Many family traditions include a yearly visit to the beach. Tucked away in our memories are the smell of coconut oil, the warmth of the sun and sand mixed with cool beach breezes. However, gone are the days of baby oil and metal sun reflectors, replaced with safer sun practices to preserve our natural skin color and condition. Sun protection comes in a variety of options to include sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, sun protective swimwear and cover-ups.

An important part of your beach planning will be your sun protection. Sun tanning and trips to your local tanning salon arent the best idea anymore. Thats because both emit harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can cause painful sunburn and may eventually lead to skin blemishes, premature aging of the skin, cataracts and other eye problems, weakened immune system and skin cancer. And if the Earths ozone layer continues to deplete and the approximate rate of four to six percent per decade there will be more UV radiation reaching our skin.

It is true that light skin is more susceptible to sun damage, however darker skinned people such as African Americans and Hispanic Americans can be affected. Everyone should be educated about the affects of the sun and the steps needed to safer sun exposure.

The easiest way to protect you from the sun is simply by avoiding the sun; the suns rays are strongest between 10am and 3pm. Cloudy days may be deceiving as the clouds only block about twenty percent of UV radiation, this is also true when swimming in the water (the UV rays can still reach you).

If you are going to be out in the sun in your bikinis or swimsuits, either sunscreen or sunblock should be used. Both sunscreen and sunblock come in creams, lotions, ointments, gels or wax sticks, and when applied to the skin will reflect, absorb or scatter either all or at least some of the suns harmful rays. Currently on the market are some makeup items containing sunscreen (lipstick being one example). Sunscreen products are believed to block a large percentage of harmful UV radiation. The FDA requires that any label of sunscreen products state the sun protection factor (SPF), the higher the number the longer a person is able to stay in the sun before burning. It is recommended to wear at least a sunscreen with SPF 15, the product should also be applied liberally 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. The sunscreen should be applied to all areas of skin that will be exposed to include; lips, ears, eyelids (be careful not to get in eyes), neck, nose, scalp (for those with thinning hair), feet, and hands. Children under 6 months should not wear sunscreen (covering their skin is the best bet against sun exposure), as they might be too sensitive to the ingredients. Sunscreen should become a regular habit for children whenever going outdoors.

Sunglasses are a very important part of sun protection. Not only do sunglasses help us see in the glaring sun, but also protect our eyes from sun damage. Price doesnt matter as long as the glasses are blocking ninety-nine to one hundred percent of UVA and UVB radiation (it should say on the label). Try and select sunglasses that protect your eyes from all angles, a large framed wraparound style is suggested. Dont forget to put sunglasses on your children as well; they can start wearing sunglasses as early as one year old. It is important to purchase real protective sunglasses for children, not toy sunglasses. Even if youre wearing sunglasses you might want to put some sunscreen on your eyelids (be careful not to get the sunscreen in youre eyes), as the sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays not the skin around the eyes.

Hats are an easy and fashionable ways to protect youre eyes, ears, nose, neck and scalp from the sun. Try and purchase a hat with a three- inch brim all the way around the hat if possible. There are such a wide variety of hats available in styles ranging from lovely straw hats with wide brims, to cotton hats with brims and baseball caps (some with material draping down the sides and back if desired).

Another popular form of sun protection is available in the sun protective swimwear and cover-ups. This swimwear covers the areas of the body most sensitive to sunburn, giving effective sun protection. The swimwear comes in styles similar to a t-shirt with adjoining shorts, and is a great idea especially for children. The swimwear and cover-ups boast a SPF 50 (highest rating for fabric) and most often offers approximately ninety-eight percent sunblock, the nylon-lycra mix is lightweight and fast- drying. There are also sunsuits combined with buoyancy aids (another great idea for children). The sun protective swimwear, t-shirts, cover-ups and hats are available in babies, children and adult sizes. Although the protective swimwear is quite popular it has yet to be approved by the FDA.

