Importance of Wearing Sunscreen

It’s surprising how many people think that they don’t need to wear sunscreen on a daily basis. And how many of us have thought, "I don’t need sunscreen today, I’m only going to be in my car. "

Well, the New England Journal of Medicine recently posted a study of a 69 year old truck driver that I found rather shocking. The photo says it all. The right side of his face doesn’t look all that bad for 69, but the left side?
This man reported to his physicians that he had been driving a delivery truck for 28 years. What many of us don’t realize is that UVA rays (the ultraviolet rays that actually age your skin) easily penetrate glass into your skin. Over time, this unprotected exposure led to thickening of this gentlemans skin and dramatic reduction in elastin (the fibers that keep your skin taught and plump looking).

There are two ways to avoid the damaging rays of the sun. 1) Stay inside and hide
2) wear a physical sunblock.
 Just like a long sleeved shirt or wide brimmed hat, a good sunscreen will contain an actual physical block like Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide. Now, the good news is you won’t look like that lifeguard on the beach with the silly looking white nose. Suncreens have come a long way in the last few years. Some good ones to consider are Elta Md, Jane Iredale,  ZO Skin Health or Vivier Pharma  All 4 have physical blocks that provide instant, broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and go on smooth and invisible.

If you have concerns about sun damage or just want to get more information on sun protection, please contact us 519-837-1897. We are happy to answer any of your questions.

Open House Reminder

We cant let you forget our biggest event of the year... Our Open House!

This coming TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25th from 4pm-8pm!

*Drop in any time that you can*

 

 

 

A recap of what will be happening :

1. Meet our Reps. Vivier, CoolSculpting, and Jane Iredale representatives will be here to answer questions, product demonstrations and mini consultations. Our lovely Jana from Vivier Skincare will be set up at a booth to show you product, and help you find whats best for your skin type!





2. Giveaways, prizes and swag bags. Just for coming, we will give you 20% off ALL products & 50% Off ALL microdermabrasions. (Can purchase for a later date or as a gift card)
Door prizes include : Vivier Skincare Kits, 5 CoolSculpting treatments, Microdermabrasions, Fraxel resurfacing, hair removal packages  & more!





3. Enjoy some yummy snacks, sandwiches, desserts and our famous chocolate fountain :)  while you explore our clinic and all it has to offer.

Dr. Lamont looks forward to meeting you!

4. Mini consultations with Dr. Lamont and staff. We will be mingling around, and openly discussing any questions you have or clarification on treatments we offer.

5. Magic FM Radio will be broadcasting live from our event :)



 

Don't miss out on the party, or you'll be sorry ;)

 

89 Dawson Road Suite 209
Guelph Medical Place 2

Parking will be validated

Sun Exposure : protect yourself

More people are learning about the health hazards associated with "sun exposure". Why is the sun so bad? Its not, if you protect yourself properly. Sun exposure is a leading cause of wrinkles, premature aging, unslightly brown spots, dried chapped skin and skin cancer. New research has shown that over exposure to the sun can impeded the bodys immune system as well.

What do I mean when I say "sun exposure"?
Sun exposure is any time you are in the direction of UV rays. This can be walking your dog, gardening, going to the beach or park, running (even at 6am!), driving in your car, sitting beside a window at work, sitting in the shade, walking between car and building, ANY time you are in suns UV rays! Its a lot more often than people think. With the ozone layer thinning, those rays are even stronger every day.

Protect your largest organ! (your skin)

Some ways to protect your skin from the suns UV rays:

1. Wear Sunscreen DAILY. An SPF 30 or higher. Dont settle for SPF 15 in your moistuizer. Get a facial sunscreen product with a minimum of 30SPF. It should be the last cream you apply to your face.

2. Choose cosmetic products with SPF. A lot of make up these days do contain zinc and titanium, a natural sunscreen. Choose these products for the extra coverage. Jane Iredale is an Excellent example - ALL of there products contain Spf 15

3. Limit prolonged sun exposure. Don't lay out and bake in the sun. Take advantage of the shade. You are still getting sun exposure in the shade, but less intense.

4. Cover up with clothing. Wear hats (especially for balding men). Take care at the beach; wear sarrongs, sheer or UV protection clothing (a lot of swim wear now has UV protection in their clothing).

