Leading Lady NewsletterMay 2018

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The Right SunscreenCut Through the Hype and Learn What WorksJason Barbaria

Protection from harmful UV rays can do wonders for your skin.

"Feelinggratitude andnot expressingit is likewrapping apresent and notgiving it."- W. A. WardOffice Hours and Contact

Oasis Skin Care ClinicLilly Cook6182074404Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 7pm6182074404

In this Issue

The Right SunscreenCultivating a Gardening HabitThe Power of Tea Tree Oil

According to the American CancerSociety, more than 2 million people arediagnosed with skin cancer in the UnitedStates each year. There are more than2,000 over-the-counter sunscreenformulas on the market today. How canyou tell which sunscreens are the safest,most effective, and represent the bestvalue for your money? In most cases, theanswer comes down to the differencebetween the two types of filteringingredients.

Chemical or Physical?The UV radiation in sunlight consists ofUV-A, UV-B, and UV-C rays. UV-Aand UV-B are both responsible forphotoaging, skin cancer, sunburn,

tanning, and wrinkling. UV-C is not afactor in skin health, as it is absorbed bythe Earth's atmosphere and does notreach us in significant amounts.Broad-spectrum sunscreen protectsagainst both UV-A and UV-B. Thisprotection can work in one of two ways:chemical or physical.

Chemical UV Filters

Work by absorbing UV radiation;Require application 30 minutes beforesun exposure; Provide partial protectionfrom UV spectrum; May irritate the skinand eyes; Not regulated for safety by theUS Food and Drug Administration(FDA)--some may even becarcinogenic; Not photostable (exposureto sunlight degrades effectiveness);Avobenzone is the most commonly usedchemical filter ingredient.

Physical UV FiltersWork by reflecting UV radiation; Startprotecting immediately upon use;Provide full broad-spectrum protection;Non-irritating to skin and eyes; Safe, asparticles do not penetrate the skin;Highly photostable (exposure to sunlight

does not change effectiveness).

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are themost commonly used physical filteringredients. Clothing and shadestructures also count as physical filters.

Learn what to look for to get the right sunscreen.

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How Stable Is It?One of the most important factors inthe effectiveness of a sunscreen formulais also one of the least known to thegeneral public. Photostability is aningredient's ability to remain effectiveafter exposure to sunlight. Many peopleare aware that this is an issue fornumerous skin care ingredients, butmay be surprised to learn that someactive ingredients in sunscreen--aproduct whose sole purpose involvesbeing exposed to sunlight--are notphotostable. In addition, the FDA's newrules do not require sunscreeningredients to be tested forphotostability. Yet, many consumersexpect that their sunscreen will protectthem for longer than one hour.

Physical filters such as zinc oxide andtitanium dioxide are photostable.Studies have shown that theseingredients suffer no degradation aftermore than two hours of sun exposure.However, the chemical filter avobenzoneis not at all photostable, and degradesalmost completely in less than one hour.Even worse, avobenzone also degradeson contact with other UV filters such aszinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and withmetal ions such as iron oxide, which iscommonly found in makeup. This goesa long way toward explaining why manyconsumers experience sunburn evenafter applying sunscreen as directed.

Health ConcernsEffectiveness is not the only thing toconsider in any product being applied tothe face or body. Significant healthconcerns have also been raised aboutmany sunscreen ingredients. Here aresome issues to consider.

Avobenzone has been found to generatefree radicals beyond acceptable safetylevels after sitting on the skin for justone hour, and children and pregnantwomen have been advised not to useproducts containing it.

Octocrylene, which is known to act as anendocrine disrupter, is used in manysunscreens as a stabilizer. It can alsocause skin irritation. According to theArchives of Dermatology, "Octocryleneappears to be a strong allergen leadingto contact dermatitis in children andmostly photoallergic contact dermatitisin adults."

Chemical UV filters can also haveharmful effects on the environment.Octocrylene does not seem to beeffectively contained in wastewatertreatment plants, and studies inSwitzerland have indicated that itaccumulates in fish. Oxybenzone, achemical UV-B filter often used incombination with avobenzone, has beenfound to negatively impact reefecosystems and biodiversity.

Physical UV filters, in contrast, have anexcellent safety profile. The FDA haslong considered zinc oxide to be a safeingredient for both external use and as afood additive, even in infant formula.

