In an effort to ensure that consumers have the information they need to make wise sun protection choices, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced an updated list of sunscreen regulations [1].
Don’t Get Burned With Your Sunscreen
July 30, 2009 | by
With summer upon us in full force, many people are eager to get out and enjoy some time in the sun. However, prolonged ultraviolet (UV) light exposure poses a threat during summer months. Indeed, for an increasing number of U.S. adults, sunburns are becoming more and more common [1]. Although sunburn can be the immediate result of the sun’s UV rays, repeated overexposure can lead to wrinkles, discoloration and other signs of premature aging of the skin, as well as skin cancer.
Sunburn results when the amount of sun exposure exceeds the ability of melanin, the body’s protective pigment, to shield the skin. Using sunscreen regularly is one of the best ways to ensure protection from the sun and avoid skin damage. Sunscreen creates an effective barrier on the skin, absorbing or reflecting the sun’s UV radiation. With all the different sunscreens on the market, have you ever wondered how well your sunscreen works compared to other brands? A recent investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit advocacy organization that provides useful health resources to consumers, evaluated 1,620 brand-name sunscreens and found that 60% offer inadequate protection from the sun or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns.
Health Highlights – June 18th, 2009
June 18, 2009 | by
Health Highlights is a biweekly summary of particularly interesting articles from credible sources of health and medical information that we follow & read. For a complete list of recommeded sources, see our links page.
- Failure’s ROI | phil baumann online
Phil Baumann draws a connection between today’s omnipresent theme to succeed, grief and failure, and the evolving world of social media. Angels fall fast from the sky, but roots grow deep in the darkness.
- SPF 100 Sunblock | Mark’s Daily Apple
Mark Sisson highlights a recent New York Times article describing seriously misleading marketing lingo regarding SPF measures. The take-home message? Use the normal SPF 30, use clothing and shade to protect your skin, and limit your time in the sun.
- Elsewhere on the web – May 2009 | Cancer Research UK – Science Update
The Science Update blog at Cancer Research UK presents a great video describing the differences between skin burns and sunburn. You can triple your risk of melanoma (the most serious type of skin cancer) by getting a painful sunburn just once every two years, so don’t let sunburn catch you out.
- Makes My Blood Boil | Mark’s Daily Apple
Another great article by Mark Sisson describes a recent medical scare over blood pressure (BP). While the medical profession may recommend testing for BP once a year, you’d be better off buying a home-testing monitor and regularly checking your BP.
- Is translational research impaired by an emphasis on basic science? | Science-Based Medicine
Tim Kreider shares his view on a recent Newsweek editorial critical of academia and the process of bench-to-bedside research. He advances that the process of science is slow and winding by necessity and scientists should be conservative about sending new therapies to the clinic.
- When do we peak mentally – depends on what mental ability we are talking about | Brain Health Hacks
Think you're at the top of your game? Maybe, maybe not. Ward Plunet at Brain Health Hacks reviews data from a longitudinal study on mental ability as we age.
- Swine Flu Monitor: World Health Organization May Raise Alert Level | ThePatientReport.com
As the WHO contemplates raising the pandemic alert level, ThePatientReport.com explains what a pandemic actually measures.
