Smart Solutions for the Summer Sun

Smart Solutions for the Summer Sun Summertime sizzles with fun in the sun. But it is no fun to incur the damage a sizzling sun can do to your skin. Sun exposure can cause facial wrinkles, fine lines, pigment changes, and broken blood vessels, and up your risk for three kinds of skin cancer.  Around 3.3 million folks in the US are diagnosed with basal and squamous cell skin cancer annually. And while only 1% of skin cancer cases are for the more serious form, melanoma, it accounts for the majority of skin-cancer-related deaths.  Sun Protection for Your Skin & Eyes Here are four ways to avoid the damage and dangers of excess sun exposure.  Sunscreens: The best sunscreens are made with micronized zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide with an SPF of 30 or higher. They form a barrier on your skin that blocks the sun’s rays and should be reapplied every 2 hours or after sweating, toweling off, or being in the water. Water-resistant sunscreens last for 40 minutes in the water. Slather sunscreen on everywhere, including feet, hands, back of your neck and, for some folks, your scalp and ears.  Protect your eyes:  Wear sunglasses with 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays. That reduces your risk later in life of cataracts, eye cancer, macular degeneration, and pterygium (surfer’s eye), which causes a flap of tissue to cover the white part of your eye.  Wear your protection:  A brimmed hat and clothing that covers your arms, torso and legs offers protection—depending on what you choose. The American Academy of Dermatology says a long-sleeved denim shirt provides an SPF of about 1,700! A white t-shirt provides an SPF of about 7. You can also wear clothes with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), which lets you know the fabric's effectiveness at filtering out UVA and UVB. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a UPF of 30 or higher. Supplement your protection: Certain nutrients can help your skin and eyes resist damage from sun-caused oxidation.  [Astaxanthin]( an antioxidant carotenoid that comes from microalgae, shows great promise in reducing inflammation, protecting skin from UV damage and reducing retina-damaging oxidative stress. For more information, check out [The Unique Health Benefits of Astaxanthin](.  [Beta-carotene]( [lutein]( and [lycopene]( are other carotenoids that offer photoprotection. For example, lutein filters potentially damaging UV light in the eye’s macula and dietary carotenoids accumulate in the skin, offering measurable photo-protection. To learn more about how to increase your intake of antioxidants, check out, “[The Best Foods and Supplements for Natural Sun Protection.”](  [Vitamin C]( and [Vitamin E]( are also strong antioxidants that may reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration and improve skin quality, in part by supporting collagen production. For more information read, “[How to Choose and Use Vitamin C Serum](  And check out “[The Different Forms and Benefits of Vitamin E](  As for vitamin D, you make plenty with 15 minutes of sun exposure to your torso or legs. So, enjoy this summer, and remember to protect yourself from the inside out with the right supplements, sunscreen, sunglasses and clothes. ☀️ ENJOY THE SUMMER SUN ☀️ [Watch On TikTok]( [Watch On Instagram](   This newsletter is not a substitute for your physician’s advice and the claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Please share it with them! First time reading? [Sign up here.]( [   Copyright © 2024 ZoCo Productions LLC, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you signed up for a ZoCo Productions newsletter. Our mailing address is: ZoCo Productions LLC [555 W 57th St.]( [New York, NY 10019]( [Add us to your address book]( [Click here to unsubscribe](