kind of obsession with golden brown skin.



It’s All About The Skin

So, what exactly is it about having bronzed skin that pushes you and many other people to sit under the sun for long hours? Both women and men have been on the pursuit for darker skin for years now; however, the days of this well loved activity actually go back further in time than anyone probably realized.

It is definite that civilization today is not the first to take advantage of the rays that the sun gives off, nor is it the first to present a love of showing off golden-brown skin.

Worshipping the sun has been a practice ever since the time of the Sumerians, Romans and Greeks. Although it could be quite arguable and hard to pin point which of them were the ones who started this fad and when it really started, most books that you read would tell you just the same.

The Sun God And His So-Called Wonders

It was believed that the Roman Mythology’s god of the sun is Helios, which is where “heliotherapy” was coined. This activity is a therapeutic exposure to the sun and a term that is widely used today. Ancient civilization used to engage in tanning because they believed it made them more attractive. It’s also said that people who engaged in it felt healthier than before. Hence, they praised the sun because it has the ability to “cure” various illnesses at that time.

It’s A Cycle

The popularity of tanning is considered to be a cycle. There was a period in time in which having bronze skin was not a status symbol. The popularity of having pale looking skin hit the market for some time, but, just like other trends, having tanned skin came back and remains until now.

The Downfall Of Sunbathing

The point in time when having brown skin had a decline is when having a paler skin became a status symbol. This is because most royal blood in various civilizations avoided the sun and enjoyed having paler skin. Having colored skin on the other hand became a status that was associated with slaves or other lower class people. Hence, as the 10th century came, people, especially women, went to extremes just to whiten their skin.

A Brand New Perspective

At the turn of the 20th century societal preferences changed once more; all thanks to the French people. A lot of credit goes to the popular Coco Chanel, who introduced sun tanning to modern society back in the 1920s. She was on vacation when she got tanned accidentally. Being a trend setter and naturally beautiful, many people loved the new look that she sported.

Lifestyle and fashion were also changing during this time. People were learning to love spending time outdoors. Fashion trends were also beginning to be more daring as more skin showed and figures were adorned. Hence, tanning became a popular way of admiring women’s figures. It also became a way of improving ones profile especially when wearing skimpy clothes.

The trend continued on until sun tanning oils came out in the 1940s. Consumers loved the product and became even more of a hit when advertisements that featured tanned women wearing two-piece bathing suits were set up almost everywhere.

We have become a nation of sun worshipers. The golden tan is akin to the national symbol of beauty, and some will do anything to attain it. The sun is very dangerous to your skins health, sure it may feel nice to be warm under the sun. However in actual fact it can be very damaging to your skin and dangerous to your health.

Sun tans are still popular, even though the sun causes damage to your skin. The trick is to tan safely, protecting your skin as much as possible whilst still working on your tan.

When its summer its such a nice feeling, I do not think very many people like the winter. In the summer we do not have to wear the thick clothes, and we can stay outside for longer! We can even have barbeques outside.

The best way to protect your skin from the sun is to use a suntan lotion, but have you ever actually tried to buy one? It can be so confusing! What is a SPF? And what is a UV? There are so many different terms which all add to our confusion.

A natural tan happens because your skin absorbs the UV radiation given off by the sun, this radiation passes through your skin and damages it. Melanin is produced by melanocytes in the skin which makes the skin darken. Almost everybody associates a tan with being healthy, but in actual fact the exact opposite is true. A tan occurs because your skin is already damaged.

The number of UV rays that reach the earth changes each and every day, if you have noticed on the weather report, they will often give a UV index. This shows how many UV rays are reaching the earth at any given time.

UV is invisible, but it is always present. Even during cloudy, overcast days there is still UV light around. Ultraviolet light can be split into two categories, UVA and UVB, both are actually dangerous. Sometimes Ultraviolet light is used to treat certain medical conditions.

Ok so how do you interpret the UV index? Well it is on a scale of 10. The higher the number, the more rays that will reach earth. The higher the index, the less time it will take to burn. And, therefore, the higher the number, the easier it is for you to receive a bad skin burn which can lead to precancerous and canserous growths (especially nodular melanoma – the deadliest of all the skin cancer types with a mortality rate of over 95%).

