Thought you knew everything about how the sun impacts your skin? These might change your mind. By Sarah Marinos and Liz Graham "Drinkable sunscreen may offer protection from within" Well, that’s the claim of a US company. A few months ago Harmonised H2O UV Neutralizer launched, touting that drinking a few millilitres can give users sun protection of about SPF 30. It’s said to contain radio frequencies called “scalar waves” that vibrate above the skin in such a way toblock the sun’s harmful waves. If you think that sounds questionable, you’re not alone. The product has been universally panned by skin protection experts worldwide and it hasn’t received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. However, that’s not to say that a scientifically-proven sunscreen drink won’t be available in the future. Jennifer Taylor, head of beauty at The Australasian College Broadway, says such a product is on the horizon. “Over the next decade, we’ll likely see a rise in the availability of drinkable sun protection, with a range of these already available online,” she says. “Before you get too excited, I recommend waiting for the products to receive accreditation from the Therapeutic Goods Administration [Australia’s governing body for regulating medicinal products].” A bit of sun lowers blood pressure Our bodies need vitamin D from the sun for various health reasons. Now there’s a new scientifically-proven benefit of spending some time in the sun: it lowers blood pressure, to reduce the risk ofheart attack and stroke. A recent study by the universities of Edinburgh and Southampton in the UK showed that a dose of UV equivalent to about 30 minutes of southern Europe summer sunshine could “significantly” lower people’s blood pressure, also known as hypertension. The research, which was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, suggested UV radiation triggered natural stores of nitric oxide in the skin to dilate small blood vessels. Several other studies have shown that people with mild hypertension tend to have lower blood pressure in summer compared to winter, and that the further you live from the equator, the more likely you are to suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease. Wearing broccoli could protect against UV Scientists have found that a naturally occurring compound found in broccoli could be a surprise weapon against skin cancer. The University of Arizona research has discovered the ingredient sulforaphane has anti-cancer properties. A broccoli-based sunscreen is now being tested for its UV protective qualities. Assistant professor Sally Dickinson, who’s been researching broccoli’s properties, says: “We’re searching for better methods to prevent skin cancer in formats that are affordable and manageable for public use. Sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer.” Blue and green eyes are more sensitive to UV rays While all colours of eyes are at risk of cataracts, research has found that people with light-coloured eyes – blue, grey, green and hazel – are at a higher risk of all forms of UV damage, including cataracts, uveal or ocular melanoma, and age-related macular degeneration. A 2006 US review published in the Archives of Ophthalmology examined 132 studies and found that people with light eye colour had a 75 per cent greater chance of developing ocular melanoma, the most common type of eye cancer. Wearing sunglasses that provide 100 per cent UV protection remains the easiest way to protect against sun damage. Layering SPF products on your face is a waste of money There’s a big misconception that using two products with SPF will increase your protection, Taylor says. “If you’ve invested in a SPF 30+ sunscreen and you’re using a foundation or tinted moisturiser with 30+, it’s not going to make any difference.” Taylor advises wearing a high-protectionfoundation of at least 30+ and topping it up during the day. Using a sunscreen under foundation may reduce its power as the protective element of the sunscreen can break down in the presence of water, which is included in many foundations. “Save your sunscreen for the parts of the body where you’re not using make-up,” she adds. Skin cancer rates are falling for the first time ever The sun-safe message seems to be sinking in among younger Australians. For the first time, rates of non-melanoma skin cancer are dropping among Australians under the age of 45, according to a study by the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland. The rates of non-melanoma cancer reduced in this age group by more than 10 per cent between 2000 and 2010. In the same period, the number of younger Australians having skin checks or biopsies also increased. Meanwhile, the Cancer Council Australia Survey released last month backed up the impact the “slip, slop, slap” message is having on young Aussies, revealing that the number of adolescents who want to have a tan has dropped from 60 per cent 10 years ago to 38 per cent today. It's never too late to be safe While high sun exposure in the first 10 years of life doubles your lifetime risk of melanoma, sun exposure later also counts, Sue Heward of SunSmart says. “Your skin is like a memory bank – it remembers all your encounters with UV and adds them up. You can’t wipe that memory bank but you can ensure your risk of skin cancer doesn’t increase further.” source
