"How the Sun sees you"

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. But too many of us fail to properly protect it.  If you are not taking precautions to protect your skin from UV rays, you are damaging it.. even if you cannot see this damage with the naked eye.  

I wanted to share this video with everyone because it beautifully illustrates how the sun damages our skin and how dramatic the difference is when we use sunscreen to protect it.  The UV camera shows the past and future of your skin.  Enjoy! 

And as always, protect and Love the Skin You're In.  

(Please watch until the very end to see how sunscreen looks under UV)

Don't Fry! Products to monitor your UV exposure!

Happy Don’t Fry Day everyone!! Today is the day to encourage everyone you know to protect their skin.  

While we all know how important it is to wear sunscreen; we often can't track how much exposure we’ve gotten, and therefore don’t know when to re-apply.  However, there are a few products available to help us remember when it’s time to pull out the sunscreen bottle again, throw on a hat, or get ourselves indoors.  

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about these products, so here’s a post to outline 3 popular devices for measuring your UV exposure this summer.  

First, you could choose the one-time use Sunscreen Bands.  These plastic bands are meant to remind you when to re-apply sunscreen, and when to get out of the sun. Here’s how they work..

First, apply sunscreen to your exposed skin. Next, remove one band from the package and close the package back quickly as to not activate the remaining bracelets.  Fasten the band on your wrist with the printed side facing up.  Once the band is secure, expose the band to direct sunlight. The band will now turn dark purple.  This is the cue to apply sunscreen onto the band.  Allow the sunscreen to dry on the band for 15 min before getting it wet.  Wear the band outside of your clothing so it is continuously exposed to the sun. 

When the band turns a light purple, it is time to re-apply your sunscreen.  Remember to re-apply to all your exposed skin AND the sunscreen band.  

Once the band turns to an off-white color, it’s time to get out of the sun or cover up.  At this point, you have reached your maximum exposure for the day.  The band is no longer active and should be removed and disposed of.  

I found these bands (the brand is Sunscreen Brands or Sundicators) on Amazon for around $15 for a pack of 25 bands.  There are a few different brands and variations of the disposable bands, but they all operate basically the same way.  

I used these bands last weekend while attending an all day mud run event where I was in direct sunlight for approximately 4 hours, and they worked great! I didn’t get any sun. Not so much as a tan line, and definitely no redness.  

Pros:

-Great for kids

-Waterproof

-Easy to use

-Inexpensive

Cons:

-Doesn’t give you the realtime UV index

-One time use only (per bracelet)

-Doesn’t take into account your specific skin type

-Can’t use without sunscreen 

The next option is the SunFriend UV monitor.  This wearable monitor allows you to track your daily sun exposure.  This is the only item on this list that I have not tried out myself; however I did research it extensively and read multiple reviews on the monitor.  

It seems relatively easy to use; you press the buttons on the front to set your skin sensitivity number (1 being the most sun sensitive and 11 being the least sun sensitive).  Once the led lights on the front reach 11 and begin to flash, you have reached your maximum exposure for the day and should get out of the sun.  The monitor takes a UV index reading throughout the day, and you can check the current index at any time by pressing the UVI button.  You can also check your current sun exposure by pressing the UVA+B button.  The lights will start flashing when you you have reached your daily exposure maximum.  At this point you will need to hold the off button to power down and reset your device.  

The company seems to be marketing this device as a way to track your sun exposure in order to make sure you’re getting your daily dose of Vitamin D (which I believe you can get from your foods, and a supplement if necessary), and does not take into account sunscreen use. In fact, their website basically discourages the use of sunscreen and offers its product as an alternative.  However, it could still be a useful tool in determining your daily sun exposure, but should be used in addition to daily sunscreen.  

I found this product on Amazon for $49.99 and it comes in 5 different colors. 

Pros:

-Tracks your UVA+B exposure throughout the day

-Tracks realtime UV Index for your current location

-Waterproof up to 3 meters

-You can reset and reuse it daily

-Customizable for your skin type (sun sensitivity)

-Comes in multiple colors

Cons:

-Doesn’t take into account the use of sunscreen

-Unattractive/juvenile design

The final UV monitor I want to review for you is my personal favorite.  The June UV monitor by Netatmo is a wearable UV tracker that syncs with your iPhone via an integrated app.  The June is a diamond cut jewel with triangular facets that catch and reflect sunlight.  The jewel contains UV sensors to track your sun exposure in realtime, gives suggestions on the level of sun protection needed, and sends you reminders to apply sunscreen or increase your level of protection. 

The bracelet is beautiful (although it is obviously marketed to women), and the jewel can be removed and worn on the included leather or silicone wrist strap, as well as worn on your clothing.

  

The companion app is easy to use and clearly provides the information you need.  When you set up your new device, the app asks you to answer questions about your hair color, eye color, skin tone, and how easily your skin tans.  They use this data to generate a numerical value for your skin type (1 to 6), which determines the level of sun exposure they will recommend for you daily.  

