Beauty is Only Skin Deep
"Benevolence is gift-wrapped in a variety of beautiful skin color." -Ayn Rand
Living in southern California, it can be very easy to be swept up by beauty and fashion. With summer, glowing tan skin and a sculpted body tends to be a symbol of summer health. We often forget about the UV trauma or overuse injuries that the sun and working out can cause to attain it. When attaining outer physical health, it is important to understand the safe boundaries of our body.
Thirty minutes in the sun with arms and legs exposed is recommended for maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D in the body. Beyond the thirty minutes, it is recommended that a regular application of sunblock be applied to the skin to prevent skin burns and skin cancer. The Wall Street Journal (7/29, Hackman, Subscription Publication) reports US House members Monday approved a bill that will authorize the FDA to accelerate approval of advanced sunscreen products. The paper notes the agency hasn’t approved any new sunscreen ingredients in 15 years. USA Today (7/29, Painter) reports, “Those of you tanning or burning your skin this summer should stop – seek the shade, wear a hat and some sunscreen and, whatever you do, stay out of indoor tanning salons.” Although that’s “a familiar skin-cancer prevention message...it’s coming from a new source: the office of the US Surgeon General.” This “call to action from acting Surgeon General Boris Lushniak...says that skin cancer is a “major public health problem” and that too much exposure to indoor and outdoor ultraviolet light is a major cause.” USA Today notes that the FDA recently indicated that it will require tanning beds and lamps to carry warnings saying they should not be used by individuals younger than age 18. The Washington Post (7/29, Dennis) “To Your Health” blog reports that “Lushniak spoke to The Washington Post ahead of Tuesday’s report.” Lushniak said “the facts are that indoor tanning is a source of ultraviolet radiation, period. Ultraviolet radiation is a known carcinogen, period.” An observational study published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that stress makes our bodies age faster. Signs of aging were less in those with healthy eating, exercising, and sleeping habits.
Thirty minutes in the sun with arms and legs exposed is recommended for maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D in the body. Beyond the thirty minutes, it is recommended that a regular application of sunblock be applied to the skin to prevent skin burns and skin cancer. The Wall Street Journal (7/29, Hackman, Subscription Publication) reports US House members Monday approved a bill that will authorize the FDA to accelerate approval of advanced sunscreen products. The paper notes the agency hasn’t approved any new sunscreen ingredients in 15 years. USA Today (7/29, Painter) reports, “Those of you tanning or burning your skin this summer should stop – seek the shade, wear a hat and some sunscreen and, whatever you do, stay out of indoor tanning salons.” Although that’s “a familiar skin-cancer prevention message...it’s coming from a new source: the office of the US Surgeon General.” This “call to action from acting Surgeon General Boris Lushniak...says that skin cancer is a “major public health problem” and that too much exposure to indoor and outdoor ultraviolet light is a major cause.” USA Today notes that the FDA recently indicated that it will require tanning beds and lamps to carry warnings saying they should not be used by individuals younger than age 18. The Washington Post (7/29, Dennis) “To Your Health” blog reports that “Lushniak spoke to The Washington Post ahead of Tuesday’s report.” Lushniak said “the facts are that indoor tanning is a source of ultraviolet radiation, period. Ultraviolet radiation is a known carcinogen, period.” An observational study published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that stress makes our bodies age faster. Signs of aging were less in those with healthy eating, exercising, and sleeping habits.
If you are experiencing skin issues, you are not alone. A medical professional can help provide resources or further evaluation of the cause.