Cover-ups should be worn whenever possible if out in the sun. A cover-up can include any lightweight, loose-fitting, long sleeved shirts, skirts, pants or robes that provide protection from the sun. There are toweling robes manufactured that serve both as a towel and a cover-up after swimming. Almost all materials and colors absorb or reflect the suns harmful UV rays. However it must be noted that it is suggested to avoid wearing wet clothing in the sun, as the suns rays can much more easily pass through wet clothing.

It is important to avoid artificial tanning as much as possible. It has long been a belief that the ultraviolet (UV) rays from tanning beds are harmless as they emit mostly UVA rays and barely any UVB the rays considered to be most hazardous. However it has been found that UVA rays may be the cause of the most serious forms of skin cancer (melanoma). This is scary considering some people use the tanning beds all year long, thus increasing their exposure to the harmful rays at an alarming rate.

An alternative to a real tan may come in one of the self-tanning products available on the market. Self-tanning products are sold in tanning pills, sunless tanning lotions and sprays, cosmetic bronzers and extenders and tanning pills. Through a bit of trial and error you can usually find a product that will produce a desired look from a subtle glow to a deep dark tan. Caution should also be exercised with these self-tanning products. In particular the tanning pills that use carotenoid color additives which are approved as additives for coloring food but not for use in tanning pills, if consumed in high levels they may be harmful. The tanning accelerators using tyrosine have not been FDA approved and should also be used minimally. The bronzers and extenders use color additives that are approved by the FDA and because they wash or wear off quite quickly are quite safe.

Although its important to practice caution while being out and about in the sun, your day at the beach or lake can still be a wonderful experience. We just have to take a more careful approach to our sun seeking ways to ensure our future health. So pack away your coconut oil and reflectors, replacing them with sunscreen and great sun protective hats and cover-ups. Valerie Giles owns and operates Bikinis and Swimsuits, a swimsuit and resort wear site showcasing bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, plus size swimwear, tan through, sheer swimsuits, tankinis and resort wear. Find the perfect swimsuit for every occasion and every figure type. Quality merchants and best prices.

http://www.bikinis-and-swimsuits.com

Written By: Valerie Giles

sun reflectors

Summertime is inevitably a season when we all at some time or another bring out the swimwear. Whether it is at the beach, camping or the cottage, the warm weather and tantalizing water encourages a refreshing swim. There are some on the other hand who may not even use their swimwear for the water but who like to sit in the suns rays and give their skin the glow of summer. Whatever use you have for your bikini or swimwear the wonderful assortment of fabrics, styles and accessories will have you out and about enjoying the fine weather.

There are some of us who dont exactly look forward to this time of year when we have to bring out the swimwear and bikinis in hopes that those couple of extra pounds gained over the year wont have us bulging out of the seams. Not to fret though as swimwear today offers great stretch fabrics for easy mobility and plenty of style options that might just minimize or hide any imperfections.

The fabric, body shape, design and color are all factors when choosing the most flattering swimwear for you. When selecting a swimsuit the quality of fabric is important as you want a suit that will stand up to the seasons of wear, sun and saltwater. Nylon, Lycra and Faille are popular fabrics used for swimsuits, they resist fading and hold their stretchiness. Nylon and Lycra used together offer more stretch then standard swimwear along with shaping, control and comfort for the wearer.

The design of the swimsuit is probably the most important factor when women are out shopping for swimwear and bikinis. You will find plenty of suggestions on flattering suits for all sorts of body types. There are suits to create curves where needed, suits to minimize hips, suits to whittle waistlines, others to add shape to specific areas and then there are the standard all purpose suits that may look great on a variety of shapes. Lines and colors are very important in minimizing or accentuating particular parts of the body. Black and darker colors are often used to minimize, while stripes depending on whether they are vertical or horizontal are used for the same minimizing (vertical) or accentuating (horizontal) effects. There are several special sizes of swimsuits available to accommodate women from petite, tall and plus sizes.

