Today, June 20, marks the first official day of summer, but the sun and heat have already graced us with their presence here in New Jersey. With the temperature turned up and the Earth tilted closer to the sun, we are more susceptible to dehydration and sun damage. Given this, it’s important to recognize your risk and how you can protect yourself and your health. So… let’s talk summer sun wellness!
Understanding UV Radiation
To understand the potential damaging effects sun exposure can have on our bodies, we must first understand the science behind it.
What is UV radiation? Part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum emitted from the sun
If UV radiation is “light”, then why can’t I see it? The wavelengths are actually shorter than visible light, making it invisible to our eyes
What are the types of UV radiation? UVA (longest), UVB, and UVC (shortest – mostly absorbed by our ozone layer, without actually reaching the Earth)
How does UV radiation cause damage? Excessive exposure alters our bodies’ lipids, proteins and cellular DNA, producing unhealthy genetic mutations. UVA & UVB radiations can generate reactive chemical species called “free radicals” in our bodies’ cells.
What damage can UV radiation cause? Skin cancers (i.e. basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma), eye damage (including cataracts), premature skin aging, immune system suppression
Doesn’t my body have any natural protection to sun? In short – yes, it does. Melanin – a dark brown pigment in our hair, skin and eyes – is what gives our skin its tone/color. Some people have more melanin, some have less – the darker the skin, the more melanin. Our bodies produce this to help protect deeper layers of our skin from sun damage, but don’t make us immune to damage.
Understanding Sun Protection
Seek Out Shade Spending time outside is great, but taking refuge in the shade can be your first line of defense.
Choose the Right Clothing Lightweight fabrics and pieces that cover more of your skin are a good idea when your body is going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time. Baseball caps and floppy hats are not only fashionable, but functional for protecting your scalp and face.
Wear Sunglasses Again, not only fashionable, but critical for protecting one of your most valuable assets – your eyeballs! Polycarbonate lenses offer full UVA/UVB protection. Check the label that comes with your glasses to be sure you’re getting proper protection. If not, some optometrists offer UV coat application services.
Check the UV Index Refer to your favorite weather channel or website to check your local daily UV index. While a low index doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take measures to protect yourself, a high index might help you choose when to take extra caution and when to limit exposure.
Apply CLEAN Sunscreen How do I know what’s a clean product from what’s a potentially-harmful product? Here is a short list of general rules to follow, per the Environmental Working Group, which claims that nearly 75% of sunscreen products on the market are inferior or are made with worrisome ingredients:
- Mineral sunscreens containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide offer stable protection and usually don’t contain harmful additives.
- Higher SPF numbers aren’t always better. In 2011, the FDA determined products claiming SPFs higher than 50 were “inherently misleading” – perhaps no more effective than those up to SPF 50.
- Look for “broad spectrum support”, which covers both UVB (which is the primary culprit for sunburn) and UVA rays.
- Spray sunscreens can be convenient for application; however, you should be careful not to inhale any of the product and also to hold it close enough to the skin to insure thickness of application.
- Avoid an additive called retinyl palmitate, a form of Vitamin A that testing has linked to tumors and lesions of the skin.
- Avoid an additive called oxybenzone, which has been found to be a hormone disruptor and common allergen.
All this said, there is little evidence to suggest sunscreen alone reduces cancer risk, particularly for melanoma, the deadliest type of which has tripled its rate among Americans over the past 30 years. So, be sure not to use this as your only method of protection.
Summer Skin & Body Care
At Basil Bandwagon, we carry a wide array of sunscreens rated highly by the Environmental Working Group. Find them in our body care section and ask one of our friendly, knowledgeable team members for support in choosing a product that’s best for you. Sprays work great for your scalp, sticks offer superior protection for your face and traditional lotion is great for full-body coverage.
Even with sunscreen protection, the heat and rays can take a lot of moisture out of our skin. It is critical to replenish this to help your skin stay young-looking and healthy! A few of our favorite products that help do this exceptionally well:
- CocoKind’s Rosewater Facial Toner: Spray your face after exercising, sun exposure, before bed, upon rising – basically whenever you want! Several of our team members carry a bottle in their purse! The antioxidants from the roses used to make the water provide great anti-aging support. Smells gorgeous and is very refreshing!
- Episilk’s Hyalauronic Acid Serum: Hyaluronic acid is a fluid component of our connective tissue, synovial fluid and humors of the eye. In serum form, it penetrates deep into the dermis, boosting the elasticity and hydration of the skin, locking in moisture. A great way to replenish what you’ve lost from sun and heat!
- John Master’s Vitamin C Serum: This product contains extracts of sea algae and rosebuds to provide intense moisture and antioxidants to help fight procollagen production. Superoxide dismutase and acerola help fight the aging effects caused by UV rays. Use between cleansing and moisturizing your face at bedtime!
- ICU Eyewear: We carry a fashionable line of eyewear for men, women, and children, including reader sunglasses. We love ICU because they are a carbon neutral company AND they use recycled, renewable and recyclable content!
Summer Sun Nutrition
Per the US National Institutes of Health, “A balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for proper physiological function. If free radicals overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate them, a condition known as oxidative stress ensues.”
The good news? “Antioxidants can assist in coping with this oxidative stress.”
Where can you get antioxidants? Well…
- Eat berries! Fresh, organic are best, but frozen are great too!
- Stay hydrated! Drink lots of water. If you like it, coconut water and maple water are full of natural electrolytes, helping to keep you hydrated. Natural electrolyte powders available at Basil Bandwagon are also a great replacement for highly or artificially-sugarized sports drinks, which also contain synthetic food dyes. Another good rule of thumb is to limit caffeinated beverages and alcohol when spending time in the heat and sun, as they make it harder for your body to maintain proper hydration.
- Consider a Vitamin C supplement with bioflavonoids, which come mainly from citrus fruits and black currants. The antioxidants provided in these supplements can be powerful additions to your supplement regimen in summertime, even though they are most often associated with Winter cold season.
- Consider an Astaxanthin supplement, which comes from microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill and some crustaceans. Astaxanthin is 6,000 times more antioxidant-potent than many Vitamin Cs.
- Consider a Spirulina supplement, which is a versatile algae superfood – available in powder form – that can be added to many sweet and savory dishes and snacks for easy consumption. Like Astaxanthin, it is a very powerful source of antioxidants (as well as Vitamin B12, Vitamin K1/K2, Iron and Manganese).
References
www.ncbi.nlm/nih/gov – The National Center for Biotechnology Information
www.aad.org – American Academy of Dermatology
www.skincancer.org – The Skin Cancer Foundation
http://www.hhs.gov/ – US Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.who.int/en/ – World Health Organization
https://www.nih.gov/ – US National Institutes of Health
http://www.ewg.org/ – Environmental Working Group
http://www.nutrex-hawaii.com/ – Nutrex Hawaii
