A Few Basic Facts About The Sun and Our Skin

Here are some straight forward facts to consider on the topic of sun protection. The sun radiates two different rays that are cancer causing, UVA and UVB. The UVA ray is longer and it affects the skin much deeper than a UVB ray. The UVB ray is the one that gives you sunburn. Both can cause skin damage and skin cancer.
When you buy a sunscreen and you look for a sun proof factor (spf), you are looking for protection from the UVB ray. The thing is, most sun blocks are only keeping out the UVB. So, you can have sunscreen on, thinking you are safe, but still get skin cancer from the UVA rays.

SPF, an abbreviation for sun-protection factor, is a number such as 15, 30, or 50 that indicates how long a topical sunscreen remains effective on the skin. A user can determine the duration of effectiveness simply by multiplying the SPF by the length of time it takes for him or her to suffer a burn without sunscreen.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is a common form of skin cancer with almost 1 million cases each year in America. Treatment includes a procedure to remove the cancer, typically by cutting out the affected area or treating with a topical chemotherapy. If left untreated, the cancer will continue to grow. Individuals who have been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma need sun protection to minimize UV exposure.

Bottom line – the sun is our friend.  We need it and it is wonderful for our spirits and our health. Enjoy it but safely and in moderation.

Top Five Sun Care Picks From EWG

We’ve established the importance of sun care, for your baby, and the entire family. At this time there aren’t any safety standards set by the FDA for sunscreens. So it is important for parents to know what they are truly rubbing into their baby’s bodies. A good example of the standards set for our sunscreens is the use of PABA (”a skin damaging chemical”, EWG) that was more widely used in the past. It still is, however, since there was an outcry from consumers with allergic reactions, companies use it less.

The bottom line is that we parents need to be aware that some sunscreens may be potentially more harmful than good. “Studies show that some traditional sunscreens like oxybenzone and octinoxate definitely absorb into healthy skin – in large amounts according to some studies – and act like estrogens in the body, raising risks for breast cancer, and showing effects like hormone-driven uterine damage in other studies”. 1

Take a look at your current sunscreen and you will probably find one of these ingredients, if not both. There is also some controversial concern with the micro sized (nanosize) titanium and zinc. Are these particles so small that they can absorb through the skin and into our blood stream? For now it is considered safe (as long as the particles aren’t too small) on healthy skin. A good way to test is this, if the sunscreen rubs clear onto your baby’s skin, it is nanosized. If it rubs on with some white, the particles are not too small.

Below we’ve listed the top five choices according to the Environmental Working Group. We always suggest, however, to do your own homework and then you can make an educated decision as to what is right for your family.

Environmental Working Groups Safest Sunscreen Picks

1. Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock
2. Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum
3. California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance
4. Badger Sunscreen
5. Marie Veronique Skin Therapy Sun Serum

Just Say No to Phthalates

Phthalates, while not a household name, are abundant in a lot of skin care products. Phthalates are making their way into the news lately due to the potential dangers to the long term health of our babies. This potentially harmful man-made-chemical is often hidden in “fragrances” to help a fragrance stay on the skin longer. Skin ‘care’ for babies should be gentle, clean and kind.

But a deeper look shines the light on this sneaky use of wording!

“At this time, we do not know what the potential long-term effects might be, but there is a large body of animal studies to suggest developmental and reproductive toxicity (from phthalates) and a few human studies with changes in health outcomes as well,” Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana (from the University of Washington) told Reuters Health.

Better safe than sorry is a good rule of thumb.  Get into the habit of reading every label for ingredients.  When in doubt simply move on.  We’ll keep you posted on new research that develops regarding potentially harmful products.

Essential Oils for Immune System

In the quest to find viable ways to strengthen a child’s immune system, I have discovered essential oils. These oils are volatile substances extracted from plants. Pure essential oils have powerful therapeutic effects. Most of them are natural antiseptics, and certain oils have highly effective, immune-boosting, disease-fighting properties that can kill airborne viruses, bacteria and fungi. They can be used preventively and also to treat colds and infectious disease by reducing discomfort, helping to shorten the duration and preventing secondary infections.