Bikinis alone come in several popular designs that may include; tankinis which are similar to a tank top (with matching bottom, there are different variations of the tankini from short (above the navel) to tops that touch the bottom piece; bandeau tops are designed as a strip usually with no straps; halter tops are just as the name implies similar to a halter with possibly a string that goes around the neck connecting the bodice; lastly there are bra-tops (similar to bra designs) and triangle tops (triangle designs). The bikini that works best will vary from person to person, you want a top that offers support if needed, it is always best to try on a few different tops and see what works best.

Womens swimsuits offer features such as; soft-cup bras which give full support, built-in shelf bras with underwire, sarongs that add gentle shaping to midsection, gentle tummy wraps that accentuates shape, side shirring adding gentle shaping, and overlapping tops with bottoms for gentle coverage. There are also swimsuits available in swim dress designs which offer additional coverage of hips if needed for some, and bandeau style one pieces with no straps.

Women really are at an advantage when it comes to selecting swimwear designs, as the number of womens designs far exceeds the number of mens designs. Womens swimsuits come in one-piece designs, swim dress designs, sarong swimsuits, tankini suits and several bikini designs. Whereas mens suits are available mostly in the standard racing style, swim trunk and swim short designs.

The list of swimwear accessories is as great as the swimsuits to be had. The accessories are an important part of your beach or lake excursion, and can include; straw hats, crochet hats, sun hats, short chemises, pareo (cover up skirt), cover ups, capris, thongs, sunglasses, tote bags, mesh bags and most importantly beach towels.

Childrens swimwear offers some excellent options for those little ones just learning to swim. There are great thermal wear suits available, which keep children nice and warm, the innovative suits are made from a specially treated heat reflective neoprene material. Thermal wear suits and special sun protective swimwear also offer UV protection from the sun. There are special water shoes for children that protect their small feet and help to prevent slips. Then of course there is the wide variety of designs and fabrics available to choose from. Designs for girls come in one and two piece while the boys suits most often come in the short and trunk designs.

Other considerations to keep the children busy at the beach or lake are lifejackets, arm floats, flotation devices, goggles and beach toys. There are great swim vests and special swimming tubes specially made for children to gradually ease into swimming. The list of pool toys is endless with floating basketball nets, dive toys, swimming fins and volleyball games to name a few.

The sun protection clothing and sun protective swimwear that is being manufactured is innovative and an excellent choice especially for children. Some of the sun protective clothing and swimwear claims to block 98 per cent of UV rays with a UPF of 50 plus. What this means is that only one fiftieth of UV radiation falling on the surface of the garment will pass through. Wearing this clothing is added protection against the suns harmful rays.

When going to the beach, pool or when participating in any outdoor activity it is important to wear a sunscreen of at least thirty. Nothing spoils a day in the sun like the pain of sunburn. That is why being prepared for your outing is important, bring along the necessary hats, sunglasses and cover-ups to ensure both comfort and protection. This is true especially for children, its probably best to avoid mid afternoon intense sun if possible. However if you cannot avoid being in the sun, be sure to bring along a beach umbrella to provide shade and again hats and sunscreens for children are absolutely necessary.

With so many wonderful swimwear options to choose from your beach, pool, lake or camping experience can be both pleasurable and fashionable. Take the time and find a swimsuit that you feel comfortable in and one that compliments your particular figure. With the right swimwear choices you will be ready for all your travel and vacation needs with a suit that lasts for a few seasons. Valerie Giles owns and operates Bikinis and Swimsuits, a swimsuit and resort wear site showcasing bikinis, swimwear and resort wear. Find the perfect swimsuit for every occasion and every figure type. http://www.bikinis-and-swimsuits.com The accompanying article is copyrighted. It may be reproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.

Written By: Valerie Giles

flattering bikinis for children

One such technique that has become quite popular these days is laser hair removal. This technique works by using a laser on the hair at a specified wavelength that emits a specialized light. The light from the laser is passed through the skin and is absorbed by the hair follicle. This light actually targets the melanin (colour) in the hair follicle and damages it, thereby causing the hair to fall out. Interestingly, the use of certain laser for removing hair has been approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the technique is popular, there are advantages and disadvantages of using this method.

