July 15, 2011

photo credit: mommamia on flickr

Summer has been my favorite season for about as long as I can remember, but I wouldn't say that I'm a sun worshiper, or anything that extreme. I just enjoy any time that I have where I can get out in the sun, even if it's just for a walk, a bike ride, or sitting outside reading for an hour. And, I always feel a little more cheerful after spending any amount of time out in the sunshine! 🙂

Not that it's likely it'll happen anytime soon, but, if I ever did have a lazy Summer day where I had no responsibilities and could do whatever I wanted; I would spend the entire day in a lounge chair with a good book and my iPod; either at the beach or poolside.

Photo credit: sollis.se

As much as I would love to slather myself in red label Hawaiian Tropic Coconut Oil because it reminds me of those long-gone, carefree, teenage days with friends at the lake or by the pool, I do keep sunscreen on at all times.

We've got Native American Indian in our blood, so I'm lucky that I tan easy and rarely burn. I've also never have had any type of skin cancer, which is pretty amazing considering that when I was younger, I would lay out for the entire day covered in tanning oil!

And, yes, I'll admit it, my friends and I did try the baby oil and iodine combo. My only excuse for that is that we didn't know any better and back in those days no one even talked about sun damage from ultraviolet rays. Now that we do know better, we just need to make sure that our kids don't fry themselves like some of us used to do on a regular basis.

A lot of people, including my hubby, haven't been as lucky when it comes to sun damage and skin cancers. His family has the Irish skin with fair complexions that freckles and burns easily. When he was young, they spent a lot of time of the lake and he would get so sunburned that his skin would blister. Most doctors agree that the skin cancers we have now were caused by sun damage we experienced when we were younger. A lot of my hubby's relatives, like him, have experienced serious cases of skin cancer, including melanoma.

We've talked quite a bit about sun damage and sunscreens here on BigSisLilSis since both BigSis and I are passionate about the issue. I have to stay on top of my hubby and my son every single day to make sure that they have on their sunscreen. Since HayHay surfs for hours at a time, it's crucial for him to wear the best sunscreen that we can find.

Summer is in full swing now that we're in mid-July so I thought this would be a good time to do a recap of some of our previous posts about sunscreen and sun damage.

• The very best waterproof sunscreen that we've found is Vertra, which is what HayHay wears now when surfing. I talked about Vertra and some other great Summer products in this Top 15 Summer Beauty Products post.

• My hubby used to wear the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch but now his favorite is the Neutrogena Sport Face, which doesn't sweat off and burn his eyes. I mentioned both of these and a few others when I talked about Skin cancer and sunscreen.

• BigSis shared some of her favorite sunscreens in this More Sunscreen Favorites post.

• I also talked last June about the Top Four Sunscreen According to Consumer Reports.

• BigSis shared these 7 Tips for Sunburn Relief for those who may accidentally find themselves with a bad sunburn.

We hope everyone is having a great Summer so far; but whatever you do, please don't forget your sunscreen! 🙂

~LilSis

June 1, 2010

Hope everyone had a relaxing, enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!

We had beautiful weather all weekend so we spent the majority of our time outside. We love being out in the sun but are never without our sunscreen. Here in California, we have to wear sunscreen year round and since HayHay surfs just about every day and SirHoney has a long history of skin cancer, we are always on the lookout for the best of the best when it comes to sunscreen.

One of my friends was just telling me about this recent article in Consumer Reports Magazine where they run down their top Top Four Sunscreens.

They tested twelve products and found four to be slightly better than the rest. The top four include Up & Up's Sport Continuous SPF 30, Walgreens' Sport Continuous SPF 50, Banana Boat's Sport Performance Continuous SPF 30, and Aveeno's Continuous Protection SPF 50.

I've been pretty loyal to my Neutrogena sunscreen sprays, but maybe it's time for a change.

I've never even heard of Up & Up but I will definitely be giving that one a try, as well as the Walgreens' Sport since they made the top two.  My guys have tried the Banana Boat Sport and they didn't like it because it ran into their eyes.

We still use these types of sprays for the rest of the body, but we've finally found the perfect sunblock for HayHay's face that's made by Vertra that doesn't sting or run into his eyes while surfing or golfing for hours. I'll be talking more about that product in an upcoming post.

Later this week, BigSis and I will be doing our own rundown of our Top Ten favorite essential Summer products.

