skin cancer

I lost my brother to this. [protect yourself, please]

Love and Protect Your Skin

May has already come and almost gone.   With the sun shining more often (thank goodness), it seems appropriate that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.  About two million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, making it the most common type of cancer in the United States.

Losing a brother at the age of 24 of skin cancer, this topic is near and dear. 

However, it is also often a preventable type of cancer since the main cause is too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. If it’s caught and treated early, skin cancer is very curable. But, all of us, regardless of skin color, should make protecting our skin and staying safe from the sun’s rays a priority and a daily habit.

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Just how invasive has skin cancer become in the U.S.?

Check out these statistics from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

- Each year, over 5.4 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are treated.

- Melanoma rates are rising at an alarming rate among 18 to 39-year-olds.

- Over the past 40 years, skin cancer rates have grown by 800% among young women and 400% among young men.

So, what can you do to protect yourself?

Let’s start with the most obvious solutions: sunscreen.


How effective is sunscreen?

Yes, sunscreen will protect you from sunburn, but can it prevent skin cancer? According to a study from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia, when SPF 30-plus is properly applied, you’ll be protected 100% from all three types of skin cancer (melanoma, squamous cell, and basal cell). You have a cancer-fighting gene called P53 that protects us from all varieties of cancer, and sunscreen protects that gene, as well.

Preventing skin cancer helps prevent all cancer

The P53 gene works to heal our skin when it’s been sun damaged. If your skin gets burned regularly, the gene mutates and doesn’t do its job, which makes all kinds of cancer more likely to occur.

People who have had skin cancer are 15 to 26% more likely to develop other types of cancer in the future, so skin protection and regular skin checks are vital to your health. For us women, that means a higher risk of breast and lung cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

How deep does the damage go?

Obviously, when you’re skin gets burned, you can that damage has been done. What you might not know is that  UV radiation damages our skin cells all the way down to the DNA, and it affects the protective functions of our skin. The way your skin cells make chemicals is changed by UVA and UVB rays. That’s why you get tan — your skin reacts to the sun’s rays by over producing melanin to protect itself. However, over-exposure to the sun results in melanin-producing skin cells to mutate and divide, and you end up with an uneven skin tone rather than a glowing tan.

Photoaging is the clinical term for the damage the sun does to your skin. Repeated exposure without protection causes your skin to become unable to repair itself. The damage doesn’t start in adolescence or young adulthood, either; it starts from infancy.

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Sun and aging skin

Your skin needs collagen and elastin to be firm, smooth, and healthy. UV exposure breaks down collagen and elastin and makes them harder to synthesis. Without these supportive tissues, you’ll start to see wrinkles, sagging, and overall aging much faster than normal.

Your skin starts experiencing changes from the sun the moment it’s exposed to it, and over time those changes add up to a different look and feel. While you might think the changes are part of the normal aging process, they’re actually due to photoaging and are completely preventable.

Some of the skin issues you experience that are caused by photoaging are:

- Leathery texture

- Wrinkles

- Dryness

- Sagging

- Freckles, sunspots, appearance of blood vessels, and overall unevenness

- Skin growths

- Rough patches


How to get the glow without the damage

We all want to look like the healthiest and most attractive versions of ourselves, and a sun-kissed glow can give us that look. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a solution that gives your skin and health protection from UV rays and also the color you desire? With the increase in skin cancer rates, we were inspired to create a solution to this problem, especially for us upper-midwest women.

Thanks to new technology and high-quality ingredients, our Evoq custom-formulated sunless tanner has become a top-seller nationwide through cult-favorite beauty blogs and local ladies alike. Our Evoq age-defying lotion is a natural, long-lasting, even-fading, quick-drying formula full of skin-enriching, organic, and nourishing ingredients.

Igniting the glow naturally

As a consumer, we know you’re a savvy shopper and look for multiple benefits from a single product. You now know the concerns of UV exposure in regards to accelerated aging and skin cancer, but you still want that healthy and radiant glow the sun is so good at giving.