Continuous exposure to sun rays will increase skin damage, whether or not one gets a sun burn. Applying sunscreen daily when you are outside will help reduce the chances of acquiring serious skin damage. It will keep your skin smooth, soft, and retain its young appearance. Sunscreen will keep skin moisturized and prevent it from drying out and becoming chapped and rough. It should be used during all seasons, even the winter months.

Protect your skin so we don't have to fix it later! ;)

Check out our other posts on Sunscreen! HERE

Protect You Skin This Summer

Some of you may have seen our previous post about sunscreen during the winter (click HERE to review it)

But as important as sunscreen is for the winter, it is TWICE as important during the summer months!

The warm, bronzing rays of the sun make us feel and look good.. but only short term. In the long run, it gives us wrinkles, age spots, leather skin and possibly skin cancer.

Why is sunscreen important?

1.Sun damage is the number one cause of skin cancer.
   Long term exposure to sun can cause skin cancer such as actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Episodes of severe sunburns prior to the age of18 can cause melanoma later in life. This is why it is so important to protect ourselves and our children. Certain factors make some people more prone to skin cancer than others.. such as; skin type, family history, job, and history of previous burns.

2.Sun damage is the number one cause of premature aging of the skin.
  UV rays damages the elastin in our skin, something that women work so hard to keep and duplicate with creams/treatments. The loss of elastin causes sagging, stretching, and wrinkling. It also makes the skin prone to bruising and tearing.
The overall appearance of your skin is enhanced and remains youthful... with the LESS sun exposure you get.

  3.Sun damage is impossible to un-do. Once you've damaged your skin through over- exposure to UV rays, it's damaged for life, and the effects are cumulative.
 Sun exposure very quickly cause sun damage. Those wonderful spots we call "age spots" actually refer to pigmented lesions caused by the sun. Discolouration of the skin is a major symptom of too much sun exposure, and a lack of sunscreen. These spots can be treated with excessive creams or laser treatments, but they can always reappear with future sun exposure.

What does "Sun exposure" refer to?

Sun exposure is any time spent in the sun. The obvious is; laying out in the back yard, gardening, going on vacation, trip to the beach/zoo, outdoor sports etc. What people dont realize is that driving in your car, walking to work or between buildings, cloudy day, winter sports/activities, hiking in a shady area, sitting in the shade, watching childrens activities etc

Any moment you are OUTSIDE, no matter the temperature or amount of clouds in the sky, you are getting sun exposure!!!

Remember this while you're putting your sunscreen on daily.....

The damage is easier to prevent than undo....

Sunscreen in the Winter???

A friend askes : " I wear my sunscreen all summer, but should I wear it in the winter too???
Our answer : " ABOSULTELY!! Just because it is cold out, does not mean the suns UV rays are less powerful. If anything they are twice as bad because of the reflection from the snow."

"Winter sports enthusiasts are at increased risk for overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The combination of higher altitude and UV rays reflected by the snow puts skiers and snowboarders at an increased risk of sun damage, and ultimately skin cancer. More than 90 percent of all skin cancers are associated with sun exposure."  - Taken from the Skin Cancer Society website


Being outdoors and participating in winter activities is great for staying active and fit. Getting fresh air and sunlight keeps us healthy and feeling good. We can have fun in the sun.. while protecting ourselves at the same time. Have fun skiing, snowboarding, toboganning, building a snow man, or going for a brisk walk... but protect yourself while you do so. Here are some simple ways to protect your skin against the suns harmful UV rays:


The first and foremost is SPF SUNSCREEN!  :)

• Sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher is the most beneficial. You'll also want to make sure it is "broad spectrum" UVA and UVB protection. Apply it liberally to all exposed areas.
• Use a reputable facial sunscreen (with good ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, or avobenzone, mexoryl) with a daily moisturizer in it to maintain your skins moisture balance.
• Be sure to cover often-missed spots: the lips, ears, around the eyes, and on the neck, the underside of chin, scalp and hands.
• Apply lip balm with SPF 15 or higher
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, and immediately after heavy sweating.
• Wear sunglasses or goggles with 99% UV protection to protect from sun and wind. Cover up as much as possible.

"Be mindful of the time spent in the sun, regardless of the season. "
                            - The Skin Cancer Society

Have a Safe and Happy Holidays!! 

Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup

Jane Iredale focus truly is the skin. Her make-up line is a true extension of skin care. It is a FULL Mineral Makeup Line. Jane Iredale has been the recipient of the highest awards and accolades in the industry. It is associated and recommended by the Canadian Skin Care Society. The quality in the products goes to show how much integrity the company has.

 

“Our make up is not just a refinement of normal makeup; it is a new technology. So effective it is recommeded by plastic surgeons, dermatologist and skin care professionals.” – Jane Iredale

Here are the benefits of Jane Iredale Makeup :

Non-comedogenic and oil Free – The minerals lay a protective filter on the skin which allows it to breathe and function normally. All products passed comedogenicity laboratory testing.

Hypoallergenic and Dermatologist Tested – All products are non-irritating and have been safety, allergy and clinically tested – no sensitivities recorded. Fragrance and artificial colour free. The colours for the shadows and powders are made from organic substances.

Inert – This means it cannot hold moisture and bacteria. Because minerals are inert, there is very little risks of cross-contamination. Jane put her product in an incubator (heat) for 7 days with 15 different types of bacteria, and NO bacteria was recorded IN the products!

SPF Protection – Titanium dioxide and zinc (2 of the main ingredients) are physical sunscreen ingredients. This gives instant UVB and UVA Medium Protection (about 15 SPF)

Four in One – The foundation bases (loose, pressed powders or liquid form) are 4 products in one : foundation, powder, concealer and sunscreen.

Quality – state-of-the-art ingredients to ensure the finest performance, application and texture. Products include vitamins and antioxidant is pharmaceutical grade and certified organics where available.

At last, a makeup that’s good for the skin!! ;)

The Importance of GOOD Makeup

If you are going to wear makeup - and face it we all do (pun intended) - why not use something that’s GOOD for the skin? Why bother spending all the time, money and energy on having GOOD skin, if you’re not going to put GOOD makeup on it.

And I know most of you are thinking – we do it because it’s cheap.

Think about this. How much do you spend on your skincare? Most cleansers (and I’m talking GOOD cleansers) range from 20-40$, toner or astringents (20-30$), moisturizers (20-60$) etc. You are helping improve and nourish your skin with a GOOD skincare line, but then applying cheap makeup does the complete opposite.

“The most beautiful cosmetic you can wear is a healthy skin” – Jane Iredale

Putting GOOD ingredients on your skin is the same as eating GOOD ingredients. If you eat a lot of salts, sugar, processed foods and junk, your body is lacking the healthy nutrients you need to function. It’s the same for your skin. If you use comedogenic (pore clogging) ingredients, artificial dyes and fragrances etc,, you are depriving your skin of the luxurious ingredients it needs to give your healthy, glowing, clear skin!  This is why nourishing skincare and makeup with GOOD ingredients is just as essential as nutritious foods.

There are a lot of ingredients in your make up that you probably have no idea what they are, or what their purpose is. It helps to know a little bit about the GOOD and bad ingredients. And when you go to the drug store, don’t be afraid to turn over the packing and READ the listing!

Some ingredients in make-up you’ll want to avoid are:

Talc – Traditional colour cosmetics contain 70-90% talc. This is a drying agent. It absorbs moisture and oils too well. It can remove your natural moisture balance and dry out your skin big time. It also is the best breeding ground for bacteria (double dipping anyone!??) There is a lot of controversy over talc right now because of these issues, and the fact that the natural form of Talc does in fact, contain asbestos(just food for thought…)

Fatty Acids such as Mineral oil, paraffin, lanolin, petrolatum.- These don’t allow the skin to breathe through them. They act as a barrier, holding in bacteria, oils and any comedogenic ingredients.

Isopropyl Myristate – actually a rust remover. The smoothness and flexibility of the molecules give make-up, such as foundations, a smooth even application.

Fragrance and dyes – These can cause allergies, sensitivities and irritation to the skin. We are advised to try to limit the amount of colour dyes in our food, for the same reasons. Find “fragrance – free” or “hypo-allergenic”

Now that I’ve told you what NOT to use in your make-up, how about what you Should use!

The new lines of make-up coming out are Mineral Make-Ups. Mineral based make-ups are the best way to go! Just beware… in drug stores, mineral lines only have to have 3% of minerals in order to be labelled Mineral. Be sure it is a FULL mineral make-up line like …… JANE IREDALE!