~LilSis

July 5, 2009

Sunburn photo by Genosfear on Flickr

This is a big outdoors weekend for most folks, and I'm betting that more than a few of you have a nasty sunburn today! I'm sorry about that! We know that using a good sunblock is your best protection against a burn, but if you're already burned, what you need now is sunburn relief…not a lecture! These are my favorite tips for easing the pain, itching and burning, although you should be carrying a first aid kit with you if you're venturing outside in the sun for a while. So you can also get the lowdown here on first aid kits and preventing it all together!

• Apply aloe vera gel, ideally cool gel that has been kept in the refrigerator. If you have an aloe vera plant, pluck off some leaves, squeeze out the gel and use it.

• Wet some clean towels, and place in the freezer until almost frozen, then apply gently to burned areas. Repeat as often as you wish.

• Brew a bunch of tea bags, and add the bags and the cooled tea to a tub full of tepid water. Soak.

• Add some oatmeal (uncooked!) to a tepid bath and soak for as long as you can.

• Mix a handful of baking soda into a tepid bath and soak.

• Take aspirin for the inflammation and pain (if you don't have any problems with taking aspirin).

• After using one or more of these treatments, I'd also recommend that you sleep au naturale (nekkid) under a ceiling fan turned on high! But make sure you have it covered from somewhere like First American Home Warranty, afterall you'll need it this summer!

Ceiling fans are the perfect alternative to HVAC systems, as they can provide you with cool air throughout the summer, as well as all year round too. Some people even suggest that they are better than air conditioning systems, but only if you have enlisted the help of a professional electrician (navigate to this website to find out more) in order to install it and make sure it functions to the highest quality. Because it would be pointless having a ceiling fan if it isn't working as it should, and if you have a sunburn, you definitely need it to be working.

It's my understanding that you do not want to use any creams or oils or butter on a bad blistered burn, because they can cause infection. I've heard about lots of other home remedies for relief from sunburn, but have not tried them and can't personally recommend them. If you have any experience with these remedies, let me know.

• With a spray bottle, spritz apple cider vinegar on the affected areas and allow to air dry. I've heard this can be very cooling, but I imagine it would also be drying and irritating.

• Apply shaving cream. Again, seems cooling but potentially irritating.

• Apply Preparation H or other hemorrhoid treatments to the burn. It is said to reduce swelling and burning, similar to the claims of reducing under-eye wrinkles and puffiness.

To all of the miserable sunburn victims out there, I wish for you some relief and a good night's sleep!

~BigSis

June 27, 2009

Hey, LilSis, thanks for bringing up the most important subject of sunscreen!  That was great information.  My philosophy concerning the sun is to always use a sunscreen, and wear a hat or visor and sunglasses, but still enjoy the fresh air and get a little Vitamin D from the sun.

I try to use a sunscreen on my face every day under my foundation, even if I don't think I'll get any sun exposure beyond what comes through my car windows.  I rotate between these two, and really like them both.  They aren't sticky or greasy, and don't clog my pores.

Face:

• SkinCeuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30 with transparent zinc oxide ($37).  This one was recommended by my dermatologist, and contains 7% transparent zinc oxide.

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55 with helioplex ($16.99 for a 2-pack)

I really enjoy walking outdoors – when it isn't 105 degrees – and occasionally sitting by the pool for a little while.  When I do, I always use a sunscreen.  I use SPF 15 on my arms and legs, and SPF 55 on my chest and any other delicate areas, reapplying often.  Like LilSis, I LOVE the Hawaiian tropic scent, so that's why I choose this brand.  It's a great bonus that they now have a high SPF in a spray.

Hawaiian Tropic SPF 55 Spray

Body:

• Hawaiian Tropic 15 SPF Plus All Day Waterproof Sunblock with UVB/UVA Protection (also in 45 SPF for chest)

• Hawaiian Tropic SPF 55 Ultimate Ozone Sunscreen Spray with UVB/UVA Protection

Whatever your preference, make sure to use a sunscreen – use it often – and choose one with UVA and UVB protection.  UVA rays are the ones that cause aging, and UVB rays cause burning.  You need protection from both!  So cover yourself in sunscreen, and then go out and enjoy your summer!

~BigSis

June 26, 2009

Those who know me, know that I don't ever shut up about sunscreen. And, I talk a lot about skin cancer. But, I do have a good reason. We found out four years ago that SirHoney had melanoma.

He went in to have an area on his temple looked at so I asked him to have the Dr. look at a new spot on his neck. They did biopsy it but the doctor didn't seem to be too concerned.

We received the phone call from the dermatologists' office on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which also happened to be the day of Meems' wedding. SirHoney didn't answer the phone. I think he knew that it was bad news if the office was calling on a holiday. He went in for surgery immediately after we got back in town.

