Massage TimesMay 2013

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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.

"If you alwaysdo whatinterests you,at least oneperson ispleased"-Katharine Hepburn

Office Hours and Contact

Massage TherapeuticsKat Harrison512-809-1066

Kat.massagetherapy.com

In this Issue

The Right SunscreenAre Your Candles Safe?Probiotics for Skin Health

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 protection from UVspectrum.-May irritate the skin and eyes.-Not regulated for safety by the US Foodand Drug Administration (FDA); somemay even be carcinogenic.-Not photostable (exposure to sunlightdegrades effectiveness).-Avobenzone is the most commonlyused chemical filter ingredient.

PHYSICAL UV FILTERS-Work by reflecting UV radiation.-Start protecting immediately upon use.-Provide full broad-spectrumprotection.

-Non-irritating to skin and eyes.-Safe, as particles do not penetrate theskin.-Highly photostable (exposure tosunlight does not change effectiveness).

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are themost commonly used physical filter

Learn what to look for to get the right sunscreen.

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ingredients. Clothing and shadestructures also count as physical filters.

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.

Candles are for relaxation, not toxification.

Are Your Candles Safe?How to Choose Toxin-free FlamesGlynnis Osher

Probiotics for Skin HealthTrust Your Gut on This One!Shelley Burns, N.D.

There is nothing like the inviting glowof a candle to make us feel relaxed,guide us into a meditative state, orharmonize the ambiance of a room.With all these life-enhancing attributes,it is troubling to think that many candlesare toxic and doing more harm thangood--but that may be the case.

The ProblemMost candles today are made fromparaffin wax, a petroleum by-productthat emits toxic fumes and soot into theair. There are up to eleven knowncarcinogenic compounds in paraffincandles that are considered toxic airagents by the state of California.Burning these candles can cause harm tothe heart, lungs, circulatory, andnervous systems, especially a concern foryoung children, the elderly, and thosewith asthma or other already establishedrespiratory problems. In addition, theburning of the fragrant oils in scentedcandles can create significant airpollution, as well.

Another possible hazard: wicks. WhileU.S. candle makers voluntarily agreed25 years ago to prohibit lead wicks, someimported candles may still contain lead.Ensure you're burning cotton wicksonly.

The SolutionThe good news is, you can still enjoyburning candles because there are safeand healthy alternatives. Consciouscandle choices include beeswax and theincreasingly popular soy wax. Unlikepetroleum, soy is a sustainable andrenewable resource. Soy wax is avegetable by-product that isbiodegradable and nontoxic. Manycandle enthusiasts prefer soy candlesbecause they burn clean and release verylittle or no soot into the air. Also,because soy wax is water soluble, cleanup is easy and containers can be easilywashed and reused. Another benefit ofsoy wax is the cooler burningtemperature, making for a much longerburning candle.

For more information visit the websitewww.themysticmasala.com.

Digestive health plays an important rolein how skin appears on the surface.When digestion is not workingoptimally, it allows toxins to bereabsorbed in the body instead of beingeliminated. The body then mounts astate of emergency as it's overwhelmedby toxins, some of them bad bacteria.These manifest directly on the surfacefor all the world to see, in the form ofwrinkles, blotchiness, skin rashes, andacne.

This is where probiotics come into play.Probiotics contain potentially beneficialbacteria found in the digestivetract--what some call good gut bacteria.They help strengthen the digestivesystem but they also play an importantrole in skin health. Probiotics consist ofLactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillusbulgaricus, and Bifidobacterium

bifidum. They have anti-inflammatory,anti-pathogenic, and antiallergenicproperties and can be usedprophylactically and therapeutically.

There have been many studies showingbenefits of probiotics to skin health. Forexample, there's a correlation betweenan imbalance of good and bad bacteriaand the onset of acne. When bringingnatural bacteria back into balance with aprobiotic intervention, acne improves,in some studies, as much as 50 percentof the time.

There is no recommended daily intakefor probiotics, but good food sourcesinclude buttermilk, kefir, miso,tempeh, yogurt, and other fermentedfoods. Supplements are generally higherin potency and are used for therapeuticpurposes in treating irritable bowel

syndrome, Crohn's disease, colitis, andmany other conditions.

While probiotics are essential for healthyskin and digestive health, there are manyother appealing benefits to encouragetheir use, such as strengthening theimmune system, replacing good bacteriaafter a course of antibiotics, andcontributing to general health andwell-being.

One note: Some probiotic supplementscome from dairy sources and may not besuitable for individuals with dairyallergies or sensitivities.

"Advice is whatwe ask for whenwe already knowthe answer butwish we didn't"-Erica Jong

Massage Therapeutics has two locations for yourconvenience!

A'Salon9077 Jollyville Rd.

Austin Muay Thai400 W Whitestone Blvd. Next to Kelly Moore Paint.

Massage Therapeutics

9077 JollyvilleAustin, TX 78759