Evoq’s sunless tanner formula contains a key ingredient called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which reacts with dead skin cells on your body’s surface and darkens them naturally. Not only does it give you a safe and healthy glow, but the formula is boosted with anti-aging benefits that decrease fine lines and wrinkles, smooth your skin, and fight free radical damage.

The formula hydrates and nourishes your skin with antioxidants, plant extracts, and humectants. These ultra-hydrating extracts and anti-aging ingredients combined with the DHA’s tanning effects delivers a unique skin treatment. It’s a game-changer for sunless tanning as women become more aware of the dangers of the sun’s UV rays and embrace sunless tanning products.

No longer compromise on skincare to achieve a safe and natural-looking tan. You’ll get the radiant glow easily using healthy and natural ingredients in our sunless tan solution, plus you’ll enjoy soft, smooth, and nourished skin.

Show off your beautiful, bare legs with Evoq’s Sunless Tanner and protect your skin with our Tinted UV Primer. All of our products are created with organic, wild-craft, and food-grade ingredients.

 


Hydrate: Sunless Tanner

Avoid harmful UV rays from the sun and tanning beds and still get beautifully bronzed skin. Natural sugars from beets and sugarcane (DHA) react with your skin’s surface to give you a safe and authentic-looking tan. Licorice and Aloe soothe, repair, and hydrate your skin to make it youthful and glowing. Super-fruit alpha and beta hydroxy acids exfoliate, eliminate blackheads, and fade existing sunspots.

Some of the other super-powered ingredients include:

- Sweet almond oil: fights wrinkles and diminishes scars and dark spots

- Gotu Kola: prevents premature aging and diminishes varicose veins and scars

- Papaya leaf: contains vitamins A and C for skin health and brightening qualities.

It’s super easy to apply by using gentle and even strokes. Depending on your glow, you can reapply every two to three days, or mix with your favorite moisturizer for a more subtle glow.


 

Hydrate: Tinted UV Primer 35 SPF

Get broad-spectrum protection from UV rays with a non-greasy, ultra-light sunblock. At the same time, your skin is primed for makeup and moisturizing. The 3-in-1 tinted primer also provides a shot of vitamin D for some healthy sunshine in a bottle. Vitamin D promotes a youthful complexion, builds your skin’s immunity, and provides a brightening glow to all skin types.

Use it daily under your makeup for a smooth finish and protected skin. Mix it with your liquid concealer or moisturizing, and it’s even safe to use for children as young as six months.

Enjoy the benefits of these active ingredients:

- Zinc Oxide 35 SPF: The best and safest UV protection for the whole family. Reduces aging and visibility of skin damage.

- Vitamin D3: Traditional sunscreens block your intake of this crucial vitamin, so we’ve infused it into our primer, so you still get it’s skin and internal health benefits while avoiding harmful UV rays.

- Organic sunflower seed: Rich in vitamin E to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lighten scars and under-eye circles.

- Shea butter: Healing, anti-inflammatory hydrator that fights blemishes.

F.D.A. Finally Sets New Rules About Sunscreen Claims

Sunscreen rules to help take the guesswork out of protecting against most dangerous sun rays

Help is on the way to consumers confused by the jumble of sun protection numbers, symbols and other claims on sunscreens. Starting next summer, consumers can start looking for SPF 15 bottles with the label "broad spectrum" and feel confident they're being protected from an increased risk of cancer.

Currently, standards of protection apply only to one part of the sun's spectrum, ultraviolet B rays, which cause sunburn. Under new rules published Tuesday, they will also have to protect against the more penetrating ultraviolet A rays associated with skin cancer.

The guidelines, which spent more than 30 years in bureaucratic limbo, are designed to enhance the effectiveness of sunscreens and make them easier to use.

The key takeaway for consumers: Look for a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 15 and above that also says "broad spectrum." That's the new buzzword from the Food and Drug Administration to describe a product that does an acceptable job blocking both types of damaging rays.