It was the scariest thing that has happened to us in 18 years of marriage.  After chest x-rays, a PET scan, and a visit to the oncologist, we were told that it had not spread to any other part of his body. Now, he just sees his dermatologist once every six months for a full body check up.

He's also had six or seven surgeries to remove basal cell skin cancer. Basal cell can be VERY invasive and can leave some pretty intense scars, but it doesn't metastasize to other organs.

Melanoma does metastasize and if not caught early, it is extremely hard to treat and can be fatal.

Studies show that most common signs of melanoma are in the ABCDE rule. And the ABCDE rule is as follows:

• Asymmetrical – this refers to the shape; if one half of the mole does not match the other half in size, shape, color, or thickness;
• Borders – it may be ragged or otherwise irregular; the edges are scalloped, blurred, or poorly defined;
• Color – it may be uneven, with shades of black and brown; the color of the mole is not the same throughout or it has shades of tan, brown, black, red, white, or blue;
• Diameter – it may change in size; melanomas are usually greater than 6mm in diameter, but they can be smaller; if the diameter of a mole is larger than the eraser of a pencil
• Elevation – a portion of the mole appears elevated, or raised from the skin.

These few rules can be very helpful in determining the difference between just a regular freckle or mole and a possible melanoma.

A few weeks ago when we went to the desert for a Father/Son golf tournament, my friend and I hung out by the pool while the guys golfed. I noticed a mole on my friend's back that I thought looked a little suspicious so I asked her if she had ever had it looked at. She said no. She didn't seem very concerned and I didn't want to be overly pushy but I did tell her that it looked very similar to the one SirHoney had on his neck and asked her to please get it checked. She went the dermatologist the following week and they did biopsy it. She since found out that it was melanoma. Luckily, it was in a very early stage and she will be fine.

SirHoney has a family history of melanoma but we didn't know it. If your mother, father, siblings, or children (first-degree relatives) have had a melanoma, you are part of a melanoma-prone family. Each person with a first-degree relative diagnosed with melanoma has a 50 percent greater chance of developing the disease than members of the general public who do not have a family history of the disease.

My friend didn't have anyone in her family that has had the disease.  I know it's very controversial, but her doctor did tell her that she probably got the skin cancer from years of using the tanning beds. She was told to stop going to the tanning salon and to start using a good sunscreen.

I'm bringing this up because now that it's Summer, more people will be out in the sun that aren't normally exposed.  We're in the sun just about every day for some period of time. When we lived in Texas, I would use sunscreen if out by the pool for the day but now that we live in California, we use sunscreen every single day! Every. Single. Day.

SirHoney still hates the fact that he has to cover himself in sunscreen, especially when golfing. We have done a lot of experimenting with different sunscreens to find one that doesn't run and get into his eyes when he sweats. We've found the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch with 70 SPF to be the very best.

It goes on easily and doesn't leave any unwanted residue. Even though this one doesn't state that it is specifically ‘sweatproof', it doesn't run and sting his eyes. I've started using this one myself.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch 70 SPF

Now that we know SirHoney's family is melanoma-prone, I'm very adamant about making sure that HayHay uses sunscreen every day. And I'm always on the lookout for a good long lasting sunscreen for him to use when he surfs.  Right now, on his face, he's using the  Neutrogena Sport Face. It also doesn't leave a residue and seems to stay on longer than some of the others.

Neutrogena Sport Face 70 SPF

I don't have the same skin type as the guys so I don't always use a 70 SPF. I'll use the 70 SPF on my face, but my absolute favorite is the Neutrogena Cooling Mist SPF 45 . This spray is not only refreshing, but it stays on for several hours, even at the beach. I always have a can of this with me.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist 45 SPF

Can you tell we like Neutrogena?  I don't care for the smell of Coppertone for some reason, but HayHay does like this Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray. So, since he likes it, I still buy this one for him. He sprays this one all over his body before surfing and it does seem to work well.

Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray 50 SPF

There's one more spray that I really like because I LOVE the smell of Hawaiian Tropic. It reminds me of being out by the pool with friends as a teenager. Of course, we used the original brown label oil, but I was so happy when I found this Hawaiian Tropic Dry Tanning Oil Spray.

Since this is only a 12 SPF, I only use it on my legs and do reapply more often than I would if it were a higher SPF. I just can't resist the scent. I can close my eyes and pretend that I'm in Hawaii!

Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Dry Oil 12 SPF

We've tested a lot of sunscreens over the past several years and have found these to work the best.

Lastly, please find out if you have a family history of melanoma. Use sunscreen and visit your dermatologist every year. It could save your life.

~LilSis