The baby boomer generation, those born between 1946 and 1964, now make up an estimated 80 million people in the United States. Boomers grew up in an era when terms like sun protection factor, free radicals and antioxidants were non-existent. Now, many are facing the damaging effects of sun exposure, environmental toxins and stress as well as the effects of fast paced lifestyle choices. Fortunately, because we are now living in a time of significant advancements in skin care, baby boomers can substantially reverse these detrimental aging effects.

Top in youth-oriented treatments and products is the Baby Boomer Peel, specially formulated for the specific challenges faced by those between the ages of 43 and 63. If you are looking for aging baby boomers products, here are 8 benefits of the Baby Boomer Peel:

No Surgery or Downtime

By using safe, superficial chemical peels specially formulated for baby boomers, you may not have to resort to plastic surgery which is not only expensive but requires extensive healing time. With a peel, baby boomers will look younger, feel younger and live younger without surgery.

Exfoliation

Exfoliation is the key to youthful skin. Peels formulated for baby boomers gently lift away layers of dead, damaged skin cells to reveal fresher, softer skin with fewer lines and smaller pores.

Skin Stimulation

This peel will also stimulate the skin, encouraging new, healthy cells to travel upward to reveal moist, pink, renewed skin. In addition, increased blood flow from the stimulation also brings needed nutrients to the skin.

Diminished Crow’s Feet and Lines around the Mouth

A major benefit of the Baby Boomer Peel is how easily the fine lines and crow’s feet diminish with proper treatment.



More Even Skin Tone

Baby Boomer Peels even skin tone, lessening sun and age spots and creating a younger, smoother and more refined texture.

Increased Circulation

Increased circulation due to the peels brings vitality to tiny blood vessels responsible for tissue respiration, which brings more oxygen to the skin.

Firmer Skin

By using a peel specially formulated for baby boomers, slackened tissue becomes firmer and more toned, which is especially important for the jowl and neck areas.

Stronger Skin

Baby boomer peels also strengthen skin tissue, allowing the skin to take on a healthier, more youthful glow.

By utilizing natural ingredients partnered with scientifically developed compounds, baby boomer peels can turn back the hands of time, undoing years of damage from the sun and other sources. Aggressive peeling may occur in the first week and the appearance of the skin will continue to improve for the next few weeks, resulting in fewer fine lines and skin discolorations as well as a reduction in pore size. Offered in a range of specific peelings, baby boomer peels are especially geared for the boomer generation to refresh, revitalize, renew and protect the skin.

By: Rhonda Allison

It’s almost that time of year when people lay out to sizzle in the sun, like so many fillets crisping in the frying pan. Others will be out gardening, working or playing beneath the rays. They slather on their paba-free sunscreen, trusting that their skin, enviously golden-brown today, will remain supple, tan and cancer-free in the years to come. The protection they are getting may not be what they expected. Here are some tips to help you safely enjoy the summer sun season.

Know the Risks

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “Long-term overexposure can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, freckles, age spots, dilated blood vessels, and changes in the texture of the skin that make skin look older.” In fact, much of the visible signs of aging are the result of exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet light has also been connected with cataracts and suppression of the immune system.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Although the mortality rates are relatively low, nearly 10,000 Americans die of skin cancer every year. Most of these are from the least common form, called melanoma. While different forms of skin cancer develop differently and have different risks, they do have one thing in common – the risks are greater with increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, as from the sun and tanning beds.

Things aren’t getting better, despite the common use of sunscreens. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is not clear that using sunscreen reduces the risk of non-melanoma types of cancer, or that avoiding sunburns reduces the risk of melanoma. The incidence of skin cancer continues to rise each year. People with fair skin that tans poorly do seem to have a higher risk of developing any type of skin cancer, and those with many abnormal moles have an increased risk for melanoma. Twenty percent of Americans will develop some form of skin cancer. When diagnosed early, there is a nearly 100% chance of curing it, so have a doctor check out any unusual patches, bumps, scaly areas or moles that change shape, size or color.

Most of us get around 80% of our lifetime exposure to the sun by the time we’re 18. Adopting good habits about sun exposure and the use of sunscreen at an early age may result in significantly reduced incidence of skin cancer over a person’s lifetime. The Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend protecting kids from excessive sun exposure from an early age (but sunscreens should not be used on children under 6 months old).

Since dark-skinned people seem to be somewhat protected from the various kinds of sun damage, it is tempting to assume that staying tanned would give some protective benefit to those with fairer skin. So far, there does not seem to be evidence to support this. In fact, dermatologists consider a tan to be a form of skin damage.

