Posts Tagged ‘sunscreen’
Monday, January 17th, 2011
The beaches of Thailand are among the more exotic in the world. Visitors and locals agree that these beaches have something unique, which is different from others and leave nothing to be desired. Detailed in this article are some of the Thailand beaches considered as the most beautiful of this country. They offer the best panoramic view to visitors and the landscape that you just can’t imagine.
Phuket Thailand – Phuket is an idyllic beach destination and among the top choices when traveling to Thailand. This place is a little more crowded compared to other beaches I’ll mention in this article. It is a great place for diving and also has some of the clearest warm waters in the whole world. With its 540 square kilometers of land area and a number of sandy beaches, Phuket is unique and fascinating destination to explore. The rich culture, beautiful coastline, spectacular natural beauty, loads of sports, shopping, nightlife and dining room are just some of its attractions. Just off-shore are dozens of smaller islands that are easily reached in a few hours by boat. It is believed that the natural wonders of this continent are said to be found around Phuket.
Perhaps the most famous tourist area in Phuket is Patong Beach Central West Coast, perhaps because of its large and long beach. Most of Phuket’s nightlife and cheap shopping area is located in Patong; because of this the area has become progressively more developed. Patong means “the forest filled with banana leaves” in Thailand. Other popular beaches that are located south of Patong are: Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Nai Harn Beach, Rawai, Kamala Beach, Surin Beach and Bang Tao Beach.
Khao Lak – Khao Lak, a seaside resort in Thailand, which is a starting point for excursions to scuba diving cruises to the Similan and Surin islands. With the park’s pristine reefs, it is considered one of the most famous dive sites in the world, also affording some of the best snorkeling in Thailand. What separates Khao Lak from its neighboring tourist destinations like Phuket, is its privacy and seclusion. With the absence of the overcrowded tourists, a nightlife that is friendly for families and the provincial ordinance prohibiting infrastructures to be built above the height of a coconut tree (although more or less), keeping Khao Lak’s beauty naturally.
West Raily – West Raily Thailand beach is also another great beach in Thailand. It is considered as a diamonds found in the rough. The sand is white and milky while the water is very clear. Besides fishing, diving is a sport so popular here. This place is accessible by long-tail boat so expect and prepare for a long ride. Be amazed by its beautiful white sand beaches, soaring limestone cliffs, viewpoints, caves and hidden lagoons within the reefs, shaped and fed by how the tides are changing. All within walking distance.
At Railay there are no roads, just trails. No buses, no cars only long-tail boats. In Krabi, you can find limestone headlands and steep jungle valleys in which the only access is by sea. Experience the feeling of being in a tropical paradise, with no roads, no buses, the clean Railay offers lazy days as well as an adventure you will never forget and an evening to chill out. With beautiful limestone rocks and cliffs, Railay is an epic travel destination considering its numerous offshore tropical island destinations. Accommodations are varied with plenty of hotels. Most of the mid-range hotels are located in Ao Nang.
Phi Phi Don – Phi Phi Don, Thailand is last but not the least among all the magnificent beaches I mention above. It is considered one of the better known and is a favorite of the rich and famous and the wanna-be. You should visit this place, because the view is breathtaking and the water is warm and inviting. Exploring Phi Phi is great fun, with diving, snorkeling, canoeing or climbing, whenever you want to take a break from the velvety soft sand.
Only a short 45 minutes from Phuket will transport you to a tropical paradise and famous islands of Koh Phi Phi. Every view is a Kodak moment. It’s the ultimate tropical getaway in Thailand. It’s fine, white sand beaches and breathtaking rock formations rising vivid turquoise blue around the islands immediately confirm you’ve arrived in paradise.
Visitors to Thailand will discover the truly exotic. Beaches galore with full accommodations, adventure excursions, night-life and sight-seeing. All that is required is your favorite beach bag for your towel and sunscreen.
Learn more about reef-friendly sunscreen. Stop by Annie Shelton’s site where you can find out all about quality sunscreens for your days at the beach.
Tags: beach gear, beach shelter, beach umbrella, skin cancer, sunscreen
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Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
Protect Yourself and the Coral Reefs by Using Reef-Friendly Sunscreens
* Keeping you and your loved ones safe in the sun is very important. Aside from this, you also want to do everything possible to avoid damage to the coral reefs in the sea. In 2009, there were more than a million people diagnosed with skin cancer in the United States. Aside from that, two in every three people are also in the same condition at the age of 70 in Australia. Even if you’re not worried about the risks of cancer it is still worth knowing that sun exposure is the leading cause of premature skin aging. If you don’t want to increase your chances of developing skin cancer and accelerating your wrinkles, then read this article.
* Wrinkling and age spots, signs of age in our skin, may be inevitable (or at least a daily battle!) so it is wise for you to be generous with the sunscreen. Making it one of your rituals deserves consideration since doing this can have plenty of benefits to you and to your skin. But being generous with the sunscreen doesn’t mean that you don’t want to spare a thought about our coral reefs. It is estimated that 5,000 tons of sunscreen is washed off from us and into the sea every year. Even at very low concentrations, it is believed that common chemicals contained in sunscreens are one of the main causes of coral bleaching. Scientifically, it is estimated that 10 percent of the world’s coral reefs are at risk with the present rate of sunscreen washed off in the sea.
