Melanoma in children

Melanoma is possible in young children! This is what I found out: "The disease is rare for adolescents and even more rare for very young children," adds Madeleine Duvic, M.D., professor and director ad interim of M. D. Anderson's Department of Dermatology and associate medical director of the institution's Melanoma & Skin Center.
Melanoma can occur at any age, Duvic says, but it is usually diagnosed in a person's 20s to 40s. About 100 melanoma patients, age 2 to 19, have been treated at M. D. Anderson since 1992, with the majority between the ages of 14 and 19, Herzog says. National statistics say melanoma found between ages:
14 and 19 occurs in 1.3 persons per 100,000
10 and 14 occurs in 0.3 persons per 100,000
No data is available for children younger than 10 because melanoma occurs so infrequently at that age, thus making cancer studies virtually impossible, Herzog says.
Melanoma in adults is attributed mainly to sun exposure that could have taken decades to develop. The cause of melanoma in young children is not known, Herzog says.

See the complete article here

My new tan!!

Hi everyone! I was at the beach this weekend, on vacation, and I was confused as to whether apply sunscreen or not. Why? you might ask, well, because of the news I posted the other day that said that the sun was good because it helped the skin produce Vitamin E. So, I had a decision to make. Should I listen what science has always said about the dangers of sun exposure or should I pay attention to the new data about the sun and Vitamin E production? Well, I ended up deciding to spend some time in the sun without applying sunblock and after about 20-30 minutes I applied sunblock and spent the rest of my time at the beach in the sun with sunblock. I think it was a smart thing to do. I ended up tanned to just about the right amount, so, all is well!

Vitamin D

More info On Vitamin D:
_Several studies observing large groups of people found that those with higher vitamin D levels also had lower rates of cancer. For some of these studies, doctors had blood samples to measure vitamin D, making the findings particularly strong. Even so, these studies aren't the gold standard of medical research — a comparison over many years of a large group of people who were given the vitamin with a large group who didn't take it. In the past, the best research has deflated health claims involving other nutrients, including vitamin E and beta carotene.
_Lab and animal studies show that vitamin D stifles abnormal cell growth, helps cells die when they are supposed to, and curbs formation of blood vessels that feed tumors.
_Cancer is more common in the elderly, and the skin makes less vitamin D as people age.
_Blacks have higher rates of cancer than whites and more pigment in their skin, which prevents them from making much vitamin D.
_Vitamin D gets trapped in fat, so obese people have lower blood levels of D. They also have higher rates of cancer.
_Diabetics, too, are prone to cancer, and their damaged kidneys have trouble converting vitamin D into a form the body can use.
_People in the northeastern United States and northerly regions of the globe like Scandinavia have higher cancer rates than those who get more sunshine year-round.

Here are some of the most important ways you can prevent UV overexposure and protect the health of your skin while tanning

Clean your skin completely before tanning. Some ingredients in makeup and perfume can make skin more susceptible to sunburn.

Moisturize your skin with lotions specifically developed for indoor tanning, preferably before and after your tanning session. Moisturizers prepare your skin for UV exposure, reducing the drying effects of tanning.
allow a minimum of 24 hours to pass before tanning again, indoors or outdoors. Industry and medical standards recommend waiting 48 to 72 hours, the span of time required for skin to repair minor damage and to create melanin and a tan.

When tanning nude, protect sensitive areas of the body that normally are not exposed to UV light. Skin on the underarms, backs of legs, buttocks, and genitalia can suffer severe sunburn from the same light intensity that only tans the rest of your body. Expose these areas gradually by covering them halfway through tanning sessions for the first three or four times you tan nude.

Protect your lips with a lip balm that blocks UV light; lips cannot produce melanin, leaving them at risk for overexposure.

If you are sunburned, soothe your skin with a moisturizer or aloe gel, and don't try to tan until the redness completely subsides.
Seek the advice of a medical professional whenever you have a health concern-such as rashes, itching, or any other skin problems or irregularities.

Too Much Sun

Oh my God! Every time I feel like tanning I will keep these pics in mind to help me remember my sunblock!

how does tanning happen?

The sun's rays contain two types of ultraviolet radiation that reach your skin: UVA and UVB. UVB radiation burns the upper layers of skin (the epidermis), causing sunburns.
UVA radiation is what makes people tan. UVA rays penetrate to the lower layers of the epidermis, where they trigger cells called melanocytes (pronounced: mel-an-oh-sites) to produce melanin. Melanin is the brown pigment that causes tanning.
Melanin is the body's way of protecting skin from burning. Darker-skinned people tan more deeply than lighter-skinned people because their melanocytes produce more melanin. But just because a person doesn't burn does not mean that he or she is also protected against skin cancer and other problems.

