BABY OIL AND IODINE - A RECIPE FOR SPF MINUS 15
Oh, I can smell it now. That combined concoction led to a sublime sunburn, which eventually, maybe after three days and bottles of Bactine numbing spray, turned into a golden bronze tan. And let's not forget, we may have been sipping on the Funny Face fruit drink determined to rival Kool-Aid without the calories. Problem? Funny Face had cyclamate as it's sweetener, soon removed from the market for increasing the risk of kidney cancer. So there I was, enjoying the peaceful summer and listening to the Beach Boys or Sgt. Pepper, and contributing to the possible decline in my mortality.
My kidneys are fine, thank you very much, but it is the, what do you call them - sun spots, liver spots, age spots - that have chosen to remind me of my younger, reckless days. Hey, was SPF part of our vocabulary back then? Oh, if we knew then what we know now. I tell you what, I wouldn't need an extra blotch of cover up on the side of my nose and forehead to conceal my "sun freckles".
Do you like to get a little sun in the summer? I'm guilty. I admit that I love to feel the warm rays on my face and body with a cool drink in my hand. I don't have to be on vacation or have a cabana boy around to feel totally relaxed. But now, with all of the research devoted to skin cancer and it's prevention and the SPF products on the shelves with SPF numbers beginning to outnumber my age, I am now encouraging all of my Baby Boomers to follow these prevention guidelines:
- Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
- Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every 2 hours.
- Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
- Do not burn.
- Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
- Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
- Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of 6 months.
- Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
- See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.
For a beautiful looking and a safe tan, I just book a Buff and Bronze at the clinic. Please consult the skin care department for the specials they are offering this week. Your skin will thank you!
For more information, please visit the Skin Cancer Foundation at http://www.skincancer.org
Dr. Elaine A. Campbell- As a Psychiatrist, Mental Wellness and Lifestyle Coach, I am dedicated to healthy-eating, exercise, and to the improvement of our physical and mental well-being. Inspired by my new book, "My Life As A Car; A Mental Wellness Guide In Your Glove Compartment", I will be taking weekly journeys with you, addressing possible bumps in the road and exploring ways to navigate them in a healthy way. So, here's to all of our road trips. May we have a lifetime of Happy Motoring!