* Because of these facts, many people today are looking for a sunscreen that is specially designed to be safer for the coral reefs and marine life. At the same time, be careful with the statements like “natural ingredients” and “biodegradable”. First and foremost, biodegradable does not mean reef-friendly, there is some consensus that those sunscreens that are made based on zinc are safe for corals compare to those that are using octylmethoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3 and octocrylene. Reef-Safe, is a brand that has gained popularity recently. This product has been proved by the American Lifeguard Association and is now recommended by many tourist associations and resort groups in the Caribbean. According to research, their products are non-toxic to coral reefs and breakdown easily (in salt-water) compared to conventional sunscreens. Some of its well known products are the Caribbean Solutions and Loving Naturals sunscreen product lines. These products are known to be made from 100% natural ingredients and safe-to-reef and non-toxic to fish sun products.
* Aside from saving our coral and marine life in using greener sunscreens, what is at most important is that we are also saving ourselves. The same chemicals found in many sunscreens that threaten our coral reefs are also found dangerous to humans. It is now advisable by many doctors to not use products that contain benzophenone, most especially in kids because of potential health risks. Aside from using reef-friendly sunscreens, there are also other steps that we all can take to ensure sun safety, such as staying in the shade during the hours when the sun’s rays are strongest. You can also wear a rash guard if you are in the water, or use a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses if you are not.
* The real culprit endangering the reefs and marine life is something that every responsible individual takes to the ocean. Ingredients found in sun block are causing an environmental problem. Four separate ingredients, paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone, and camphor, can wake up viruses that lie dormant inside the algae that helps keep coral alive in a symbiotic relationship. Try following this advice and you’ll definitely enjoy going the sun and the sea.
Want to find out more about sunscreens? Then visit Annie Shelton’s site on how to choose the best beach shelter for your needs.
categories: sunscreen,skin cancer,reef-friendly,sun protection
Tags: reef-friendly, skin cancer, sun protection, sunscreen
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Saturday, August 28th, 2010
As a chiropractor in San Diego, I feel like I need to set the records straight. If you are like many people, you probably think the sun causes skin cancer. Our chiropractic patients in San Diego regularly bring up this issue and ask about prevention. And why shouldn’t you? Some news coverage has demonized the sun as unsafe. It has sent many running from it like Vampires at dawn.
The truth is that overexposure to the sun can cause problems. What you probably don’t know – underexposure can be dangerous to your health. Here’s why: A new study looking at the relationship between vitamin D serum levels and the risk of colon and breast cancer across the globe has estimated the number of cases of cancer that could be prevented each year if vitamin D3 levels met the target proposed by researchers.
Cedric F. Garland, Dr.P.H., is a cancer prevention specialist at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Colleagues estimate that 250,000 cases of colorectal cancer and 350,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented worldwide by increasing intake of vitamin D3. This is particular in countries north of the equator. Vitamin D3 is available through diet, supplements and exposure of the skin to direct sunlight.
The research paper which looks at the dose-response relationship between vitamin D and cancer will be published in the August edition of the journal of Nutrition Reviews. It stated that for the first time, we are saying that 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancer may possibly be prevented each year worldwide, including nearly 150,000 in the United States alone,” said study co-author Garland.
The study combined data from surveys of serum vitamin D levels during winter from 15 countries. It is the first such study to look at satellite measurements of sunshine and cloud cover in countries where actual blood serum levels of vitamin D3 had also been determined. The data was then applied to 177 countries to estimate the average serum level of a vitamin D metabolite of people living there.
The data revealed an inverse association of serum vitamin D with risk of colorectal and breast cancer. The protective effect began at levels ranging from 24 to 32 nanograms per milliliter of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in the serum. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is the main indicator of vitamin D status. The late winter average 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the U.S. is about 15-18 ng/ml. The researchers maintain that increasing vitamin D levels in populations, particularly those in northern climates, has the potential to both prevent and possibly serve as an adjunct to existing treatments for cancer.
It was stated that the suitable dose of vitamin D in order to reach this level could be very small in a lifeguard in Southern California. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it can be quite a lot for someone in Northern Europe who tends to remain indoors most of the year. This could be best achieved with a combination of diet, supplements and short intervals of 10 or 15 minutes a day in the sun. It could be less for very fair-skinned individuals.
The serum level recommended by the study would correspond to intake of 2000 International Units per day of vitamin D3 for a meaningful reduction in colorectal cancer. The researchers recommend 2000 IU/day, plus, when weather allows, a few minutes in the sun with at least 40% of the skin exposed, for a meaningful reduction in breast cancer incidence, unless the individual has a history of skin cancer or a photosensitivity disease. Garland also recommends moderate sun exposure and use of clothing and a hat when in the sun longer than 15 minutes.