Advantages of Laser Hair Removal

The laser hair removal process has advantages in that larger areas can be treated. In addition it is also safe enough to be used on all parts of the body such as the face, back, underarm, bikini line, legs and arms. Compared to electrolysis, it is less painful as the laser only causes a slight burning sensation compared to the needle prick feeling of electrolysis. Unlike shaving or waxing, laser hair removal is usually long lasting.

Disadvantages of Laser Hair Removal

One disadvantage for laser hair removal is that not everyone is the perfect candidate for this type of treatment. Those with lighter skin and dark hair have a much higher chance of permanent hair removal than grey, red or blonde hair. In addition, those with dark skin or who are tanned are also not good candidates as the laser may cause damage to their skin due to high pigment levels. The reason being is that dark hair contains a pigment called eumelanin which effectively absorbs more laser energy and therefore results in more effective destruction of the hair follicle. Due to the higher effectiveness of the treatment towards dark haired fair skin patients, it leads to fewer treatment and is therefore less costly. Other the other hand, grey, red and blonde hair contain a pigment called pheomelanin that absorbs less laser energy reducing the effectiveness of the treatment. Therefore extra treatment is required for the same effect. So before you sign up for this treatment, make sure you know the principal of this treatment. If you are not an ideal candidate, be prepared for extra treatment charges.

Laser hair removal is expensive due to the multiple treatments required. The reasons is that hair grows in a cycle that ranges from approximately 6 to 12 weeks and this is the amount of time that it takes hair to grow from the base of the follicle to the surface of the skin. As hair grows during these cycles, only a portion of the hair is being treated during this growth period with each laser treatment. Therefore multiple treatments (approximately four to eight depending upon your colour of your hair and skin) are required during this growth period. This is so that each treatment allows total coverage on all hairs during the various growth cycle. This can range from approximately a four to eight week interval. As discussed above, darked hair patients with fair skin require less treatment.

The average cost per treatment ranges from $500 and about four sessions are required. Again, this number will differ depending upon the size of the area treated and the colour of your skin and hair. To get an exact cost, a consultation on pricing is an individual process and it is best to discuss this with the laser center.

Once you have decided to undertake this treatment, make sure it is performed by an experienced laser treatment centre. Due to different state regulations, there has been varying level of compliance with laser hair removal centres and this has resulted in improper treatment by unskilled clinics. Some states require a doctor to perform the treatment, whilst for others; anyone including unskilled personnel can perform the treatment. Read the latest news on laser hair removal for more information. These improper unskilled clinic may result in burns (similar to sunburn), lesions, skin discolouration that can last several months, or patchy/patterned regrowth. One rule to remember is that cheaper is not always the best, so find the best laser hair removal centre around.

About the Author: For more information on laser hair removal please visit Laser Hair News. This article is free to use, distribute and copy as long as the link remains in place.

Written By: Virginia Wong

Lasers are not for everyone, and their proper use requires great skill, training and expertise. The laser technician at minimum must be a Certified Laser Specialist who has graduated from an accredited school for laser. Generally it is best to have a laser-trained dermatologist, or plastic surgeon perform the procedure, in case of complications. For the laser to be effective, the hair pigment must be darker than the surrounding skin pigment. If this is not the case, the treatment will not work and may have harmful complications. Additionally very darkly pigmented people absorb too much laser energy in their skin and are not ideal candidates. Tanned patients with light hair are not candidates either.

Light skin makes laser hair removal easier to perform. Fewer treatments are required, and better, faster results are obtained. People with darker skin can be treated, but results are slower, more sessions are required, and greater expertise is required on the part of the doctor. Coarse dark hair responds the best to laser treatment, light hair is more difficult to treat. Blonde or red hair is very difficult to treat, multiple treatment sessions are required, and results are variable. Laser hair removal must be individualized for each patient.