There are three tabs on the app screen.  The “Now” tab gives you the current UV index for your location, a realtime tracker of your sun exposure for the day (you can choose whether or not you’ve applied your sunscreen, which will change your exposure level), and a recommendation of what protection to use (SPF 30 or 50, sunglasses, or a sun hat).  

The “Forecast” tab gives you the forecasted UV index for the day, with a recommendation of what protection to pack in your bag (sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat), and the time for the sunrise and sunset that day.  You can look forward up to 5 days of this information for your current location.  

 The “Timeline” tab shows you the amount of time you've spent both inside and outside for the given day, what the UV index was during the outdoor time, and how much of your overall daily sun exposure you've soaked up. 

You can enable push notifications to let you know when you’ve used up a large amount of your allotted daily sun exposure, as well as recommendations on when to apply sunscreen and what SPF to apply.  

My awesome twin sister surprised me with my June as a gift but they retail online for $129 via the Netatmo website.  However, I found them on Amazon from approximately $75 to $99.  They come in three different colors (gold, platinum, and gunmetal).  Each June comes with its own charger and two wrap bands (leather and silicone).  

Personally, I think this item, at this price point is most appropriate for people with a history of skin cancer or those who are very serious about monitoring their sun exposure.  And should of course, be used with sunscreen. 

Pros:

-Realtime tracking of UV exposure with option for with or without sunscreen

-Realtime UV index by current location

-Customizable by skin type

-Easy to use integration to iPhone app

-Beautiful design with 3 available colors

Cons:

-Companion app is only available for iPhone

-Device is rain and sweat resistant but not waterproof

-Price point is between $75 and $129

-Device only clips on to strap/clothing, must be secured or could fall off

-Design aimed at women only

Hope this information is useful for any of you that want a better way to monitor your daily sun exposure and remember when to re-apply your sunscreen.  

As always, protect and LOVE the skin you’re in.  

*I received no compensation for this review of products

Don't get caught with your pants down... Protect your Skin!!!

Every year, there are more than 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States. However, the risk of skin cancer can be reduced by simply protecting your skin from the sun and its harmful UV rays daily.  So don't get caught with your pants down... Protect your skin!!!

Here are some easy ways to keep your skin protected every day:

Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, when possible.  Sun hats, shades, and swim coverups are not just cute summer fashions.. they're a great way to keep your skin protected.

Always apply a sunscreen that is broad-spectrum (protection from UVA and UVB rays), water-resistant, and SPF 30 or greater. Reapply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after excessive sweating or swimming. 

How much sunscreen should you use?  A good rule of thumb is to use a shot glass worth of sunscreen for your body (that’s 1 oz)

Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand because they reflect and intensify the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn. A person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had just 5 or more sunburns in their lifetime. 

NEVER use tanning beds. The UV light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer (not to mention wrinkles!).  Pale is the new tan.. but if you want to look tanner, consider trying a self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.  

Have a yearly skin check with your dermatologist. Know your spots and be aware of your skin and the moles you have. If you see any mole or lesion on your skin that is changing, itching, bleeding or growing, see a dermatologist ASAP. 

First skin check? Read my post “Get Naked and Get a Skin Check!” for what to expect
http://lovetheskinwerein.blogspot.com/2015/04/get-naked-and-get-skin-check.html

Avoid the sun’s rays when they are the strongest; between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. A little tip is… If your shadow appears to be shorter than you are, seek shade. 

Need to know how much protection to wear on a given day? 

Use the handy UV Index chart below!!

You can use your weather smartphone app to find the UV Index

 for your area at any given time.

As always, protect and Love the Skin You're In. 

Facts and UV Index chart provided by AAD.org 

Skin Cancer IS Cancer

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so I thought I'd start the month off with a post about the most basic form of skin cancer awareness. To me, that is the simple acceptance of skin cancer as a "real cancer".

When I started telling friends and family that I was diagnosed with skin cancer, I got a lot of different reactions. When I cancelled my membership at the tanning salon and told the girl there that just 6 months of tanning gave me skin cancer, she said "when they get rid of it you can always come back and tan again". Like it was a cold or something that I would just get rid of and be back in the tanning bed soon.

The most common reaction seemed to be almost relief, accompanied by the response of "well, they can just cut it out right?" It was so non-chalant that I almost started to feel the same.. that maybe skin cancer was no big deal.

It wasn't until my dermatologist stressed to me that having skin cancer would be life changing; that I would have a large (rather ugly) scar, would need to make changes in my sun protection routine, and that I would need to have my skin checked every 3 months; that I realized, Skin Cancer is Cancer and Skin Cancer is a “big deal”.

  

A skin cancer diagnosis WILL change your life and could even end it.

An estimated 16,170 people in the US will die from skin cancer in the year 2015. And the World Health Organization estimates that more than 65,000 people a year die worldwide from skin cancer.

This May, re evaluate how you love and protect your skin! By simply wearing proper sun protection, and encouraging others to do the same, we can prevent Skin Cancer!

As always, protect and love the skin you're in.

*Facts from the American Academy of Dermatology at www.aad.org