Want to find out more about spinal decompression therapy, then visit New Century Spine Centers site on how to choose the best chiropractor for your needs.
Tags: anti-aging, cancer, chiropractic, chiropractor, dermatology, disease, health, medical, nutrition, optimum health, radiation, skin, skin cancer, sunscreen, supplements, wellness
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Sunday, August 15th, 2010
As a chiropractor in San Diego, I see more than just cases of back pain. Patients ask all kinds of health questions. For many years, we have known two things in regards to the sun to be true. First, the sun is bad for you. Therefore, exposure should be limited. Most people don’t know this, but the sun has three types of sun rays, not just two. The first is ultraviolet C light. This is also known as UVC. This ray usually does not reach our planet’s surface and this is good because it is believed only brief exposure to UVC rays is fatal to our body. Next is ultraviolet B radiation. This is also known as UVB rays. These have long been considered the tanning rays of the sun. They are strongest during the summer months when the Earth’s orbit is closest to the Sun. UVB rays are what produce a sun tan to our skin.
For many years, sunblocks and sunscreens only attempted to block UVB because science was unaware of the effects of UVA rays (the third type of sun ray) on the body. UVA was believed to be the safe ray in the 1980s, which spawned the growth and popularity of the artificial sun bed industry – some dermatologists even backed this artificial tanning! But, science now believes UVA rays actually do more damage than UVB rays! UVA rays are not dependant on how far the Earth is from the Sun – so the effects are the same all year round. What’s more, UVA penetrates light clothing and car windshields… even many hats. Over-exposure to the sun has been linked to premature aging and even deadly skin cancer.
For years, the sunblock industry has been booming with the promise their products protect you from the sun’s aging and cancerous rays. But, research now says these “truths” may not be so “true.” This brings us to the second so called truth which is limit exposure to the harmful rays of the sun by using high SPF sunscreens and sunblocks. For example, there is no consensus whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer. According to the Environmental Working Groups’ (ewg.org) finding, “The Food and Drug Administration’s 2007 draft sunscreen safety regulations say: FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer.” (FDA 2007). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) agrees. The IARC recommends clothing, hats and shade as primary barriers to UV radiation and writes “sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun” (IARC 2001a). Even worse, there is evidence emerging that sunscreen may actually increase the risk of skin cancer!
In 2007, the FDA published draft regulations that would prohibit manufacturers from labeling sunscreens over 50 SPF. The FDA stated that anything over 50 SPF was “inherently misleading.” Even an SPF of 50 can be misleading because of the way most people use sunscreen. Researchers speculate the cause or causes may be lack of UVA protection by most sunscreen for over 30 years, improper usage, staying in the sun longer with sunscreens and some of the ingredients. One big problem is the SPF (sun protection factor) myth.
A person using one-fourth the amount of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 only actually gets an SPF of 2.3. The same person using a sunscreen with SPF 100 ends up with only SPF 3.2. In the real world, tests show people apply only one-half to one fifth of the amount used when testing the sunscreen.
Then there are also the potential problems with the ingredients found in sunscreens. Retinyl palmitate (a form of Vitamin A also commonly used in sunscreens) may increase the risk of skin cancer. According to Environmental Working Groups, “The publicly available data from FDA’s new study suggest that when used in sun-exposed skin care products, retinyl palmitate and related chemicals may increase skin damage and elevate skin cancer risk instead of protecting the skin.” Also for example, oxybenzone which is a common ingredient, is a known hormone disruptor.
Also, according to Environmental Working Groups, 41% of all sunscreens contain retinyl palmitate. All of this may be surprising but what’s even more shocking is that the FDA first issued draft sunscreen regulations in 1978 and last updated the draft in 2007. The regulations are still not final, despite multiple announcements of impending completion. Until the agency formally issues its rules, companies are not required to verify their sunscreens work, including testing for SPF levels, checking waterproof claims or providing UVA protection. Nearly one in eight sunscreens does not block UVA rays. Many carry the seal of “The Skin Cancer Foundation.” According to the Environmental Working Groups, “The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) lends its logo to hundreds of sun protection products. SCF approval is easy, just document that your product has an SPF of at least 15 and provide results of basic tests (for SPF, skin reactions and water and sweat resistance, if such claims are made).
Confused? If you are, then you are not alone. Here’s something that will make the most of the confusion Disappear. Since sunscreens are probably not as safe as once thought, the best thing to do is stay out of the sun during its peak hours (10:00am – 2:00pm) and whenever possible, wear protective clothing instead of chemicals. Don’t forget, some sun is absolutely necessary for Vitamin D production and proper health. The amount of sun you should get depends on your skin type but you should NEVER burn.
Learn more about skin cancer. Stop by the back pain website site where you can get free information about chiropractic care and what it can do for you.
Tags: cancer, chiropractic, chiropractor, disease, health, melanoma, radiation, skin, skin damage, spf, sun, sun block, sunblock, sunscreen, tumor, UVA, UVB, UVC
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