Serious about tanning?

Even when you're serious about protecting your skin, you may sometimes want the glow of a tan. Luckily, many products on the market — but not sun lamps or tanning beds — will let you tan safely and sun-free.
One safe way to go bronze is with sunless self-tanners. These "tans in a bottle" contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which gradually stains the dead cells in your skin’s outer layer. The "tan" lasts until these skin cells slough off, so exfoliating or vigorously washing will make the color fade faster. Typically, these "fake bakes" last from several days to a week.

tanning tips

Eye protection- Simply put, WEAR IT! No, sunglasses won't do. Use eye wear approved for indoor tanning. The best ones are goggle type that completely cover your eyes. Contacts should be removed before tanning as well. Your eyes will dry out from tanning and so will your contacts, which can be quite uncomfortable.
How often should I tan? Typically the best exposure schedule to gain a tan is approximately 3 times per week. Depending on your desired tan level it could be less but in general should not be more. Tanning too often dries your skin and can actually cause you to tan less per session, or in extreme cases even go backwards.

So don't be tempted to over do it. Most people can maintain their tan in about 6 sessions per month (evenly spread out), after they have achieved their desired level of tan. Everyone is different so adjust this according to your type of skin.
What do the different exposure times do for me?

First, you should only tan enough to receive a very small amount of pink color in tender areas that goes away in a couple of hours. If it does not go away quickly or is sensitive to touch, this area has burned. Burning is bad and does not enhance your tan. This exposure time depends on the person and may be 6 minutes or 20 minutes. It also depends on the power of the unit.

For the record, the units with a lower max time are MORE powerful. If you go in an old 20 minute unit for 20 min, then go in a newer 10 minute unit for 10 min, you just received the same exposure of light! It only took you half as long as before...and your time is valuable, right? So this is a HUGE benefit to you, the tanner, if you do it for the same price, right? These newer shorter units cost a LOT more money to buy and operate so the next time you are offered to upgrade for free, say "Thanks", not "no, I want ALL my minutes." This will show the salon that you are educated about tanning!

As far as wanting "the max" exposure the first time you tan for the season, don't do it. Typically, if you can do this without burning, you either have a very dark complexion, or the units are not kept up. If a 95 pound man and a 430 pound man go to an "all you can eat buffet" they do not eat the same quantity of food. It's the same with tanning. Your maximum amount of time is the best amount for YOU, no matter how many minutes it is. So don't over do it. If it's 7 minutes or 12 minutes, this is the right amount for you to tan you most effectively.
Lastly, use common sense.

If you feel too hot get out of the light! Above all look for a professional salon to ask questions. They should be able to help you tan as effectively as possible and it should be a pleasant experience for you!

what can I believe now?

Vitamin D research may have doctors prescribing sunshine
The Associated Press

Scientists are excited about a vitamin again. But unlike fads that sizzled and fizzled, the evidence this time is strong and keeps growing.
If it bears out, it will challenge one of medicine's most fundamental beliefs: that people need to coat themselves with sunscreen whenever they're in the sun. Doing that may actually contribute to far more cancer deaths than it prevents, some researchers think.
The vitamin is D, nicknamed the "sunshine vitamin" because the skin makes it from ultraviolet rays. Sunscreen blocks its production, but dermatologists and health agencies have long preached that such lotions are needed to prevent skin cancer.
Now some scientists are questioning that advice.
The reason is that vitamin D increasingly seems important for preventing and even treating many types of cancer. In the last three months alone, four separate studies found it helped protect against lymphoma and cancers of the prostate, lung and, ironically, the skin. The strongest evidence is for colon cancer.
Many people aren't getting enough vitamin D. It's hard to do from food and fortified milk alone, and supplements are problematic.
So the thinking is this: Even if too much sun leads to skin cancer, which is rarely deadly, too little sun may be worse.

This article startles me and makes me doubt absolutely everything that scientist say. No one knows what to believe and it's because scientist know nothing. One day something is bad and the next it's great. I hate being teased around and it seems like that is what they do to us. I'm prepared to just follow my gut instinct and do what I think is right instead of listening to what the 'experts' have to say.

tanning guide

Moisturize - Applying a good moisturizer a few hours before you self tan is a great way to make sure your skin is ready to accept the self-tanner.