Although one laser session can produce impressive hair removal, generally, multiple treatment sessions are necessary to see optimal results. In large part this is due to the fact that laser hair removal is most effective for hair, which is in the growth phase. Since hair grows in cycles, not all of the hairs are in the growth phase at any given time. Additional sessions are necessary to catch all of the hairs when they are in this phase.

Any area, except adjacent to the eye, where there is excess hair can be treated. The most common areas requested are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, breast region, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line, and legs.

The costs for a single laser hair removal treatment vary depending on the part of the country, and range from $300.00 to $500.00 per session. Consumers are advised, as with all forms of medical care, to seek the center of highest quality, rather than lowest cost. Laser hair removal requires a great deal of skill, individual attention, experience, and a trained, caring, professional staff.

After treatment, most patients have a mild sunburn-type sensation that fades in 2-3 hours. Moisturizers and/or cool compresses can help during this time. Small blister areas can be treated with topical antibiotic until resolved. Sun block should be used for up to 6 weeks after treatment if sun exposure is anticipated. No waxing, shaving, or dying should be performed for 2 weeks after treatment. Pretreatment restrictions are also applicable to the post treatment period.

It must be remembered that it is impossible to predict the exact result a patient will achieve with laser hair removal, especially with regard to how many sessions a given individual will require. The indication for laser hair removal is mostly subjective. A desire for hair removal is the only criterion for laser hair removal.

About the Author

Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for Laser Hair Removal New York Resources Visit http://thelaser-hair-removal-new-york.com/ for more information.

Written By: Jay Stockman

It is a relatively new treatment that makes use of lasers to remove hair from the body.

The practitioner uses a hand held device that emits a laser that penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the hair. Once absorbed heat energy is produces in the hair which travels down the shaft and destroys the root.

The laser uses a beam of light which penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the pigment colour in the hair where it is converted to heat.

Is it safe?

Yes. The laser settings are customised depending on your skin and hair colour. There is very little risk of any damage to your skin.

Will the laser hair removal treatment get rid of my hair permanently?

Tiny hair re-growth is possible but comparing laser hair removal with other methods of hair removal it produces the best long term results. Hair grown after the treatment is usually very thin and weak and can be easily treated.

Does it hurt?

Laser treatment is not completely painless, usually a slight sting can be felt but it is no where near the pain experienced when waxing or epilating. Most patients can bare it without the need of anaesthesia. However patients with very low pain thresholds can ask for a cream based anaesthesia to be applied to the skin.

Can everyone get it done?

No. I am afraid it is not possible to treat very light shades of hair such as white, grey, light blonde etc.

In addition to hair colour people with dark skin can only be treated with very specialised lasers available at very few laser hair removal clinics. Tanned people with light hair cannot be treated.

The treatment works best on light skinned people with dark hair.

How long does the treatment take?

That depends solely on the size of the area being operated on. It can take anywhere between 10 minutes, for parts such as the chin to about 35 minutes for the back.

What areas can be treated?

Apart from parts very close to the eye all other areas such as legs, back, arms, bikini line, chest etc can be treated.

How much does it cost?

Laser hair removal treatment is not cheap. That depends on the size of the area being treated. Usually it costs about 200 dollars per session of small areas such as the upper lip/chin rising to 500 for large areas such as the back and the legs.

How many sessions are required?

Many factors come into play and it varies from patient to patient but usually anywhere between three and six are needed for the best results.

What should I expect after the laser hair removal treatment?

The laser treatment area goes pink after the treatment, like sunburn, and stays that way for about one to two days. Minor discomfort will be felt during this period. The laser treated hair falls off by itself within a few days.

About the author:

Article written for: http://www.laidbare.info/laser-hair-removal/
For more information about laser hair removal treatment please visit: http://www.laidbare.info/laser-hair-removal/

Written By: Abdul