What not to do under the sun:
Getting It Together for Safe Sun Exposure

Are you as confused as the next person about how much sun is too much and which sunscreen is necessary?

Have you ever stood in the store feeling so overwhelmed by all the choices you have, or by the price or SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number on the bottle?

Read on to find out what’s good and what isn’t when it comes to protecting the largest organ: your skin.

Read the Label

Beware of the cheaper, and still unregulated, American brands of sunscreen which are a cocktail of toxic chemicals. Since 1997, the only chemical allowed in Canadian-approved sunscreens is Parsol 1789 (avobenzone). Some brands of sunscreen will use either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These protective ingredients are mineral based – not chemical based – and therefore are good to look for.

Look for a sunscreen that is waterproof, sweat-proof and safe-for-sensitive-skin.  Always check the expiry date. After the expiry date, the SPF level of the sunscreen will decrease.

An SPF of 30 is a total block from the UVA & UVB rays of the sun. Anything with a number higher than 30 SPF cannot be regulated. SPF 30 is the total block…but you still need to reapply it.

Facts & Fiction

Getting it Together has come up with some facts and fiction to help you have a sun-safe fun summer or a winter vacation that takes you away to find the warmth of the sun.

FICTION

  • When it is cloudy you are safe from the sun’s rays.
  • 15 + 30 = 45. Putting one SPF on top of another doesn’t add up. If you want SPF 45 you’ll have to use SPF 45.
  • Money talks. The more you pay for your sunscreen, the better it is.

FACTS

1. One in every three people gets skin cancer!

  • Even mild sunburns can lead to wrinkles or even skin cancer down the road.
  • 90% of premature aging and skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.
  • 5-10% of all skin cancers appear on the eyelids.
  • The lower lip is especially susceptible to squamous cell carcinoma – a type of skin cancer.
  • The skin never heals 100% after a burn, so best to avoid getting one.

2. There is no such thing as a healthy tan

You may look and feel it, but sun exposure isn’t healthy. If you must go to a tanning salon, wear sunscreen. Or better yet, use a sunless tanning lotion on your body and bronzing powders on your face. Check out www.marykay.ca for more information.

3. Sunscreens protect your face and body from the harmful UVB rays

Use the right one with the right SPF for your skin tone.

For example:

Fair skin burns in 10 minutes without sunscreen on. If you were to wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 15, you would be protected for 15 x 10 minutes = 150 minutes. After 150 minutes it would be best to get out of the sun. If you plan on being in the sun longer, wear an SPF of 30 – which would give you 300 minutes of sun protection. Mary Kay sunscreens are safe for ages 6 months old and up, are waterproof and approved by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

4. Where do those rays come from?

Ninety percent of the sun’s rays bounce off water, sand, concrete and snow. It is best to wear sunscreen all year long; especially on your face and neck.

5. Clouds block only 20% of harmful UV radiation. And it has medicinal effects.

Moderate, unprotected exposure to UV rays (from 10 to 15 minutes a day) is actually good for you as it helps generate Vitamin D – which strengthens bones, muscles and your immune system. It also, ironically, helps to prevent the growth of cancerous tumours. Sunshine also regulates serotonin and tryptamine levels – which are the neurotransmitters responsible for your moods and body temperature.

Make the most of your summer and/or your vacation. Enjoy the sun, water sports, boating, biking and whatever activities you choose. Just remember to always have sunscreen on; carry it with you. Don’t get caught off-guard and end up with a really bad, irreparable burn…or worse – skin cancer. Always practice good sun safety with children. We get more sun exposure by the time we are six years old than what we need for a lifetime. Protect your children and you’ll help towards protecting their future.

Together Tips

  1. Having your sunscreen handy in the car, beach bag and bathroom cupboard so you are never caught without it. Buy one bottle for your vehicle, one for your beach bag and another for the house. That way, you never need to remember to bring it; it’ll always be there. You know how the weather can change from one minute to the next.
  2. Make a habit of putting your sunscreen on every morning no matter how much or little you will be outside. Ensure you cover all exposed skin.

For more information on this or any other subject, contact Rowena at rowena@gettingittogether.ca or visit the Getting It Together website.

Announcements

New referral program

Whether you are a client or not, Rowena would like to thank you for your referrals by offering a referral fee for any new client you send her way.

She’ll give you a cheque for 10% of the total bill or that same amount off your next newly booked session with her. That means that if you refer a client who books an image organizing session worth $400, then you get $40. That’s a free night at the movies!

This offer is time limited so don’t wait…refer away.

The 1 to 31 Organizing System™

Have you ever wondered how Rowena keeps on top of her hectic schedule. The key to her success is the 1 to 31 Organizing System™. It has been the base for her business and personal life for over 20 years and has proven to be a great asset.

Because of this, she wants to bring this organizing system to all you Moms, entrepreneurs, business people or anyone who desparately needs to be organized.

One customer said:

“The 1to31 has helped me enormously. I used to have bills, invitations, cards, lists and reminders stuck all over my fridge. I felt overwhelmed by the clutter and would miss important dates. The 1to31 helps me feel in control of my life’s events and keeps everything together. I wouldn’t be without it.”

Amanda Baggett
Sales Trainer, Education Services
Research in Motion

The system is so easy to use, that it will become second nature within a few days. Once you get started you’ll wonder how you ever managed (or didn’t manage) without it. For more information click here.

The 1 to 31 Organizing System™ is available now by contacting Rowena at: rowena@gettingittogether.ca.

Rowena List is an Image Organizer™, motivational speaker, CD author, writer, trainer and mentor in the fields of personal and business development. Based on her own personal trade secrets, Rowena provides training, coaching, tools and support for creating healthy reflections from the outside in. She focuses on “enhancing faces and clearing spaces” to provide the energy, productivity and confidence that are the foundations for her unique approach to Success Without Struggle™.

For more information on Image Organizing™, on booking Rowena for a presentation or a one-on-one or on Getting It Together please contact her at rowena@gettingittogether.ca.

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