Apply self-tanner to one section of your body at a time. Be more concerned about even application than rubbing it all the way in. Avoid areas of your body where you do not want to have color.

Use gloves - Nobody looks good with orange palms, so when you spray tanner on your hands in order to tan your face, wear a pair of latex gloves to prevent stains. Also, between toes/fingers: Avoid these areas o. Tanner collects in webbing, causing discoloration. Heels, knees, knuckles, elbows: Skin around these joints are drier and more prone to streaks. As stated above MOISTURIZE -
EXFOLIATE Use a loofah on these areas and apply moisturizer the night before tanning. Belly button: Remove excess self-tanner with a cotton swab.
Be aware that different parts of your body “pick up” self-tanner more easily than others. For example, some people find that their legs turn brown more easily than their arms or torso, while others find that their faces and necks change color fastest. Experience will help you determine which is true for you.

Be careful around your nose, eyes, ears, hairline, and lips. A cotton swab, makeup sponge, or synthetic makeup brush can help blend a thin, even amount smoothly over those areas. To keep light hair from turning color, apply a layer of conditioner or Vaseline over the hairline.
Self-tanner can stain clothes -

Wait at least 15v minutes AFTER application to get dressed.
Stand somewhere where you won't be leaning on fabrics - don't do it on your new light carpet or anywhere near your bed.

Protect your feet - Because they typically get less sun than the rest of you, your feet are paler and may get dark faster. If you are spraying yourself, go lightly on the feet. If you are using a booth, use the paper booties.
WE tend to make mistakes so just in case S.O.S for self tanners -

If you do find you have a streak or a patch that's too dark, there are a number of things you can do. First try exfoliating the area - this is the gentlest option and may lift a streak. If it won't budge that way, try using an oil-based cleanser with cotton and warm water, or invest in fake tan remover.

If you're really having trouble, try nail polish remover or a strong alcohol-based toner - BUT DO NOT USE AROUND THE EYE AREA - IT MAY BURN!

5 indoor tanning tips

Protect your eyes. Simply closing them or wearing outdoor sunglasses while you tan is not adequate protection against possible long-term eye injury. Wearing the FDA-compliant eye protection can eliminate that risk.

Protect your lips. They do not produce melanin and will burn easily unless you protect them with lip balms or sunscreen.

If you plan to tan in the nude, cover previously unexposed areas for the majority of your tanning session for the first few sessions. Gradually increase exposure to these areas, giving the skin time to build melanin production.

If you are taking any medications, please check with your doctor or pharmacist. Some medications can cause reactions with UV light.

Moisturize your skin. The heat and light from tanning sessions can dry your skin. Because moist skin tans best, i recommend you moisturize before and after each tanning session to get the most out of each session.

Five great tips for a great tan.

Five great tips for a great tan.

1. Avoid unprotected exposure to the sun. Repeated exposure, even without burning, not only ages the skin -- it increases the risk of skin cancer.
   
2. Two light coats of Sunless Tan are better than one heavy coat.
   
3. If you spray too heavily, blot with a makeup sponge or tissue and reapply.
   
4. Uneven or unwanted tan may be removed with rubbing alcohol. Test your skin sensitivity to alcohol before applying.
   
5. Moisturize daily to maximize the life and look of your fabulous new tan.

Airbrush Tanning

Hi everyone!
I found this great info on airbrush tanning!!!!

Airbrush tans may look more like a natural tan with more even results. With an airbrush tan, a salon technician will hook up a DHA solution is to a spray compressor, and spray the tan onto you. Your eyes, lips, and nose will be covered to protect them during the process, which takes anywhere from about 5 seconds to 1 minute. A few hours after the application, you'll start noticing your new, safe tan.

With both self-tanners and airbrush tanning, you'll get better results if you exfoliate your skin with a scrub brush or loofah before the tanner is applied. This evens your skin tone and removes dead skin cells.

And with both types of sunless tanning, you'll still need to wear sunscreen when you go outdoors to protect you from the sun's rays. Fake tans don't generate melanin production, so they won't protect you against sunburn. But the upside is that you get the warm glow of a tan while you keep your skin beautiful for years to come.