Essential oils can be valuable in treating many other childhood ailments. Some are analgesic or anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce aches, pain and swelling. Others can alleviate insomnia or hyperactivity and calm anxious or troubled children. They can also be used to treat minor injuries. In addition to being very safe and effective, essential oils are fun and easy to use.

Choose High-Quality Oils

Not all essential oils are created equal. They must be chosen and used with great care. Many are highly adulterated and over-processed with chemicals. To obtain the beneficial therapeutic qualities, you must use pure essential oils. Many people have purchased inexpensive oils and have been very disappointed with the results, leading them to believe that “essential oils do not work”. Some pure essential oils can be expensive since they are hard to come by. It can take as many as 500 to 2,000 pounds of raw plant material to produce a single pound of pure essential oil. These plants should also be organically grown whenever possible. In addition, the harvesting procedures and extraction processes are critical to quality. It is important to have documentation of the purity and quality of an essential oil so you don’t get something that just smells nice, without the therapeutic qualities. Always buy oils in dark glass bottles. Never buy essential oils in plastic containers or put them into anything made of plastic. They not compatible with plastic. Store in a cool, dark place, away from heat and tightly capped.

How to Use Essential Oils

Inhaling the oils by diffusion produces immediate beneficial effects and is one of the easiest ways to use essential oils. Diffusion releases the highly aromatic molecules of the oils into the air so that we can breathe them in. Inhalation sends impulses directly to the brain and will trigger various healing responses, depending on which oil is being used. The physical body as well as the emotions can be therapeutically affected. Many oils have good germicidal properties and can be very effective in disinfecting a room without using harmful chemicals. When diffused, these oils can cleanse and purify the air by removing toxins and killing pathogenic bacteria, viruses, molds and fungi. They can also destroy odors. Regular diffusion can keep you and your kids healthy through out the cold and flu season.

A spray bottle used to mist houseplants can also be used to diffuse the oils. Fill with water and add 15 or 20 drops. This will clear and clean the air, but does not have the long-lasting effects of a diffuser or nebulizer. A diffuser or nebulizer sprays an ultra-fine mist into the air.

Diluted oils can be applied directly to the body by massaging the affected area, the bottom of the feet or with a full body massage. The tiny molecular structure of an essential oil allows it to be filtered through the skin via the hair follicles and into the bloodstream or to other parts of the body. The oils can nourish and oxygenate every cell of the body. It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 7 hours for essential oils to be completely absorbed through the skin, depending on how much body fat there is. In children, they are usually absorbed very quickly.

Essential oils can be very powerful. They should always be diluted before applying directly to the skin or to the bath of a child. They can be used in a carrier oil, mixed with water or added to creams or lotions. Patch testing can be done for children with sensitive skin or allergies. This is done by applying a little diluted oil to the inside of the elbow. Leave it unwashed for twenty-four hours and if any redness or itching occurs, that oil should not be used.

Caution: Essential oils should never be taken internally, without the advice of a professional. Keep all essential oils away from the eyes. Keep all essential oils out of the sight and reach of children. Never attempt to treat a serious illness yourself without first referring to a qualified practitioner.

Many books have been written on aromatherapy and the use of essential oils. Instructions in applying the oils vary widely with different aromatherapists and authors. Simplers Botanical Company has been making essential oils and extracts since 1981. Their oils are absolutely pure and guaranteed to be organic or ethically wildcrafted and properly distilled or extracted. They have written the Aromatherapy Guide to Essential Oils, which is a brief summary of the views of a wide variety of experts in the field of aromatherapy. In this booklet, they suggest the following guidelines for application of essential oils for use with adults. In parenthesis and italics, I’ve added general recommendations for use with children.