Then again, there might be room for common sense and moderation. Some dermatologists and their professional organizations recommend avoiding sun and getting your vitamin D from a pill or “fortified foods” (generally foods which have had a lot of nutrition processed out of them, then had some chemical form of vitamins added back in). It’s hard to believe that hiding from the sun and taking supplements to replace normal physiological functions is a prescription for optimal health.

Sunscreens

Sunscreens may not be proven to be protective against skin cancer, but they can help prevent burns and reduce direct damage from UV radiation. (Possibly, sunscreens encourage additional exposure to UV rays, thus negating any protective effect from skin cancer.) To be effective, sunscreen should be applied at least a half hour before exposure, and reapplied every couple of hours, and after swimming or heavy perspiration.

The Sun Protection Factor or SPF rating of a sunscreen gives you an idea of the degree that UVB radiation is blocked out. An SPF rating of 15 means that, with the sunscreen, you’ll be protected for about 15 times longer than without it. For example, with an SPF 15 sunscreen it would take about 3 hours and 45 minutes to get the same amount of UVB exposure that you’d get in 15 minutes without it. A product with an SPF of 15 blocks 95% of the UVB rays. So, an SPF 30 does not block twice as much; it blocks about 98% of the UVB.

The shorter UVB rays are most responsible for causing sunburn. They are largely blocked by window glass (as well as by a good sunscreen). However, UVA rays also damage the skin, causing wrinkles and loss of elasticity. They are only partly blocked by window glass. There is no rating system for protection against UVA radiation. Choose a wide spectrum sunscreen that blocks both.

There are some concerns about the substances used in sunscreens. Most of the problems are related to skin irritation. Aminobenzoic acid and its esters (paba), oxybenzone and cinnamates can cause a rash or make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Fragrances, alcohol and preservatives can irritate the skin or eyes. The Environmental Working Group recommends avoiding sunscreens containing padimate-O and paba. Instead, use a product made with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These substances provide a physical, rather than chemical, radiation block. Unfortunately, both have been connected with environmental pollution related to their production.

To be any good, your sunscreen also has to stay on. Or, at least you have to re-apply frequently enough to get the rated benefit. These labeling guidelines have been recommended to give consumers an idea of a sunscreen’s ability to keep working:

* Sweat-resistant: protects up to 30 minutes of continuous heavy perspiration;
* Water-resistant: protects up to 40 minutes of continuous water exposure; and
* Waterproof: protects for up to 80 minutes of continuous water exposure.

Sunscreens are not to be used on children under six months old. That doesn’t instill a lot of confidence about their safety for adults, but there seems to be little evidence of serious side-effects from long term use in most of the population.

Prevention Guidelines

OK, so you’re going to get some fresh air or maybe play a little ball outside. It’s not a bad thing! Just be smart about it.

* Stop sunbathing and avoid other long baking sessions in the sun, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. when the rays are the strongest. Don’t count on the clouds to protect you – most of the UV light (60-80%) still comes through. Snow, sand and even concrete reflect up to 85% of UV radiation, so you can get more exposure than you bargained for on the beach or around the pool.

* Skip the tanning beds and sun lamps – they produce the same damaging rays as the sun, without any redeeming activity such as exercising or at least getting some fresh air.

* When you are out, minimize your exposure by seeking shade and covering up. Wear long sleeves and pants, and a broad brimmed hat. Even clothing does not give as much protection as you might think. A white cotton T-shirt has a SPF of only about 3. Tightly woven and darker clothes are the best. Unbleached cotton is a good material because it contains lignins, which do a good job of absorbing UV rays. Some clothing is made of specially treated cloth with protection factors over 40. It’s also possible to buy colorless dyes that you can launder into your own clothing, resulting in an SPF of about 30.

* Your sunscreen should have a minimum SPF of 15 and be applied 30 minutes before you go out. Reapply after swimming or heavy sweating, and every couple of hours, regardless.

* Be extra careful about sun exposure if you are taking antibiotics, tranquilizers or diuretics. Some of these make your skin more susceptible to sunburn. Check the package inserts or ask your pharmacist if you’re not sure of the precautions for the pharmaceuticals you are taking.

* Kids have other things on their minds, and teenagers feel invincible, so it’s our job to give them some guidance about sun protection. Sunscreens, however, are not considered safe for infants under 6 months old. Better to learn some good habits about using shade and protective clothing.

* Don’t forget to stay hydrated. If your activities have you worried about sun exposure, you’re probably loosing extra fluids, too.

If You Get Burned Anyway

There is no cure for sunburn, but there are some things you can do to ease the discomfort, and possibly speed the healing. Biomedical treatments include topical sprays like Solarcaine, and pain relievers such as aspirin and Advil. Here are some more natural treatments.