Considering all these factors, physicalUV blockers represent the best choiceoverall. The main challenge in gettingconsumers to use sunscreens based onphysical filters is purely cosmetic: zincoxide and titanium dioxide tend to feelthick and greasy, and are visible on theskin, leaving a white residue. However,new advances mean there are now anincreasing number of sunscreens thatuse these ingredients in formulationsthat allow for clear application.

When evaluating a sunscreen, the mostimportant considerations should besafety and effectiveness. Carefullyexamine the ingredients and make use ofall available information to make thebest choices for yourself and yourfamily.

Jason Barbaria is director of marketing atDermagenics, a skin care line that includessunscreen, cleansers, and moisturizers.

Gardening burns calories and improves diet.

Cultivating a Gardening HabitDiscover the Health Benefits of Yard Work

The Power of Tea Tree Oil

Feeling the need to exercise, clean upyour diet, meditate? Want to be morecreative, get out and meet people, enjoythe outdoors, and slow down? There'sone activity in which you can accomplishall of these objectives: gardening.

Encouraging ExerciseStudies show that vigorous digging burns500 calories an hour, weeding burns210 calories, and mowing the lawnburns 400 calories. As a moderateexercise, gardening has been found todecrease the risk of heart disease anddiabetes, and a study at the University ofArkansas found that gardening wasalmost as effective as weight lifting inreducing the risk for osteoporosis inwomen. So instead of taking that indooraerobics class this summer, try mowingthe lawn or planting an herb garden.

As with any exercise regimen, the key isto start at a comfortable pace andgradually work your way up to longer,more difficult activities. Your heart rateshould be about the same as when youtake a brisk walk.

Improving Your DietGardening will also likely help you eatbetter. Research shows that people whogrow gardens eat more vegetables andfruits than those who don't. Growingfresh herbs, even in a container on thedeck or balcony, is another great way toadd flavor and freshness tohome-cooked meals and an incentive totry new recipes.

Boosting Your Social LifeGardening can also be quite social.Whether at a garden club, a communitygarden, or an online forum, people loveto share ideas, solve common problems,and connect through mutual interests.

Easing StressAnd finally, gardening is a great way tomanage stress. Spending time outsideand tuning in to the rhythms of nature,we're reminded to be patient, slowdown, and breathe the fresh air.Whether growing flowers, vegetables, orherbs, a garden reminds us of ourconnection to life and the abundancethat nature so freely gives.

Is your medicine cabinet full ofointments, oils, and creams that eachtreats one specific ailment? Maybe youcan cut down on some of the clutter byadding nature's own wonder drug, teatree oil, instead.

What is Tea Tree OilProduced in Australia from the tree M.alternifolia, tea tree oil acts as anantiseptic, fungicide, insect deterrent,and more. It has been used in Australiaby aborigines for generations and, sincethe country's colonization, has spread tothe rest of the world.

Tea tree oil, which can be found as anessential oil as well as in creams,ointments, shampoo, and eventoothpaste, can be used to treat astaggering variety of conditions,including: acne, arthritis, athlete's foot,burns, cuts, dandruff, eczema,gingivitis, infection, insect bites andstings, lice, muscle sprains, psoriasis,and rashes. And that's just a partial list!

Potential BenefitsThe exact cause of tea tree oil'seffectiveness is difficult to ascertain, and

researchers are still looking into justhow much the natural remedy can do forus. Newer studies have looked at itsability to stop the spread ofsometimes-deadly methicillin-resistantstaphylococcus aureus in hospitals.

Use SafelyWhile there are plenty of benefits tousing tea tree oil, its strength can also beproblematic, even dangerous. The MayoClinic advises that it's not safe to ingestor take tea tree oil internally, and it isconsidered particularly harmful ifingested by pets.

Also, like most natural remedies, the USFood and Drug Administration does notregulate tea tree oil as it does othermedicines, leaving no standard qualityof tea tree oil products. And, whilemany people enthusiastically support teatree oil, it is no substitute forprofessional medical care.

Yet, many people agree that, if nothingelse, tea tree oil should be a part of yourfirst aid kit in case of bites, burns, orscrapes. But who knows? You might findyourself using it for much more than

that.

"Acknowledgingthe good thatyou already havein your life is thefoundation forall abundance."-Eckhart Tolle

Hey there Leading Lady! I hope you have enjoyed thismonth's issue of the Leading Lady Newsletter. I have amgrateful that you invested a couple of minutes in yourself toread through the articles. Have a productive and fulfillingmonth!

Oasis Skin Care Clinic

1334 Walnut StMurphysboro, IL, IL 62966