Someone wrote this information on tanning which I found interesting:

'I know that tanning units have a constant output of UV rays—unlike the sun, whose rays are difficult for any of us to measure or attempt to do so except of course, the scientists and such like. The predictability of a single sunbed session is fairly obvious to those of us familiar with it, giving us a nice sense of security and well-being. So, we know that for any single sunbed session the outcome is pretty certain [except for beginners who need to find out from their tanning operators and get informed.]We know this because of the ‘time-limit‘ involved which is described in Tanning language as ‘DOSE’. This dose can be adjusted quite precisely by us as we become more familiar with our experience on the sunbed, to suit our skin-type and our tan condition at that moment. We can always alter our time [dose] on the sunbed. We can predict what we need. Although this is a very technical subject, you’re just getting an outline of it here; a very simple one. The basic fact to be remembered is; that the dose needed to get a SUNBURN is a lot less than one needed to get a SUNTAN. If you think about it you know that is true. On holiday in the sun, for hours at a time, [no shade sunbathing, which is highly recommended], you always know how easy it is to get SUNBURNED---in the usual places--- on the shoulders, tops of legs, nose and cheeks--- the usual places. You know that and always hope to avoid it. Perhaps you don’t get a bad sunburn. You just get that tingly, tight feeling and soreness. This happens on the sunbed too at the salon, if your dose is too long and the sunbed too intense via the lamps. Whichever. The damage being done to the cells of your skin is being done and there is nothing you can do to stop it. It is a process which once activated will carry through to its own healing. Yes. You do heal obviously. You may not even think much of the event depending on how bad it is. That’s not the point. The point is SUNBURN is bad for you. Really bad. It is a no—no. Absolutely don’t do it. You just do not know what the implications are for this. So----- we know that getting a suntan for a lot of people, whether it’s on the sunbed or on the beach means the high risk of getting sunburned, and that getting a tan in either case is dependant on taking it easy. That it takes a lot more than ‘just getting some rays’ to get a suntan. So---to avoid this sunburn business----because you see it’s not the sunbathing itself, whether or not you’re on the beach or on the sunbed, that’s the issue –or the problem; getting the rays whichever way------ is more good for you than not; it’s the dose which is the deciding factor in all this. [I only know because I make it my business to know via scientific data, reports of which are recorded from the many ongoing conferences and summits throughout the world. You’d be surprised how many professional people and groups are dedicated to research and tests and the quest for more solid proof, keeping up to date with our health issues regarding this topic and all it’s variations. It is fascinating and does eventually filter through to ‘our’ world where laws are made and health and safety issues are considered.]'

new findings to prevent skin cancer

Great news for tan lOvers, like me!
'Findings from a study led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital Boston have rewritten science's understanding of the process of skin tanning -- an insight that has enabled them to develop a promising way of protecting fair-skinned people from skin cancer caused by exposure to sunlight. The findings suggests that medicinally-induced tans can protect at-risk individuals from the disease.'
The study consists in applying a cream that turns on the skins tanning macinery.

the Only safe way tO tan is>>>

I thOught that tanning beds were a safe way tO tan, but recently I heard On the news that they can alsO cause infectiOns and stuff and that they can be just as harmful tO the skin as sun expOsure>
Sunless self-tanners seem tO be the Only safe way tO get a tan> At least there are several OptiOns, like sprays, lotions, and towelettes, and they're easy to use>
SO I guess it's nOt all that bad> I just have tO find One that's nOt messy, because all the Ones that I have tried have been really messy>

interesting facts

>Interesting facts abOut the sun and how we can prOtect Ourselves frOm its harm>
You probably know that water is a major reflector of UV radiation — but so is snow. Snow skiing and other winter activities carry significant risk of sunburn, so always apply sunblock before hitting the slopes.
Certain medications, such as antibiotics used to treat acne and birth control pills, can increase your sun sensitivity. Ask your doctor whether your medications might have this effect and what you should do.
Avoid tanning "accelerators" or tanning pills that claim to speed up the body's production of melanin or darken the skin. There's no proof that they work and they aren't approved by government agencies for tanning purposes.

Great Tips for a Great Tan

Apply sunscreen thickly and frequently. If you're not sure you're putting on enough, switch to one with a higher SPF. Regardless of the SPF, always reapply sunscreen after a couple of hours. Most broad-spectrum sunscreens are more effective at blocking UVB rays than UVA rays. So even if you don't get a sunburn, UVA rays could still be doing unseen damage to your skin.
Reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours and after swimming or sweating. In the direct sun, wear a sunscreen with a higher SPF, like SPF 30. While playing sports, use sunscreen that's waterproof and sweatproof.

Take frequent breaks. The sun's rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. During those hours, take breaks to cool off indoors or in the shade for a while before heading out again.

Wear a hat with a brim and sunglasses that provide almost 100% protection against ultraviolet radiation.