LOVE . SUN . BEAUTY

Of course our mission here at Sundriven is to protect women around the world from the harmful effects of the sun. This week, I was excited to come across a new invention, and happy to see others with the same mission...

A pair of new studies show that a new smartphone app, Solar Cell, encourages people to spend more time in the shade and less time in the sun, while also pushing them towards wearing protective, and hats.

Klein Buendel, a health communication research organization based in Golden, Colorado is producing Solar Cell in partnership with the National Cancer Institute. Most health-related apps undergo little to no formal testing, but Buller and his colleagues conducted two clinical trials on Solar Cell, randomly assigning participants to either use the app or not while testing their sun-protection behaviors.

The app offers personalized sun-protection advice based on real-time ultraviolet (UV) light forecasts and the user's own risk factors for sun damage, such as skin tone. Solar Cell's full version will roll out in spring 2015, David Buller, a research director at Klein Buendel, said. For now, users can get a free, basic version called sunZapp for Android or iOS.

Klein Buendel found that people who used the app reported spending more time engaging in sun-protection behaviors, such as wearing protective clothing, and less time in the sun than those who were supposed to use the app but didn't. Interestingly, the app users also reported less sunscreen — but that might be a good thing, Buller said. Many people use sunscreen incorrectly, and shade and indoor time are often better protection, he said.

Unfortunately, the app hasn't been getting many downloads. "If you look at the general data on how apps are used, very large numbers of apps are either never downloaded or if they are downloaded, people don't use them more than once or twice," Buller told Live Science.

But why?

The studies highlight the challenge of changing people's behavior, dermatologists Dr. A. Shadi Kourosh and Dr. Joseph Kvedar of Harvard Medical School wrote in an editorial accompanying the studies in the JAMA Dermatology journal.

"As we use more consumer-focused interventions in an environment as personal as mobile devices, we are learning that there is a gulf between educating patients and achieving behavioral change," the dermatologists, who were not involved in the studies, wrote.

As Solar Cell becomes widely available this spring, Klein Buendel plans to target advertising to people who spend lots of time outdoors and to dermatologists who treat skin cancer patients who may be more motivated to protect themselves against the sun, Buller said. The hope is that these vulnerable and motivated populations will get the most out of the mobile app.

We HIGHLY recommend that all of our customers and readers download the app, and stay protected always using Sundriven, while outdoors. We have so much resources now to help protect us, so why not use them all the while enjoying the outdoors?

Authors: Nazanin Yashar

Sources: http://www.livescience.com/49612-sun-protection-app-solar-cell.html

Many think that the secret behind healthy hair and glowing skin is expensive, brand name make up and products. But what if we told you that the REAL secret is actually right in your kitchen?

 Blueberries

This low-profile berry was ranked number one in antioxidant activity by the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to 40 common fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants in blueberries protect you from premature aging, so add half a cup to your yogurt or cereal every day.

Spinach

This leafy green vegetable is rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Spinach is loaded with lutein, which keeps your eyes healthy and sparkling. Spinach is also a good source of vitamins B, C, and E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Trade your lettuce for spinach, or saute spinach for a quick, healthy side.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the best source of the anti-aging antioxidant lycopene. Surprisingly, lycopene in tomatoes is more easily absorbed by your body when it is cooked or processed, so make sure to stock up on canned tomato sauce, tomato juice, and ketchup.

Kiwis

This ones for you fiery beauties!

This week, I was stunned, through research, to find that redheads are not just beautifully unique but also more genetically unique than us brunettes and blonds. How so? Well, to start, red hair actually retains its natural pigment a lot longer than other shades. In other words, redheads don't go grey as fast as other hair colors. Instead, red hair simply fades with age through a glorious spectrum of faded copper to rosy-blonde colors, then to silvery-white.

And if thats not enough to brag about, redheads generate their own Vitamin D. This makes me especially jealous since I have been Vitamin D deficient my whole life. My body has a hard time absorbing Vitamin D from the sun, it's in my genetics. Similarly, redheads can't absorb sufficient Vitamin D either because of low concentrations of eumelanin in their body. Even though this may sound like bad news, lower melanin-concentration means that gingers can cleverly produce their own Vitamin D within their body. In this case, very few redheads are vitamin D deficient throughout their lives, even if they are not frequently exposed to sunlight, or do not take Vitamin D supplements.

However, there is a downside, since redheads tend to have paler skin, they tend to burn more easily when exposed to UV rays, causing more sun damage and aging. It has also been studied that the gene responsible for red hair also leaves a person up to 100 times more susceptible to skin cancer.

Today, U.S. researchers have found that a particular gene mutation that colors hair red leaves DNA in skin cells more prone to sun damage and aging. Laboratory and mouse experiments showed that the MC1R-RHC, the red hair gene, variant both lowered a cell's guard against harmful UV rays, and stimulated cancer-causing biological signals. Previous research had shown that the MC1R gene plays a key role in protecting melanocytes from UV-induced DNA damage. Under normal circumstances MC1R binds to and protects another genes well known for its ability to suppress tumors, PTEN. This is the gene mostly found in people with darker skin and hair color. However, research demonstrates that the red hair version of MC1R no longer acts as a PTEN guardian.

Study leader Dr Wenyi Wei, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, said: 'Together, our findings provide a possible molecular mechanism as to why red-haired individuals harboring MC1R mutations are much more susceptible to UV-induced skin damage than individuals with darker skin, resulting in a 10 to 100-fold higher frequency of melanoma.'

So how can you, or other redheads in your life, treat the root cause of aging and reduce the chances of skin cancer? Well, its simply about making lifestyle changes. Begin by taking a closer look at your sun habits. For example, how much time you are spending in the car, where your hands are fully exposed; or how much time you spend at the park with your arms or legs exposed to sunlight with no protection. I will completely agree that having to apply and reapply sunscreen every 20 min can be a big hassle. Investing in UV protective clothing is the best option, and a great lifestyle choice, especially for you redheads. By wearing protective clothing throughout your day, you can help reverse signs of aging and even prevent skin cancer.

Sundriven®, based in Los Angeles California, produces eco-friendly, sustainable, fashion-forward, age-defying UV wear for women, designed to beautify skin and promote skin cancer awareness. Our fabric is SPF/UPF 50+ rated, blocking 99% of UVA/UVB rays. Dermatologist-tested and recommend by the Skin Cancer Foundation™.

Authors: Nazanin Yashar

Sources: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2400046/Red-heads-100-times-susceptible-worst-form-skin-cancer-warn-scientists.html http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/emmakelly/redhead-facts_b_4781153.html