Starting next summer, sunscreens with less than an SPF of 15 or that aren't "broad spectrum" will have to carry a warning label: "This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging."

Read the full news article HERE

 

 

Kasia Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen rated TOP SUNSCREEN on EWG!

Natural and Free from Harmful Chemicals

Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen, developed by local natural health and beauty care leader Kassie Kuehl, is a chemical-free sunscreen optimal for sensitive or traumatized skin and safe for children.

“Losing my 24 year old brother to skin cancer, I have grown well aware of the many underlying potential causes,” Kuehl said. “Unlike chemical sunscreens, I love that nature can provide remarkable ingredients that reflect and scatter away both UVA and UVB rays from your body by forming a physical barrier, without irritating or clogging your pores.”

Numerous studies now show that green tea is a powerful antioxidant, especially used on the skin.  When applied topically,   green tea is highly capable of   assisting in skin damage reduction and sun radiation.  In short, green tea helps protect your skin’s cells by providing antioxidant protection.

  • FREE of chemical laden fragrances…NON-zero….zilch.
  • FREE of parabens (harsh chemical or any harsh preservatives)..
  • FREE of Xenoestrogens!

    Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 5% & Zinc Oxide 5%

  • Inactive Ingredients: Triple Purified Water/Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Leaf) Gel, Vegetable Glycerine, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Hydroxysuccinimide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide- 3, Persea Gratissima (Avocado Seed) Oil, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba Seed) Oil, Vittis Vinefera (Grape Seed) Oil, Vegetable Glycerine, Capric/Capryllic Triglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Monostearate, Cyclomethicone, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), Cetyl Alcohol, Mica

     

    EWG Website Rates Good Day Sunshine a level 1.  Superb Formulation.   Link HERE!

Pressure to the FDA from the Senate on NEW SPF Sunscreen Label Rules!

GO SENATE!

Senator Pressures FDA to Finish Long-Awaited Sunscreen Label Rules

The Rhode Island senator wants sunscreen makers to be held to a higher standard, complaining that while the companies are required to slap a sun protection factor (SPF) label on their products they do not have to tell consumers about protection from UVA rays -- which can damage skin and increase risk of skin cancer. The current SPF labels refer to another kind of ultraviolet light known as UVB, responsible for sunburns.

"They're getting protection from getting burned, but they're not getting protection from skin cancer," Reed spokesman Chip Unruh said.

 

Kasia Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen rated TOP SUNSCREEN on EWG!

Natural and Free from Harmful Chemicals

Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen, developed by local natural health and beauty care leader Kassie Kuehl, is a chemical-free sunscreen optimal for sensitive or traumatized skin and safe for children.

“Losing my 24 year old brother to skin cancer, I have grown well aware of the many underlying potential causes,” Kuehl said. “Unlike chemical sunscreens, I love that nature can provide remarkable ingredients that reflect and scatter away both UVA and UVB rays from your body by forming a physical barrier, without irritating or clogging your pores.”

Numerous studies now show that green tea is a powerful antioxidant, especially used on the skin.  When applied topically,   green tea is highly capable of   assisting in skin damage reduction and sun radiation.  In short, green tea helps protect your skin’s cells by providing antioxidant protection.

  • FREE of chemical laden fragrances…NON-zero….zilch.
  • FREE of parabens (harsh chemical or any harsh preservatives)..
  • FREE of Xenoestrogens!

    Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 5% & Zinc Oxide 5%

  • Inactive Ingredients: Triple Purified Water/Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Leaf) Gel, Vegetable Glycerine, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Hydroxysuccinimide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide- 3, Persea Gratissima (Avocado Seed) Oil, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba Seed) Oil, Vittis Vinefera (Grape Seed) Oil, Vegetable Glycerine, Capric/Capryllic Triglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Monostearate, Cyclomethicone, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), Cetyl Alcohol, Mica

 

What you need to know! May is Skin Cancer/Melanoma Month

May starts National Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness Month campaign. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with over one million people diagnosed each year!

