Wear a Hat While on the Sunny Side of the Street--Especially If You're Menopausal!
By: Carrie E. Pierce

How many of us are immediately transported back to our teen years by a whiff of Johnson’s Baby Oil?
Just the aroma brings back vivid memories of our Wonder Years: days spent by the pool, hanging out with friends, our skin drenched in oil- sizzling.
Ah… the Golden Days...

Fortunately, we grew up and learned the error of our ways.

As adults we know the importance of sun protection and the risks of sun exposure.
As an Aesthetician specializing in Menopausal skin health, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time researching this subject.

For the record and as concisely as possible, I am providing my findings to you here.
You may or may not be shocked by them.
Either way, it is the latest information available- and you need to know it-especially as you move through the Menopause process!

Skin Cancer is becoming an epidemic. Malignant Melanoma is growing in the US alone at a rate of 7% per year.
The countries showing the greatest growth in skin cancer development though are those very countries promoting vigorous use of chemical sunscreens.

Dermatologists and physicians are scratching their heads and are taking a closer look.
What they are finding is very alarming.

The increased use of chemical sunscreens is the main reason for the increasing skin cancer problem, and for the following reasons:

• Sunscreen users tend to stay out in the sun for much longer periods of time than non-sunscreen users.

• Chemical sunscreens are formulated to absorb only UVB radiation and in doing so, they will let in almost all of the UVA rays. These rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are absorbed by the melanocytes. UVA rays also have a depressing effect on the immune system.

• Most sunscreens utilize 2 to 5% benzophenone or its derivatives: oxybenzone and/or benzophenone-3).
These are active ingredients. Benzophenone is an incredibly strong free radical generator, actually working to trigger cancer development.
Benzophenone is activated by UV light, turning on its cancer-causing power.
This sunscreen ingredient is highly toxic.

• Regular sunscreen use stops the skin’s ability to absorb Vitamin D. Total avoidance of the sun is not in our body’s best interest, as Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many of the diseases that women fear most: osteoporosis, colon cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. It is crucial to allow your body to receive at least 30 minutes of unblocked sun exposure during non-peak hours (10 AM -2 PM) daily for maximum health, and this becomes all the more crucial as Menopause sets in.

 I’ve always promoted the use of mineral sunblocks, i.e.: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, mica based mineral makeup bases, etc. because minerals are extremely benign and incredibly effective. They work to reflect the UVA and UVB rays; bouncing them off of the skin’s surface and not allowing penetration. They are classified as Physical Sunscreens because of their ability to form a protective physical barrier on the skin.
Our old friend Zinc Oxide has grown up!

It is now available in skin tinted creams, fun colored pastes and even colorless sprays.
I highly recommend it for safe and effective sun protection.
There are many things one can do to wisely play in the sun.
My best advice is as follows:

1) Do wear mineral based sunblock when out in the sun during peak hours (10AM-3PM)
2) At all costs avoid the use of chemical based sunscreens
3) Drink green tea often as it has been shown to actually protect the skin from skin cancer development and sun damage
4) Wear a wide brimmed hat or ball cap, sunglasses and long sleeved, loose-fitting shirts when outside
5) Drink plenty of high quality water (this is a good tip for almost anything!)
6) Do NOT go out unprotected on cloudy days
7) Allow your skin to have 30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure daily, but during off peak hours, for maximum Vitamin D absorption
8) Protect your eyes with high quality sunglasses, though occasional sunlight needs to be absorbed through the eyes as well, for maximum health.

Now, a word for you Tanning Bed fans:
Recent studies by skin cancer specialists are showing that tanning beds are just as dangerous, if not more so than natural sunlight.
Tanning beds cause more types of tumor development than previously thought, as the bulbs give out dangerous levels of UV light.
They have long been thought to trigger melanoma development, but are now also being shown to directly link to other types of skin cancer development as well.

A tan is nothing more than a scar; the skin’s panicked attempt to protect itself from further injury.
Every time you tan, you are creating skin damage and are speeding up the skin’s aging processes, regardless of the method used. And too, as the natural act of being Menopausal sets one up for extreme and pronounced skin and membrane dryness, one has to ask: does it make ANY sense to VOLUNTARILY dehydrate and burn the surface of one's skin for vanity's sake!?

If you aren’t making informed choices re: sun protection, you are also causing damage to your body.
Stay aware as the new findings are troubling!