By: Chris Webb
“Nibblin’ on sponge cake,
Watchin’ the sun bake;
All of those tourists covered with oil.
Strummin’ my six string
on my front porch swing.
Smell those shrimp-
They’re beginnin’ to boil.”
(Lyrics – Jimmy Buffett)
Chances are, you are ready to get away from the office and daily chores and are eagerly looking forward to vegging out on the beach or that cruise you’ve been saving up for. And that’s a great idea… if you protect your skin and scalp from the sun.
The sun may feel good, but not all friends are good friends, at least not all the time. Scalp melanomas have been shown to be more lethal than other melanomas, with one study showing scalp and neck melanoma deaths were nearly twice as common compared to melanomas elsewhere on the body. In fact, many experts believe that the scalp provides the right conditions for melanoma to spread since it has abundant blood vessels and lymphatics.
Modern sunscreens block UVB rays almost entirely and most people think they are adequately protected. But the latest research suggests otherwise. UVB damage causes sunburn in the short term but it’s UVA that’s emerging as the big problem. Melanoma rates in the US alone are still climbing, with almost 5 million new episodes diagnosed a year. Most current sunscreens are not effective against UVA and the damage it causes isn’t obvious in the same way as red skin or a sunburn.
When you hear a friend tell you they are going to get away for a week or two, be sure to remind them not to let their guard down and to wear a hat and not rely solely on their sunscreen.
Here’s another reason to protect yourself against the sun. UVA and UVB rays break down hair proteins and cause color to fade, making hair dull and brittle. So, if you like the pool but not green hair, rinse your hair with tap water before getting into the pool. Plain water binds to your hair, making it less likely to absorb copper from the pool water – it’s the copper, not chlorine that turns your hair green. Shampoo or at least rinse off as soon as possible after getting out of the water.
And if you really care about the health of your hair, now’s the time to think about laser light therapy. This remarkable treatment stimulates your hair follicles and creates the conditions for the growth of strong, lustrous looking hair.
You have many choices, but the laser that pioneered light therapy is the HairMax and it has been more rigorously tested than any other device on the market. It comes in two basic designs, a sophisticated LaserBand and a handheld LaserComb.
This summer, protect your scalp and keep your hair looking full, vibrant and healthy.
Give Your Hair a Future.
Visit HairMax.com for more information on hair loss and drug-free treatment options to restore hair growth.
