SkinFitnessFacts.com News

Recent studies have proven that applying caffeine to the skin topically has amazing results in preventing cancer.

By no means does the caffeine act as a sunblock, but it does act to eliminate  abnormal cells. According to an article in USA Today, the abnormal cells effectively “kill themselves.” Or at least they did in mice.

For years now, rosacea sufferers have found relief in products with caffeine because the ingredient constricts blood vessels and therefore lessens redness.  The same can be said for puffy, red eyes. A great way to lose the puff is with a splash of cold water and an eye cream containing caffeine. Murad EssentialC Eye Cream SPF 15 is Skin Fitness Facts’ favorite.

One last thing, consuming caffeine may also have some skin fitness benefits, but it’s the topical products that offer the biggest bang.

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.