Everyone looks forward to the sun returning in the summer, especially for those of us in the upper and midwest climates when the snow melts, school is out, the kids return home, barbecues start up, and we gravitate outside.

But it's also crucial that we pay attention to our bodies and the sun.  Yes, absolutely we need that 15 minutes of sun a day to absorb enough vitamin D, but too much sun can have adverse consequences, like skin cancer, the most dangerous of which is melanoma. A cancer that occurs in melanocytes, the cells that give skin its color, melanoma represents about 3% of all skin cancers. However, it has the highest death rate of all types and is more likely to metastasize (spread).

The Facts You Should Know

Although melanoma accounts for only about 4 to 5 percent of all skin cancer cases, it causes most skin cancer-related deaths. However, if detected and treated in its earliest stages, melanoma is often curable.

In men, melanoma is most often found on the area between the shoulders and hips or on the head and neck. In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs.

The chance of developing melanoma increases with age, yet it is still one of the most common cancers in young adults.

Skin cancer affects one in five Americans, and more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Of these cases, more than 65,000 are melanoma, a cancer that claims nearly 11,000 lives each year.

Fast Facts About Skin Cancer

  • Skin cancer and melanoma account for about 50% of all types of cancers diagnosed combined.
  • Skin cancer is one of the more preventable types of cancer.
  • More than 90% of skin cancer is causes by excessive exposure to the sun.
  • Each hour, 1 person dies from skin cancer.

Skin Cancer and Melanoma Basics

Skin cancer is divided into two categories: melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer. Although serious, non-melanomas are much less life threatening and easier to treat.

Melanoma accounts for 4% od skin cancer cases diagnosed. It is estimated that 62,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2006. Almost 8,000 are expected to die of melanoma this year.

There are two common types of non-melanoma skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma

Symptoms of Skin Cancer

  • A small lump (spot or mole) that is shiny, waxy, pale in color, and smooth in texture.
  • A red lump (spot or mole) that is firm
  • A sore or spot that bleeds or become crusty. Also look for sores that don't heal.
  • Rough and scaly patches on the skin.
  • Flat scaly areas of the skin that are red or brown.
  • Any new growth that is suspicious

If you suspect that a lump, spot, or mole may be suspicious of skin cancer, see your doctor. When detected early, it is highly treatable.

The ABCs of early melanoma detection

Melanoma appears most frequently on the trunk area in fair-skinned men and on the lower leg in fair-skinned women. In dark-skinned people, melanoma appears most frequently on the palms, the soles of the feet and the skin under nails. If caught early, melanoma is potentially curable.

Be aware of change and new growths on your body. The ABCs of melanoma provide a good guideline:

•    Asymmetry of lesion: Are the sides of the lesion different? •    Border irregularity: Are the edges notched as opposed to smooth? •    Color variation: Is the lesion a mixture of black, blue, red and white? •    Diameter: Is the diameter greater than six millimeters? (Most melanomas are larger than the head of a pencil.) •    Evolution: Is the lesion growing in width or height? •    Feeling: Has the sensation around a mole or spot changed?

These recommendations serve as a guide. Promptly show your doctor any suspicious skin area, non-healing sore or change in a mole or freckle. If exam results suggest cancer, more extensive diagnostic tests should be conducted.

 

Natural and Free from Harmful Chemicals

Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen, developed by local natural health and beauty care leader Kassie Kuehl, is a chemical-free sunscreen optimal for sensitive or traumatized skin and safe for children.

“Losing my 24 year old brother to skin cancer, I have grown well aware of the many underlying potential causes,” Kuehl said. “Unlike chemical sunscreens, I love that nature can provide remarkable ingredients that reflect and scatter away both UVA and UVB rays from your body by forming a physical barrier, without irritating or clogging your pores.”

