ARS.com
You’ve heard of Soy Dream, but have you heard of SoyScreen?  For you “greenies” out there this new soy-based sunscreen technology, is a natural alternative to petroleum-based sunscreens.  The company responsible for the new soy bean screen is iSoy.  No, it’s not sold at your local Apple store; however, the company’s ferulic soy glycerides (FSG33) a new soy-based anti-aging ingredient recently made its debut in New York City marketed by a major cosmetics company.

“When Agricultural Research Service (ARS) chemists Joe Laszlo and Dave Compton originally developed SoyScreen, they envisioned outdoor enthusiasts and other consumers using their invention as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based sunscreens.

Instead, SoyScreen—and the patented ARS method of producing it—became the technological platform from which iSoy Technologies Corporation of Cary, Ill., began launching a novel class of cosmetic ingredients called “skincare bio-lipid actives.”

In February 2007, a variation of SoyScreen formulated by iSoy—ferulic soy glycerides (FSG33)—made its commercial debut as a key active ingredient in a wrinkle-prevention skincare product marketed by a major cosmetics company in New York City.

FSG33’s burgeoning commercial roots began with bio-lipid reaction experiments that Laszlo and Compton conducted in 1998 at ARS’ National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Ill.  There, they devised an enzyme-based method to make an all-natural sunscreen from soy oil and ferulic acid, a natural antioxidant that filters out UVA and UVB sunlight.”  Read More

Medicinenet.com
Study Shows Caffeine and Exercise Together May Help Kill Some Sun-Damaged Skin Cells:

July 30, 2007 — A cup of coffee after your morning jog may help your skin fight the damaging effects of the sun and prevent skin cancer.  A new study with mice shows the combination of caffeine and regular exercise appears to help kill some of the precancerous cells damaged by the sun’s ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation.  The sun-protective effect of this caffeine-exercise combination is still no excuse to skimp on the sunscreen. But researchers say the two may work together to prevent skin cancer better than either element alone.

"We need to dig deeper into how the combination of caffeine and exercise is exerting its influence at the cellular and molecular levels, identifying the underlying mechanisms," says researcher Allan Conney, director of Rutgers University’s Cullman Laboratory, in a news release. "With an understanding of these mechanisms we can then take this to the next level, going beyond mice in the lab to human trials.  Read More

Sephora has launched an exciting summer sun-safety campaign.  With hopes to educate customers about the importance of sun protection and provide skin cancer awareness, they have designed a customized Sun Safety Kit which includes a wide range of travel size sun protection products.  The kit also provides safe sun tips right on the package.  Also, 100% of the net profits will benefit the Skin Cancer Foundation, Sephora will donate a total of up to $182,000.00 before 12/31/2007.

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Sever sunburns are uncomfortable and quite painful.  The National Library of Medicine suggests these simple ways to sooth a sunburn:  Take a cool shower or bath (putting baking soda in the bathwater also can help soothe sunburn), moisten your skin with lotion (applying aloe vera gel can help cool the skin and relieve pain) and adults may also take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like aspirin or ibuprofen to alleviate the pain and reduce swelling.
 

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, "everyone should see a dermatologist once a year. Spring is a great time to go, to get advice on sun protection and to have your skin examined before the beach weather begins."
These are questions you should ask yourself, and discuss with your physician:

What Is My Skin Type?

Your skin type, which depends on the amount of natural protection your skin provides you, is a key factor when determining your risk of developing skin cancer.  If you don’t know your own skin type, check out [the] skin type guide.

What Is My Risk for Skin Cancer?

Family history, childhood sun exposure, personal skin cancer history and other factors all play a part in determining your overall risk.  If you’re not familiar with your family’s medical history, consider contacting family members to find out if there is a history of melanoma in your family tree.

Do I Need to Examine My Own Skin?

A monthly skin check is a crucial part of skin cancer early detection, although it should not replace a yearly professional skin exam. You want to be as thorough as possible, so follow [this] step-by-step guide.

What Should I Look For?

There are three major types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. Each has different symptoms, and pose different risks. Recognize warning signs of BCC, SCC and melanoma.

[ Via SkinCancerFoundation.com ] 

Certain medications, including some antibiotics and birth control pills, can increase the likelihood of a sunburn (U.S. National Library of Medicine).  Also, being outside during the sun’s peak hours, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or being on reflective sand or water can increase the risk of a severe sunburn.  And yes… tanning beds may also cause serious sunburns [and addictions].

We all love the sun, but it’s more of a love/hate relationship.  We love the golden tan the sun provides, but we hate the wrinkles and age spots.  Even worse, excessive sun exposure can be life threatening.  It’s responsible for over a million new cases of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers every year.

Aside from a healthy snack, grape seed has been used as an anti-aging ingredient [against free radicals] in many beauty products, but a recent study has shown chemicals found in grape seeds may also help prevent skin cancer.  Researchers at the University of Alabama exposed hairless mice to ultraviolet rays in order to determine whether the presence of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) in the diet affects the skin’s reaction to sunlight.

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Protecting your face from the sun is crucial but it’s not the only thing you should protect!  To keep you looking your best, make sure you apply sunscreen to the backs of your hands everyday.  The skin on our hands is very thin and delicate, it’s also one of the first places that show signs of aging.  It’s important to care for all of your skin, not just your face.