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) November 23, 2008 – Looking our best is more than a trend as more and more people have taken a greater interest in their personal health appearance. No longer just a matter for individual longevity, but as a way to giving yourself an edge in an ever increasingly competitive market place whether it’s to get the job in the first place or jump ahead for the promotion.

Just as a fashionable suit or tailored dress can make the difference in superiority of your looks, a healthy looking tanned skinned body tells the world you are vibrant, in top form and look like success.

Image Sun Tanning Centers have been providing an oasis of indoor tanning beds that cater to the person who understands to look your best, will make you do your best. At Image Sun you can find a wide variety of equipment to give you a beautiful and friendly tanning experience. Set in a clean, up-scale atmosphere, the Image Sun Tanning Center locations bring the best part of the sun right where you want it; in a comfortable and sand-free salon that pampers your body the way it should be.

The tanning industry has never been better as the need for convenient and clean tanning beds and centers have grown each year. Even in tough economic times people still need to look and feel good about themselves and nothing says inner peace like an outer glow.

Taking a look at the numbers it’s easy to see why owning an Image Sun Tanning Center franchise make good business sense. Let’s start with the market itself.

Over the last decade the tanning salon business has risen in both locations and revenues. The industry has jumped to over $7 billion dollars and is one of the biggest growth industries in the United States. Recent projections for small businesses have shown that the tanning bed businesses are going to continue to streak upwards hitting over 50% of increased production by the end of the century. Tanning bed salon businesses are just one of the many small businesses in this country that are the hallmark of the American Dream and represent 40% of all retail sales accounted for in the consumer market.

Owning a business, whether it’s an original concept store or franchise can be a daunting task. The people at Image Sun Tanning Centers have perfected the art of the franchise by creating a system that incorporates all the ingredients to make a successful business. From site selection to operational procedures, Image Sun knows what it takes to build a business and keep it successful.

The vision of tanning bed salon franchise ownership can be a reality but there are numerous things to consider. This is why Image Sun takes each perspective owner through an entire course to understand and become educated in the areas of location evaluation, construction principles, lease negotiations as well as getting into the details of the day to day operations.

Proper planning makes for perfect execution. Every small business that has failed has done so more because of a lack of pre-meditated business forecasting. Image Sun Tanning Centers have taken the guess work and inexperience out of the equation of owning and operating your very own tanning bed salon.

Every Image Sun Tanning Center salon is more than just a small business; it becomes part of the community and just as important, part of the Image Sun Tanning Center family.

For more information about owning and operating your very own Image Sun Tanning Center business click on their web site at www.imagesun.com or contact them direct at 888-LOOK-GR8.

“If you are not interested in using a tanning lotion in order to give yourself a sunless tan, you are left with two basic options: getting a tan at a tanning bed or getting a natural sun tan. The question is, however, which one of these methods will give you better tanning results?

Breaking Down the Rays

The reality is that there are no definite answers to this question. Both natural sun rays and tanning bed rays are made of UVB rays and UVA rays. Therefore, the science between both methods is the same. This means that, on the surface, both methods can give you the same results. On the other hand, the ratio of UVA and UVB rays in tanning beds is different from that found in the sun. As a result, the radiation levels of the rays in tanning beds are more intense than that found in the sun. In fact, studies have found that the UVA radiation in tanning beds is anywhere from three to eight times greater than natural light. These rays penetrate deeper into the skin. Therefore, in theory, the tanning bed should provide you with a deeper tan in a shorter period of time.

Building Your Tan

In order to get a deep and long lasting tan, it is best to gradually spend time in the sun and to let your tan build. If you live in an area of the country that experiences four distinct seasons, you know that spending time in the sun is not possible throughout the year. This means it can be difficult to gradually build a tan when you go the natural route. For this reason, some tanners prefer to use a combination of tanning beds and natural tanning. In this case, it is common to get started in the tanning process in the winter or the spring and then to take the tanning outdoors when the weather is fitting.

