Edna's Anti Aging Site

As you know, UVA and UVB's rays is one of the factor causes aging. That's why, we have to protect our bodies from this electromegnetic waves by choosing the right protector from head to toe.I divided this topic into two categories, protections for eyes and protections for skin.

Choosing the sunglasses to protect your eyes:
There's such a huge selection of sunglasses styles, prices and features that sometimes it's hard to decide which pair is the best. But, choose the best for your eyes because your eyes is the most important.

1. Choose the sunglasses that's providing protection from ultraviolet radiation, a component of sunlight that contributes to eye disease. According to FDA, the government agency that oversees sunglass manufacture and sales in the U.S., recommends the sunglasses with lenses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB radiation for eyes protections. The label should read either UV 400 or 100% UV protection. 
2. Sunglasses lenses that wrap around to your temples keep out more light and UV radiation than typical lenses.
3. Frames with a close-fitting wraparound style provide the best protection because they limit how much stray sunlight reaches your eyes from above and beyond the periphery of your sunglass lenses.
4. The amount of UV protection sunglasses provide is unrelated to the color and darkness of the lenses. A light amber-colored lens can provide the same UV protection as a dark gray lens. Your optician can verify that the lenses you choose provide 100 percent UV protection.
5. In addition to sunglasses, wearing a wide-brimmed hat on sunny days can reduce your eyes' exposure to UV and HEV rays by up to 50 percent. 
6. Sunglasses are important especially in winter, because fresh snow can reflect 80 percent of UV rays, nearly doubling your overall exposure to solar UV radiation. If you ski or snowboard, choosing the right ski goggles is essential for adequate UV protection on the slopes.

For your information, not all sunglasses block 100 percent of UV rays. If you're unsure about the level of UV protection your sunglasses provide, take them to your eye doctor or optician for an evaluation. Many eye care professionals have instruments such as spectrophotometers that can measure the amount of visible light and UV radiation your lenses block.

Choosing the sunscreen to your skin.
Choosing the protections for your skin is important to make your skin youthful, elastic and healthy.You can protect your skin from premature aging and skin cancers by using sun protective clothing and sunscreen on exposed areas. However, for a sunscreen to be effective, it must be used correctly.There's a few tips on how you can choose the sunscreens for your skin.

1. You must select a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB. In particular, choose a sunscreen that includes a good level (around 4% to 5% or more) of zinc oxide (also called micronized zinc), or titanium dioxide, or Parsol 1789 (also called avobenzone) among the list of active ingredients. Dermatologists at Duke University Medical Center have found that microfine zinc oxide is a more effective sunscreen than microfine titanium dioxide. It has been found to be stable, and it doesn't change in composition when exposed to the sun, or combined with other sunscreen agents.
2. Melaleuca's sunscreen Sun Shades Sport 45+ contains avobenzone, mentioned above, and three other sunscreen ingredients, to best cover the spectrum of the sun's radiation. The salicylates homosalate and octisalate provide protection from UVB radiation, and the benzophenone oxybenzone protects against UVA, while avobenzone provides protection from UVA and UVB (that's why it's called a broad-spectrum sunscreen). 
3. You must choose a sunscreen with a SPF 30 rating or higher – this is the minimum level now recommended by most dermatologists across America. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and measures the protection against UVB provided by a sunscreen. Futhermore, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, an SPF of 15 protects users from 93% of the sun's UVB rays. An SPF of 30 shields the skin from 97% of the sun's rays. SPF 50 provides 98% protection. The Foundation recommends using sunscreen with an SPF of at least30.                                                                      
4. Determine the activity you will be doing for the day and apply a product that will meet the task, e.g. water activities mean you should use a waterproof sunscreen. The water-resistant products must be reapplied every 40 minutes and waterproof ones every 80 minutes.  
5. Always choose a sunscreen that feels good on your skin – so you will be comfortable wearing it every day. The best way to be sure you like a sunscreen is to try a small sample on your skin. Once you have found a sunscreen or several that meet these four needs, use it regularly and properly and it will provide excellent sun protection. 
6. Avoid products containing musk, lavender oil, bergamot, sandalwood, cinnamates or the old standard sun protector call PABA (para-amino benzoic acid). Synthetic melanin is ineffective, offering little or no sun protection.
   
7. If exercising outdoors or going to the beach, opt for a water-resistant formula. These formulas tend to be stickier and last longer, but they should still be applied every two hours. Try Neutrogena's Ultimate Sport Sunblock Spray SPF 85.
8. Makeup wearers should invest in a face powder with high SPF, so that they can reapply protection without smearing their foundation or blush. Don’t forget a lip product with SPF too. Remember, lips are particularly vulnerable to sun damage and skin cancer.
   
   Recommended products:
   

   • Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion, SPF 30, 4-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)
   • philosophy shelter broad spectrum sunscreen for face and body, spf 30
   • Olay Complete Defense Sensitive Skin with SPF 30 - 2.5 oz.
           
   How to apply sunscreen? 
   1.  The sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going outside to allow it time for it to penetrate or bind to the skin. 
   2. You need to use an adequate amount. If you under apply you are likely to get burned - this is probably the most common mistake made by sunscreen users. The recommended level is 2 mg sunscreen/square cm skin. For the average adult needing to cover themselves at the beach, this means using a shot glass full of sunscreen per application.
   3. Even if the label says "all day protection” you should reapply every two hours while outside until sunset. The term "very water resistant" means one must reapply every 90 minutes when swimming, "water resistant" means one must reapply every 40 minutes when swimming. 
   4. Do not use old sunscreen. Check the expiration date and throw away old sunscreen.    
   
   Sources:
   

   • Bark, Dr. Joseph, Your Skin… An Owner’s Guide, Prentice Hall, 1995.
   • Gordon, Dr. Marsha and Fugate, Alice E., The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Beautiful Skin, Alpha Books, 1998.
   • Schultz, Dr. Neal, It’s Not Just About Wrinkles, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2006