SkinFitnessFacts.com News

Many sun protection products rave about their high SPFs of 50, 70 and 80. But is it really necessary to go that high? Of course any protection is better than no protection, but know the SPF facts before you decide.

To prevent premature aging, skin cancer, or sun damaged skin (for example melasma) even a sun block of SPF 5 is better than nothing, but dermatologists recommend a product with full-spectrum coverage with at least an SPF of 15.

There are two types of sun rays to differentiate: ultraviolet-a (UVA) and ultraviolet-b (UVB). UVA are longer wavelengths from the sun and penetrate deeper into the skin and may be the culprit behind aging. UVB rays have shorter wavelengths and are more likely to cause sun burn and skin cancer.

Products that contain SPF (SPF stands for sun protection factor) only protect the skin from UVB rays so it’s important to use a block that is UVA/UVB or broad-spectrum protection.

Technically, SPF represents the amount of time it takes for the skin to redden. For example, with an SPF 15 it will take about five hours for your skin to begin burning while without it the skin will redden within 20 minutes. The higher the SPF the longer it takes for your skin to redden.

Here’s the breakdown on UVB protection

• SPF 15 blocks 93 percent
• SPF 30 blocks 97 percent
• SPF 50 blocks 99 percent

Anything above SPF 50 will provide only a negligible amount of UVB protection.

Just because you apply once in the morning doesn’t mean you are covered at 4pm that afternoon. Make sure to reapply every couple of hours especially if you are in the water or sweating. Most sun blocks will last you two hours.

Skin Fitness Facts recommends a number of full-spectrum sun block products including DDF’s Daily Organic.

You already know that flip flops may kill you if you’re not careful, but did you also know that flip flops might also save you from great pain and fashion nonsense?

In light of all this, Skin Fitness Facts is launching its first contest that YOU can enter and win in one very easy step. Here are the details…

What You Win: FlexFlops—the emergency flip flop—and a summer’s supply of DDF Daily Organic SPF 15.

When You Win It: The last day to enter the contest is August 1. The winner will be announced on August 1.

How You Win It: Write about your most creative sun protection technique. This can be done by either commenting on this post or by writing about it on your site and linking back to www.skinfitnessfacts.com/news using the link text: flip flops will kill you.

Criteria: The winner will be chosen based on three criteria: 1) Does the sun protection technique actually work? 2) Did your story make the judge (me) laugh, or at least smile? 3) Did the entry include the word “melanocytes”?

For an example see the comments to this post.

This contest comes just in time for the heavy hitting summer sun and all of the skin conditions that arise from environmental wear and tear on the skin. Keep your skin fit with DDF Daily Organic SPF 15 and keep your feet happy with FlexFlops.

Every day during the summer (when the sun is the most intense) you wear sandals, or flip flops, or cute pumps, all of which expose your foot’s delicate skin to the sun’s harmful rays. Because your feet are parallel to the sun these body parts get more sun than most of the rest of your body.

I know you’ve heard it 100 times, but I’m going to tell you again. Wear sun block! And don’t just wear it on your face and shoulders. It’s imperative you protect all areas of your skin; even those you don’t think will get noticed by the sun’s harmful rays, including:

• Your ears
• The top of your head. This is not just for the baldies out there either. Protect your part with some spray sun block.
• In between your fingers and the back of your hands (this is a big one)
• The backs of your legs
• The tops and bottoms of your FEET

Of course hats, protective clothing, and closed toe shoes are a great way to protect your skin, but in the summer that’s just not realistic, especially when it comes to shoes. I mean who wants to wear sneakers or boots when its 90 degrees outside? Not me, which is why I’ve started applying sun block to my feet every morning.

Moles and freckles can be indicators of melanoma. So in addition to wearing sun block, you should frequently check your body for unusual marks. And don’t forget to look at the soles of your feet, in between your toes, the skin under your toe nails, and then of course the skin on the top of your feet just as regularly as you do the rest of your bod.