3 Great Summer Skin Tips!

The summer sun is intense here in Colorado, and it is not being shy this season. Give your skin some love by following these three great summer skin tips.

1.  Soothe sunburn with vinegar.

Use a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar to soothe your sunburned face and a paper towel or washcloth soaked in vinegar for the rest of your body. Hold on skin for 15 minutes. Vinegar helps to relieve pain and itching and also prevents blisters from forming.


2.  Fade sun/age spots with lemon juice.

Citric acid in lemon juice helps dissolve dead skin cells and expose new fresh skin underneath. Lemon juice also contains vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that protects you from aging and sun damage.

3.  Relieve itchy bug bites with banana!  

Who knew?! Rub the inside white part of a banana peel directly on a bug bite for 2-3 mins. This helps to moisturize and calm irritation.

Source: Woman's Day, July 2013

FDA Has Issued New Rules for Sunscreen Labels, Banning Misleading Claims

Take a minute to read the labels before you buy sunscreen. The FDA has issued new rules and there are two phrases you should understand.

1) "Broad Spectrum" means the product protects you against both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. Both are linked to cancer and cause wrinkles.

2) "Water Resistant" indicates when swimmers should reapply (40 mins after lighter formulas, 80 mins for more enduring ones).

Remember, what's more important than the SPF number on the product is how often you reapply, especially when sweating or doing a sport. Also important, wear your sunblock DAILY. We are even exposed to damaging rays under cloudy skies!

Have a fabulous summer. And make it a safe one!

The Inside-Outside Approach to Vitamin D

Vitamin D is manufactured in our skin. As we age, our skin's ability to make Vitamin D declines. This deficiency has been linked to rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.

Deep wrinkles on the face and body are a direct result of bone density loss, which results from a lack of Vitamin D. The vitamin is also critical in regulating hormones and keeping other problems at bay, like depression, seasonal affective disorder, PMS and sleeping problems.

We all know our body makes Vitamin D when directly exposed to the sun, and most of us meet some of our requirements this way. However, we still need to limit sun exposure by wearing protective clothing and SPF of at least 15 to prevent premature aging, cancer and other skin problems. That's why we should also take Vitamin D supplements.

Recommended dosage ranges form 400 to 1200 IU's per day. Please check with your healthcare provider on what is right for you.

Source: Skin Inc. March 2013