Staying Tan Year Round

It really doesn’t matter how great of a tan you can get with the natural sun if you live in an area with four distinct seasons. Even if your tan looks great, it will fade away throughout the fall and summer if you do not find a way to maintain it. For this reason, having access to a tanning bed can definitely be a plus because you can tan throughout the year. In this way, you can have a year round tan and your skin will be far better prepared for tanning when the summer sun hits. “

At last, you are now able to enjoy a really deep, dark and appealing tan with the able help of natural ingredients. These ingredients that are included in all Fiesta Sun tanning lotions are chosen specifically for the reason that they really work fast when it comes to giving a person a beautiful and youthful tan. You may also choose from amongst those tingle free tan bronzers and all those others which will make your skin really appear burnt.

Every time that you are using Fiesta Sun Tanning Lotions for a truly dark tan, you should be very prepared to be drawn into many heavenly and appealing fragrances which will suddenly sweep you with surprise. The products range from citrus to different raspberry varieties, from vanilla to creamy chocolate and even spicy chilly pepper. Therefore you don’t need to worry any more about anything unpleasant with the tan odor.

In case what you want is a really spectacular tan that appears as though you have come from a beach outing, then the right choice is just Fiesta Sun Lotion. It has special ingredients that will soak up many bits of the daily sun and therefore drastically lead to a reduction of the time needed to sunbathe.

Many online stores stock most if not all of the world’s famous brands that make the suntan experience a really nice one. Indoor tanning products come with a healthy discount. Some popular tanning lotions come with names such as Super Drench and Body Drench.

A healthy skin remains the foundation of every successful natural tan and every indoor tanner will allow you to get the ideal tan without all the harmful and ugly drying effects characteristic of the sun. A skin which is moist or non-flaky holds tans for a longer time. You can use various tanning products including sunless tanning lotions and different self tanning oils, creams and lotions. You may also use tanning sprays in order to get that ideal instant cruise tan.

There are some tanning lotions which many people consider to be tan accelerators. They contain many ideal ingredients whose work is to enhance the desirable effects of the amino acid tyrosine. There are still others which are considered by many as moisturizers and which will help your tender skin quickly recover after many tanning sessions have been finalized successfully.

Regardless of the product that you have chosen, you are bound to find a great selection very interesting to explore. The cheap tanning lotions that are available will stir your emotions. Your favorite tanning salon can easily provide a wide array of choices from which you can carefully make the right decision for your skin care. A home tanning bed lotions is best purchased from the manufacturer of that particular tanning bed.

When it comes to getting a sun tan, you can choose from between getting a natural sun tan by spending time outdoors or you can get a tan by visiting a tanning bed. Both methods can provide you with the same quality of tan, though a tanning bed is convenient because you can tan throughout the year. Nonetheless, is a tanning bed the safest option when it comes to tanning, or is there no real difference in safety when comparing tanning beds to natural sun tanning?

The Benefits of the Sun

Both natural sun rays and tanning bad rays contain UVA and UVB rays, which are potentially damaging to your skin. In fact, studies have shown over and over again that exposure to ultraviolet rays can lead to skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. One benefit the sun has, however, is the fact that it helps the skin produce melanin. This special pigment actually helps your skin naturally resist the damages associated with UV rays. Natural sunlight also helps to stimulate your body’s production of vitamin D, which helps keep your skeleton strong, boosts your immune system, and promotes the absorption of nutrients.

The Risks of Cancer

Whether you tan with natural sun or with the help of a tanning bed, regularly exposing your skin to these rays can be damaging to your skin if you do not follow the proper precautions. Many studies have shown, however, that the rays in tanning beds may be more harmful when it comes to increasing cancer risks.

UVA radiation is the primary form of radiation utilized in tanning beds, and some scientists believe there is a strong association between these rays and the development of malignant melanoma. Some studies have shown that women who visit a tanning bed at least one time each month are 55% more likely to develop melanoma than those women that do not obtain artificial tans. Studies also showed that people who used sun lamps to help them with tanning while in their 20s increase their risk of cancer by 150% when compared to women that did not use tanning beds.

Gaining Control of the Tanning Process

One benefit of tanning indoors is the fact that you can better control the amount of exposure you receive. The FDA requires tanning beds to automatically shut off at a predetermined time. Therefore, if you tan with a tanning bed, you have greater control over how long you tan and the intensity of the tan. This makes it far less likely that you will get burned during the tanning process.

I’m writing this article outside in the sunshine. Well, actually that’s not completely true.

