How the Sun Sees You — A Fascinating Video

Photographer Thomas Leveritt created this fascinating video using a special filter showing what people look like in ultraviolet light. Perhaps THIS will help you remember to WEAR SUNSCREEN! Check it out. And protect that beautiful skin!



More on the making of this video here on Slate: The Face of Ultraviolet

What's Your Sunscreen IQ? Know These Facts.

Here are some quick facts about sunscreen from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

To protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays, apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every few hours. Here are the important facts.

What does UV mean? Before you select an effective sunscreen, you should know Ultraviolet (UV) radiation that affects the skin are classified as UVA and UVB.

What is UVA? UVA is the longest of the UV.  It can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and plays a major role in skin aging and wrinkling.  Recent studies show it causes the development of skin cancer.  UVA penetrates glass and clouds.

What is UVB? UVB is responsible for burning, tanning, accelerating the skin aging and also plays a key role in the development of skin cancer.  UVB varies by season, location and time of day.  The most intense amount of UVB hits the U.S. between 10:00am and 4:00PM.

What is SPF? Sun Protection factor (SPF) measures the protection provided by a sunscreen against UVB.  It is defined as the ratio of how long it takes for skin to redden with sunscreen compared to without sunscreen. Although the SPF ratings found on sunscreen packages apply mainly to UVB rays, many sunscreen manufacturers include ingredients that protect the skin from some UVA rays as well.  Higher SPF numbers are preferable, but don’t let an inflated number lull you into a false sense of security, especially because an SPF measures protection only from UVB – not the more dangerous UVA rays.

What is Broad Spectrum? When choosing the right sunscreen select a product that provides “broad-spectrum” protection for both UVA and UVB. If you are going to the beach or pool make sure it is water-resistant and doesn’t wash off in the water. You want to have an SPF of 15 or higher.

What ingredients should my sunscreen contain? When choosing a sunscreen select one that contains ingredients known to filter UVA. These include:

• Mexoryl SX
• avobenzone
• titanium dioxide
• zinc oxide.

Keep reading to learn more facts about sunscreen… click on: Protect Yourself from Too Much Sun This Summer

FDA Issues New Guidelines on Sunscreen

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced new regulations for labeling of sunscreen products. Look for products labeled "Broad Spectrum" for protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Both UVB and UVA radiation contribute to sunburn, skin cancer, and premature skin aging. Sunburn is primarily caused by UVB radiation.
Under the new labeling, sunscreens labeled as both Broad Spectrum and SPF 15 (or higher), if used regularly, as directed, and in combination with other sun protection measures will help prevent sunburn, reduce the risk of skin cancer, and reduce the risk of early skin aging.
Products that have SPF values between 2 and 14 may be labeled as Broad Spectrum if they pass the required test, but only products that are labeled both as Broad Spectrum with SPF values of 15 or higher may state that they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, when used as directed.
Any product that is not Broad Spectrum, or that is Broad Spectrum but has an SPF between 2 to 14, will be required to have a warning stating that the product has not been shown to help prevent skin cancer or early skin aging.
View more information for consumers on the FDA labeling requirements for sunscreens here:http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm258416.htm

The FDA has a series of videos on sunscreens. Click here to view the FDA YouTube Channel.

Don't Forget the Sunscreen!

Warmer weather is here and now is the time to protect your skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays. Summer temperatures mean showing more skin, and a good sunscreen is vital in maintaining beautiful and healthy skin. Sunscreens are designed to either absorb or reflect both types of the sun's ultra violet rays. UVA rays cause reddening and sunburn while the UVB rays breakdown collagen.
 
We carry EltaMD sunscreen, an excellent sunscreen that is paraben-free, which is perfect for acne-prone and sensitive skin and provides both UVA and UVB protection. To learn more about treatments and products offered at Christine Hamori Cosmetic Surgery & Skin, please contact our office at 781-934-2200.

Learn more about sunscreens in this Boston.com article: Environmental group releases sunscreen rankings and warnings.

And there's lots more information on sunscreen from the Skin Cancer Foundation.