Additional key benefits that set Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen apart from commercialized sunscreens:

* True broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection

* Safe for toddlers and children

* Non-chemical sunscreen

* Moisturizing and healing properties

* PABA-free and fragrance-free

* Light and smooth formulation ideal for daily use and can be applied under makeup

* Formulated for skin sensitive to traditional sunblocks and post-treatment patients

* Formulation of  5% zinc and 5% titanium

Why add the ingredients of GREEN TEA?

Numerous studies now show that green tea is a powerful antioxidant, especially used on the skin.  When applied topically,   green tea is highly capable of   assisting in skin damage reduction and sun radiation.  In short, green tea helps protect your skin’s cells by providing antioxidant protection.

* FREE of chemical laden fragrances…NON-zero….zilch.

* FREE of parabens (harsh chemical or any harsh preservatives)..

* FREE of Xenoestrogens!

Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 5%   &   Zinc Oxide 5%

Learn more about our non-scented, non greasy, easy to use physical sunblock HERE!!

Reference:  Cancerwise.com and cancerabout.com

Only 8 Percent of 500 Sunscreens found Safe/Effective, is YOURS one of them?

....."most people don't get the high SPF they pay for: people apply about a quarter of the recommended amount. In everyday practice, a product labeled SPF 100 really performs like SPF 3.2, an SPF 30 rating equates to a 2.3 and an SPF 15 translates to 2. EWG Senior VP for Research Jane Houlihan likens it to snake oil sales: "Many sunscreens available in the U.S. may be the equivalent of modern-day snake oil, plying customers with claims of broad-spectrum protection but not providing it, while exposing people to potentially hazardous chemicals that can penetrate the skin into the body. When only 8 percent of sunscreens rate high for safety and efficacy, it's clear that consumers concerned about protecting themselves and their families are left with few good options."

Living in a chemical sludge, we do not   understand the health implications of our exposures to complex mixtures of industrial compounds and pollutants. Little is known of most industrial chemicals and the government approves new chemicals for the market using computer models to predict if they are toxic to humans.

Ourselves, our children….

*A recent study found an average of 200 chemicals in umbilical cord blood from 10 newborn babies.

*Two recent studies highlight widespread exposure to the common sunscreen chemical oxybenzone, and associate concentrations of this chemical in pregnant women to lower birthweight in their daughters (Calafat 2008, Wolff 2008).

From Loss to Inspiration

After losing my brother (only 24 yrs.) in a fast 3 months to malignant melanoma skin cancer, I became very aware of the reality of “sun care,” however like most didn’t realize the markets usage of chemical UV blockers that contain a lot of toxic ingredients. More research, more awareness, it didn’t make sense to me to use chemicals to prevent skin cancer only to get another kind of cancer the abundance of chemicals.

After a better understanding in how mineral makeup works for sun protection, years of interest and investigation, I finally decided to pursue my own physical block sun care product.

In honor of my brother, you, a strong mission, and the help of an extremely reputable lab with richly educated chemists, GOOD DAY, SUNSHINE was born!

“WOW!”  Kasia “Good Day Sunshine” SUNSCREEN makes EWG’s “Best!”

We promise our “beautiful health” lotion is void of  toxic preservatives and maintains integrity without sacrificing

Did you know, Informed Beauty?

According to information on The Skin Cancer Foundation,  58 percent of people are concerned today about skin cancer. Yet only 11 percent of people use an SPF 15 or higher daily.”

Leading ingredients to avoid:

  • Benzophenone (oxybenzone) – present in most sunscreens; easily absorbed through the skin; causes irritations and allergies; and is a hormone disrupter. Also used in many other personal care products.
  • Padimate-O – found to cause DNA damage which can lead to cancer.
  • Avobenzone – easily absorbed through the skin; degrades and becomes ineffective within one hour.
  • Diethanolamine (DEA) - may lead to cancer causing compounds if the sunscreen contains nitrites; is often not disclosed on sunscreen labels.