I am outside and the sun is shining beautifully but I’m sitting in the shade. As much as I’d like to feel the heat of the sun on my exposed limbs my days of sunbathing have gone – doctors orders!

Like many people I love to have a tan. It has always made me feel healthier (and slimmer) somehow, and from my mid teens until my early thirties I spent many a happy hour soaking up the sun’s rays.

But not any more.

I have done so much damage to my skin over the years that if I had one of those special skin X-rays done I would look about ninety! I’ve had all sorts of things burned, frozen or cut out and it has to stop before I get the kind of skin cancer that cannot be treated.

When I was a teenager it was “cool” to have a tan although I don’t suppose that was the expression used in those days. It was just fashionable. I used to rush home from work at lunchtime and don my bikini for almost my entire hour’s lunch break. I’d then dash back to work red faced but happy, pleased that I was gradually building up a lovely tan to show off in my sleeveless, low cut tops and halter necks.

I sunbathed in the middle of the day when the sun was at its hottest and not only did I not use suntan lotion but coated myself in baby oil instead. I literally cooked myself.

Was I stupid? – probably, but not intentionally. I just didn’t know better. No-one did back then. Sun tan lotion was only for those very rich people who actually went abroad for holidays to “hot” places like Spain or Portugal.

As I got older my quest for an all year tan led me to sunbeds. For almost two years I had one in my bedroom and used it regularly. There was no advice in those days not to use one for more than a few days per year.

I religiously wore the thick black goggles and timed the sessions but I certainly had more in a month than is now recommended for a year.

Too late, the damage has been done and I’ll be happier when I’m older so I can grow into my skin!

My excuse for not taking better care is that I was simply unaware of the dangers sun damage can do. However, in this day and age there is no excuse for people to follow my example.

In almost every magazine and newspaper reference is made to the changes in the ozone layer and the increasing strength of the sun. Yet still many people, particularly men, seem to think that it is only when you go on holiday that you need to use sun protection.

If you look at any construction site or road maintenance operation during the summer you will see men with their shirts off, working in the heat of the day, burning their backs, necks, heads and arms. Some even wear shorts with their heavy duty boots.

How many, I wonder, wear sun protection and out of those who do, how many actually renew it as the day goes on?

Like me in my younger days it still appears to be the belief if you work outside then the tan will build up gradually and it will be okay. However, a tan is a sign of DNA damage and as the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a safe tan”.

A recent survey (2007) revealed that ten percent of men don’t even know solar radiation is linked to skin cancer and two thirds of men rely on their wives to both buy and apply sun protection for them.

I’m not sure if that’s a macho thing or what, but skin cancer is on the increase and in UK we have more cases than Australia. This is most likely due to the awareness over there but 13.5 million men in UK don’t use sun cream and the more people burn the more risk there is.

Women are more likely to use sun protection because of the fear of premature ageing, wrinkles and age spots but even then many don’t realise that it’s not just necessary on hot sunny days.

You can’t see or feel UV radiation and it can be equally as dangerous on cloudy days. You need to protect against both UVA which are ageing and UVB which are burning.

As the summers get hotter and longer it is essential to protect your skin at all times and you should use at least a sun protection factor 15 (SPF15).

Also take great care of your eyes and make sure your sunglasses have UV protection otherwise you’ll magnify the sun’s rays onto the delicate skin around your eyes.

There’s no question being in the sun gives you that feel good factor and wonderful natural Vitamin D. However, limit your exposure and avoid the hottest times of the day when the sun is at its highest otherwise you’ll be like me and have to sit in the shade – doctors orders!

Folks can’t live without fashion now a days. Anything that corresponds to the ongoing fashion style and trend happens to be most sought after. That’s why the current fashion fever of tanning is high in demand. In America and elsewhere tanning has established itself as a permanent industry. This unending fashion statement has paved the way for numerous alternatives to sun tan. For example, tanning lotions, tanning pills and tanning beds have come up as various tanning equipments. And one highly quick way of acquiring tan is spray tanning.

A good number of spray tanning booths are spread all over America. They offer you tan color at reasonable price. And above all, spray tanning is found to be safer than all other alternatives to sun tan. In fact dermatologists prefer recommending spray tanning over tanning beds.