* A cool shower or bath will give some quick relief. Baking soda or chamomile can be added to the bathwater for a more soothing effect. Avoid warmer water as it strips away even more of the skin’s natural oils. It won’t feel good anyway!

* Similarly, cool milk compresses are quite soothing (use gauze or a soft cloth well-moistened with the milk). Use whole milk, as the milk fats contribute to the effect.

* Vinegar can be mixed half and half with water and applied as a compress or with a spray bottle. Vinegar is a traditional pain-relieving remedy – it’s good for sore throats and insect bites too. Avoid any broken skin and the eyes.

* After any of these treatments, it’s good to apply a moisturizing lotion or aloe vera gel. These may have some direct healing benefit, and act as a barrier that helps your skin stay hydrated.

* The Chinese herbal ointment Ching Wan Huang (also spelled Jing Wan Hong) can be used on mild to moderate burns. It helps relieve the pain, reduce inflammation and seems to speed healing of the tissues. It does have a pretty strong odor, and can stain clothes, but the relief it brings may be worth it.

* Honey is a traditional treatment for burns (and wounds) with an excellent history of success. It’s probably not very practical for treating a large area, though!

Remember when it didn’t take several manufacturing industries, a couple of government agencies and a watchdog group to prepare us for a walk? Well, perhaps it still doesn’t. But as our longevity increases, we’ll be wearing our skins longer, and the incidence of cancer will trend upward. This article may have armed you with some new information, but basic protection from the sun has been an age-old practice around the world. It has only been in recent times, and in industrialized countries, that a suntan has come to suggest wealth and leisure, rather than poverty and manual labor. Being more aware, you may find new respect for the power of the sun and traditional practices that moderated its effects. It’s not hard to develop habits that will allow you to work and play safely for years to come. So, go ahead and enjoy the summer – but don’t get burned!

By: Braxton Ponder

Anti aging natural skin care products are popping up everywhere. Baby boomers, the largest consumers, still feel young and they understandably want to continue looking young as well. But it’s not just the baby boomers. People in their twenties and thirties now are seeking out the best anti aging skin care so that they can preserve their youthful appearance for many years to come. And, of course, a preventative approach such as this is always best.

However, that doesn’t mean that if you already have age spots, color inconsistencies, or wrinkles and lines there is no help. There is! And it doesn’t always entail drastic measures such as cosmetic surgery.

Many companies are trying to capitalize on the anti aging natural skin care products market. Big household name companies like: Clarins, L’Oreal, Arden, Helena Rubenstein, The Body Shop, Christian Dior, Estee Lauder, Lancome just to name a few. Nowadays everyone is looking to go “natural.” It’s a hot buzzword, and there’s some validity in people’s pursuit of the natural, but words like natural have been exploited and adulterated, just like the term “organic” has.

First, natural isn’t always better or isn’t always safer. I know that sounds absurd on the surface, but if you think about it, it’s simply true. For example, hemlock is natural but it’s deadly. My point here is that when it comes to the best anti aging skin care, especially cream products, it’s not possible for every ingredient to be 100% natural in the strictest sense of the term.

For example, some people will say if something has been processed it’s no longer totally “natural.” But, when you buy skin care products, even the best ones must undergo some processing procedure. Maybe I’m being too picky here, but it’s a point I felt worth raising.

It is true, however, that you want as many ingredients as possible for a skin care product to be derived from plants and not synthetic chemicals. It’s important to understand that when you put something on your skin, you are effectively “eating it.” It sounds odd, but bear with me for a minute. When you consume food, it enters into your stomach, then through the digestive track; eventually nutrients are dispersed in your bloodstream where they are sent to different cells to be utilized by your body to function and stay healthy.

Well, in the case of skin, it is the largest organ of the body, and “breathes.” It breathes due to its porous nature. This is why when the pores are clogged, problems like skin irritations and acne eruptions can transpire.

Likewise, when you massage anti aging natural skin care products onto your face and body, the ingredients will enter through your skin’s pores and deep into your body….which means, as stated before, you are “eating” or ingesting it. Because of this reality, it is true that the more natural the product the better.

Unfortunately, many products contain harmful substances that can actually harm the health of your skin even if the product is marketed to make your skin healthier! The other thing you should note when selecting a good quality natural skin care product is: does it contain ingredients that will stimulate your body’s production of the two important proteins collagen and elastin?

If so, you may in fact start to gain the benefits you are looking for. Benefits ranging from a visible reduction in wrinkles and fine lines. Brighter skin that is more pliable. Tighter skin. Crow’s feet around the eyes lessened. Age spots fading away. And bags and dark circles under the eyes eliminated. Now, to be honest, not every product is going to work equally effective for everyone, but amazing results have been reported with the best anti aging skin care products on the market.

By: Laura Sherman