Make GOOD DAY SUNSHING A part YOUR AND YOUR FAMILY’S  "Beautiful Health"  lifestyle.

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE -SUNSHEILD-

Active Ingredients

Titanium Dioxide 5%                  Zinc Oxide 5%

Uses: Helps prevent sunburn. Provides true broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.

Warnings: For External use only. Keep out of eyes. Rinse with water to remove.

Inactive Ingredients: Triple Purified Water/Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Leaf) Gel,

Vegetable Glycerine, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Chrysin, Palmitoyl

Oligopeptide, Hydroxysuccinimide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-

3, Persea Gratissima (Avocado Seed) Oil, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba Seed) Oil, Vittis

Vinefera (Grape Seed) Oil, Vegetable Glycerine, Capric/Capryllic Triglycerides,

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Monostearate,

Cyclomethicone, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), Cetyl Alcohol, Mica.

Why add the ingredients of GREEN TEA?

Numerous studies now show that green tea is a powerful antioxidant, especially used on the skin.  When applied topically,   green tea is highly capable of   assisting in skin damage reduction and sun radiation.  In short, green tea helps protect your skin’s cells by providing antioxidant protection.

  • FREE of chemical laden fragrances…NON-zero….zilch.
  • FREE of parabens (harsh chemical or any harsh preservatives)..
  • FREE of Xenoestrogens!
  • True broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection
  • Safe for toddlers and children
  • Non-chemical sunscreen
  • Moisturizing and healing properties
  • PABA-free and fragrance-free
  • Light and smooth formulation ideal for daily use and can be applied under makeup
  • Formulated for skin sensitive to traditional sunblocks and post-treatment patients
  • Formulation of  5% zinc and 5% titanium

TAXING TOXIC TANNING: HEALTH CARE REFORM

Jennifer Wider, MD Society for Women's Health Research

The tanning industry came into focus recently during the national debate on health care. One of the changes included in the new health care reform legislation is a tax on tanning salons. Under the new law, tanning salons will start charging a 10 percent tax on all indoor tanning services. The tax is expected to generate roughly $2.7 billion dollars over ten years.

Not surprisingly, there are people upset by the new measure. According to Joseph Levy, the vice president of the International Smart Tan Network, tanning salon owners and industry professionals are working to have the taxes removed. He reports that businesses and customers have sent over 200,000 letters to Congress asking for a reconsideration and removal of the tax, which will be effective July 1, 2010.

And then there are many people who feel the tax is justified. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) has long held the position that indoor tanning is dangerous and increases a person’s risk of skin cancer. Dr. William James, president of the Academy, believes that there should be a federal ban on the use and sale of tanning beds in this country. In written testimony to the government, James states that a proposed ban would be: “an important step toward reducing the incidence of skin cancer in the United States and building a greater public understanding of the dangers of UV exposure.”

Skin cancer cases are at an all-time high in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year. Melanoma, which is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, has also become the most common cancer among women aged 25-29, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga. Bad sunburns that include blistering increase melanoma risk. Long-term exposure to the sun increases risk for melanoma and the two other less serious types of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. The use of tanning salons also has been linked to skin cancer.

According to Elizabeth C. Smith, MD, a dermatologist at Cohen Dermatology Associates in Fairfield, CT and member of the teaching faculty at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, “In addition to escalating the risk of potentially fatal melanoma, a person who tans is 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma than a person who does not. Multiple studies have shown the earlier a person begins to go to tanning salons, the greater the risk of skin cancer later in life.”

The dangers of indoor tanning have long been established, but health organizations have recently stepped up their warnings. “In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified tanning beds as an exposure that is “carcinogenic to humans,” says Dr. Smith. “The IARC went further, grouping tanning beds with other Group I carcinogens such as asbestos, arsenic and cigarettes. Given the well-documented and widely accepted danger of tanning beds, the government has an obligation to regulate the industry and to inform the public of the hazards associated with tanning.”