Lotions used in these spray tanning booths are usually made up of SPF formula and hardly gives way to any side effect on skin. You can check a tanning booth for care and precaution that it takes while offering spray tanning before undergoing the process. Once you get comfortable with spray tan you can regularly visit the booth for keeping a tan color. Usually spray tan lasts for around six to eight days.

Post spray tanning, you need to use some moisturizer on your skin. A good moisturizer helps you sustain the tan color and makes your skin glow, just like sun tan.

Some of the booths use bronzer while the others prefer DHT after the lotion is sprinkled on the body. Bronzer results in immediate glowing skin while DHT takes some hours to give a look of sun tan. However dihydroxyacetone is a preferred tanner by most of the spas and tanning salons.

Before going for this tanning procedure you must consult dermatologist to ascertain nature of your skin as people with certain types of skin are not recommended for spray on tan. For examples folks with dry skin are not recommended to visit spray tanning booths.

You can seek spray on tan in even twenty five dollars. Usually the cost of getting this artificial tan color ranges between twenty five to one twenty five dollars.

You should refrain yourself from taking shower before you go to spray tanning booth and post tanning you should keep a check over your mobility for a few while.

Lastly, don’t forget examining your skin for any side effect or reaction after tanning and if you find so, immediately visit your dermatologist.

As recently as 20 years ago, most people still lacked a clear understanding of the toll that the sun can take on our skin and long-term health. We basked in the sunlight, hoping for a dazzling tan, not realizing that such exposure could have severe consequences in the years to come. Today, we know better. We understand that excessive exposure to the sun without adequate protection often comes with a steep price. We recognize the gradual damage that sunlight can have on our skin. That’s why nearly all doctors and dermatologists recommend using sunscreen if you intend to subject yourself to the sun’s rays. Below, you’ll learn about the different types of ultraviolet rays and how a chemical called ecamsule offers protection from their onslaught.

The Difference Between UVA And UVB Rays

When you hear the phrase “ultraviolet rays,” you may not realize that there are different types: most notably, UVA and UVB. When you spend the day at the beach without sunscreen, the sunburn you experience comes from UVB rays. These same rays are largely responsible for skin cancer. UVA rays, on the other hand, filter deeper into your skin. While these rays don’t cause sunburns, they can result in longer-term skin damage such as accelerated aging, wrinkles and other skin conditions. UVA rays have also been linked to skin cancer. In order to protect your skin and your health while exposed to the sun, you need to use a sunscreen that provides a shield from both types of rays.

Sun Protection Through Ecamsule

Many types of sunscreens don’t provide adequate protection against both UVA and UVB rays. A few, such as Anthelios and Mexoryl sunscreens do offer such protection. These sunscreens contain a chemical called ecamsule, known for its effectiveness in stabilizing under direct sunlight. By using ecamsule along with the active water-soluble Mexoryl SX and oil-soluble Mexoryl XL ingredients, Anthelios sunscreens can help prevent the harmful effects of the sun’s rays.

How Ecamsule Works

Ultraviolet rays from the sun are not merely deflected by your sunscreen. They are absorbed by the ecamsule ingredient (if you’re using an Anthelios sunscreen with Mexoryl). Once absorbed, a molecular process known as photoisomerization occurs, after which the ultraviolet rays are discharged as thermal energy.

Both types of ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) are defined based upon the length of the rays measured in nanometers. UVB rays are shorter, generally measuring between 280-320 nanometers. UVA rays are measured up to 400 nanometers. The ecamsule ingredient found in the most effective sunscreens can offer protection against all ultraviolet rays in the range of 290-400 nanometers. While ecamsule doesn’t shield you from all UV rays, it is one of the most potent agents in sunscreens available.

Investing In Your Long-Term Health

We often take our health and exposure to the sun for granted. Ironically, we do this largely because we’re unable to see the gradual impact the sun has on us. But, the consequences of long-term excessive exposure to both UVA and UVB rays can be severe. While most people think that any sunscreen can offer adequate protection, experts agree that those which contain the ecamsule agent provide the most effective protection. Ultimately, your health and longevity is in your control. Take the steps necessary to ensure you and your family have sufficient protection from the sun.