Growing up with fair skin, sunburn and tan envy!

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I am a fair skinned person, I grew up with a sister who has a beautiful olive skin tone and tans very easily and I was always jealous of her ability to tan. Me, I had to work for one, and I that usually meant getting sunburn first. During my youth I burned quite a few times, with blisters, which doubles my chances of developing skin cancer. Not to mention, it was extremely painful! I tried my best to remember to apply sunscreen! When I was younger, it was easy to lose track of time and reapply sunblock every 20-30 minutes if my mother wasn't nearby.Today, there are methods that make this much easier, such as sun protective clothing with UPF factors that block both UVA and UVB instead of prolong the reddening of the skin, which is what sun screen does.

How long it takes to sunburn by UV Index Ratings

First let's start with a means of finding your UV index. Check your UV index here.

0-2 Minimal UV Exposure, over 60 minutes to sunburn.
A wide brimmed hat should do, and sunglasses if applicable. 
3-4 Low, sunburn can occur in approximately 45-60 minutes or more.
Wear a hat and protect your skin using clothing UPF 15 and SPF 15 on any exposed skin every 2 hours.
5-6 Moderate, sunburn can occur within 30 minutes.
Wear a minimum of UPF 15 clothing, UPF 20-24 is recommended, and polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes. Sunblock SPF 15-30 should be applied to any exposed skin, every 2 hours.
7-9 High, sunburn can occur within 15-20 minutes.
 Advised to stay inside between peak times of 10:00AM - 4:00PM. Wear UPF 40-50+ clothing, hat, polarized sunglasses and SPF 45 to any exposed skin every 2 hours.
10+ Very high, sunburn can occur in less than 15 minutes
 It is recommended you stay indoors. If you go outside, try to stay in a shaded area, keep yourself hydrated, wear SPF 40-50+ clothing, wide brimmed hat, polarized sunglasses and SPF 45 on any exposed skin every 2 hours.

What everyone should know during hot temps and high UV Indexes

It's been a blistering hot summer! SPF wants everyone, including parents of young children to be informed about the dangers of high temperatures and UV index levels. During times like this, people tend to be more likely to use sun protective clothing and/or sunscreens to protect themselves and their family from a painful sunburn. That should not be the only reason anyone should protect themselves and loved ones from the sun.

Here are some quick facts and tips to help you and your family stay protected during this heat wave we’ve experienced across the country.

FACTS & TIPS FOR THIS HOT SUMMER

Children who experience more than one blistering , may double their lifetime risk of developing melanoma, which is responsible for 70% of skin cancer deaths per year. Five or more sun burns per year can double a person’s risk of developing skin cancer.

UV exposure accelerates the oxidation process of the body that creates free radicals that damage skin cells resulting in premature aging, wrinkles, leathery and sagging skin.

More than one reason to protect your skin from the sun

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When we think of sun damage and protecting ourselves, what is the first thing you think of? Most people think of protecting themselves from sunburn. We certainly pay attention when someone gives us a good pat on the back when we have a sunburn, because it hurts! That’s usually the reason why most of us even apply sun screen or wear sun protective clothing is to avoid getting a sunburn. That shouldn't be the only reason. It might not be easy to consider all the time, but the sun's UV Rays are very dangerous. They will cause damage to you and everyone around you at some point in time. It's imperative you protective yourself, and the best thing you can do is be informed.


So, what about the “other reasons” we should be thinking about when we talk about protecting our skin. We are going to talk about this in detail, therefore we decided to take this particular article in 3 parts.

Reasons to protect your skin using sun protective apparel

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• 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
• 1 American per hour dies from skin cancer
• Unprotected exposure to UV Radiation is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer.
• Each year, more new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in American than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined.

Source: US EPA www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvandhealth.htm

Freckles are cute, if they are really freckles....

Freckles are cute! That’s a statement almost all of us have heard or said at some point in our lives. How much do you really know about freckles and when you should be concerned? The staff at here at The SPF Store (Sun Protective Factory) are dedicated to bringing awareness to some of the most easily overlooked signs of  skin cancer, melanoma, carcinoma, XP (Xeroderma Pigmentosum) and many other skin disorders. Having freckles does not mean you have a skin disorder, however what you think could be a freckle, might be a sign of a serious skin disorder. We’re here to help you know the difference.

Ephelides Freckles
Photo Credit Graur Codrin

Let’s start from the beginning. Freckles can be the result of having lower amounts of Melanin in the skin, which is a chemical compound that is made by our skin cells. It acts as the body’s natural defense against the sun’s harmful rays. People who have darker complexions and tan easier have a greater amount of Melanin. It actually reflects and absorbs UV Rays from the sun. Thus, if you have less melanin, you will have a lighter complexion and most likely freckles. Having freckles, is usually an inherited trait, which can also affect darker skin types as well, but is less frequent.

The SPF Store's New Blog!

Hello world! The SPF Store is launching our new blog called "Know Your Skin, Love Your Skin". Our goal is to educate you about your skin and the factors of our everyday life that can cause skin damage from exposure to the sun. By protecting yourself from the sun's harmful UV rays, you can aide in the prevention of any various types of skin disorders caused from over exposure to the sun. At times, genetics can play a key role in being diagnosed with skin disorders and skin cancer, in cases like these, it is even more important to practice healthy skin care that include protecting your skin from dangerous UV rays. We're here to keep you informed, involved and in touch with the the latest news and information on skin care, sun exposure, prevention, protection and of course the latest form of sun block, and that's clothing that provides UPF (Ultra-Violet Protection Factor) protection which you can find here at www.spfstore.com