Despite the myriad of public service announcements and warnings, young people still frequent tanning salons in large numbers, especially young women. According to Smith, “Young women often report wanting “color” before a vacation or event, and some confess to tanning for relaxation.” Many don’t seem to understand the risks involved: “most young people do not fully understand the risk of ultraviolet exposure, partly due to the tanning industry’s confusing campaign touting the merits of tanning to raise Vitamin D levels (important for bone health). In fact, most tanning beds emit primarily UVA light, which does not efficiently convert Vitamin D to its active form.”

Many health professionals feel that the new tax on tanning salons will send a clear message to the public that indoor tanning has real risks and potentially lower the number of young people using them on a regular basis.

Cutting out the 'Botax'

The 10% tanning tax has replaced the 5% tax on cosmetic surgery that was originally included in the bill.

That tax, nicknamed the "Botax," would have included Botox injections and breast implants among other elective surgeries, but was cut out of the bill last year after heavy lobbying from the medical and dermatology industries.

The American Academy of Dermatology, which strongly opposed the Botax, applauded the inclusion of the tanning tax as a replacement because of the significant health risks associated with indoor tanning.

According to the Academy, indoor tanning before the age of 35 is linked to a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, which has also become more common in young females. Meanwhile, nearly 30 million Americans hit the tanning beds each year and about 2.3 million of these people are teenagers.

Your alternative to Skin Cancer, 10% Tan Tax, and HEALTH!

Kasia Organic Salon’s features TWO options for Natural, Free from Harmful Chemicals Sun Damage and Aging Protection!

Good Day Sunshine Sunscreen, developed by local natural health and beauty care leader Kassie Kuehl, is a chemical-free sunscreen optimal for sensitive or traumatized skin and safe for children.

“Losing my 24 year old brother to skin cancer, I have grown well aware of the many underlying potential causes,” Kuehl said. “Unlike chemical sunscreens, I love that nature can provide remarkable ingredients that reflect and scatter away both UVA and UVB rays from your body by forming a physical barrier, without irritating or clogging your pores.”

Sunless Tanning Lotion   Non-tox of course! 8 oz    *    10% DHA

Kasia Organic Salon offers a Sunless lotion for the Body with moisturizing oils and aloe vera gel was designed for the avid sunless tanner. The added DHA will develop into a rich, golden bronze colour, developting an all-natural alternative to chemical laden sunless tanners.

Getting a tan from a bottle is far safer than sunbathing -- and more natural than it seems. Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, the active ingredient in many sunless tanners, most often is derived from sugar beets or sugarcane. The nontoxic compound reacts with amino acids in the skin's outer layer, causing it to darken. There are also liquid and powdered bronzers, which use minerals to cast a just-for-today tan. Our picks (La Bella Donna Mineral Makeup) include vitamins and plant extracts, so skin ends up healthier than it started.

Our self-tanner is not only safer than sunning, it also nourishes your skin.

Here are some following tips to remember!

1.) Shower and  Exfoliate your skin to slough Off  dead skin. Shave, if necessary. Rinse thoroughly.

2.)  Smooth   Sunless Tanning product evenly over face and/or body, rubbing in slightly. Leave skin in a moist condition. Allow to absorb into the skin. Do not over-rub as this will result in wiping off your tan.

**Recommended:   (MIX 50/50 with Kasia Jojoba Oil to cut down to 5% DHA.)

3.)  Allow the tanning product to absorb 10 - 15 minutes. Colour will intensify overnight.   Moisturize after you shower

DIRECTIONS:

Apply the Sunless  tanner at night just before bed. Thos goes on sheer and will not stain your sheets. Your tan will develop overnight and you will awaken to your newly tanned skin. Wash hands after using. Wait a minimum of 6 hours before showering.  Our commitment to you:

No Mineral Oil

No Lanolin

No Parabens

No PABA

No Alcohol

No Petro-Chemicals

No Artificial Colours

No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

No Formaldehyde

Non-Comedogenic

Eco-Packaging

Cruelty-Free

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