Posts Tagged ‘Sun’

What are different home remedies and treatments for sun burn?

Overview of Sunburn
- Sunburn is due to excessive exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) rays.
- The sun’s ultra-violet rays are responsible for sunburn.
- There are two types of ultra-violet rays, ultra-violet A (UVA) and ultra-violet B (UVB).
- UVB rays attack the skin’s outer layers.
- UVA are rays that attack the underlying layers.
- Sunburns, like any other burn, are classifies as first degree, second degree and third degree.

First degree Sunburn
- The symptoms of a first degree burn include pain, heat, redness and tender to the touch in the skin affected.
- These symptoms can appear from 1 to 24 hours after exposure to the sun.

Second degree Sunburn
- This includes extreme reddening, swelling, pain and even blisters can appear.
- The burn goes deeper into the skin’s layers damaging small blood vessels and elastic fibers in the skin.
- Later, there is wrinkling of the skin.
- The burn may be accompanied by chills, fever, nausea, and/or delirium.

Natural Home Treatment for Sunburn
Take measures to prevent yourself from getting sunburned:
- Avoid being outdoors between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, when the UV rays are more intense.
- Wear a hat, sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays, and clothing made of light colored, light weight, tightly woven material.
- Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
- Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas 30′ before going outside
- If you are swimming or perspiring, this is recommended.
- Make sure you buy a sunscreen that contains protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Eat lots of lean and high quality protein foods.
- Include raw fruits to supply the vitamins and minerals needed.
- Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated, and to replace the lost.
- To relief a sunburn pain apply over the affected area cool water compresses
- Fill a bathtub with cold water and dissolve one pound of baking soda or oatmeal in it.
- Soak in the bath for 30′ approximately, until relieved
- Wash the affected area with an antibacterial soap to prevent secondary infection.
- Do not burst any blister.
- They form a natural protection to help the skin sunburned to heal faster.
- Do not apply any creams, butter, petroleum jelly or any other greasy substance to sunburn.
- They only cause more damage by trapping the heat and can make a burn deeper.
- The sunburn will heal faster if left exposed to the air.

Immediate self-care is aimed at stopping the UV radiation.
- Get out of the sun
- Cover exposed skin
- Get out of the tanning bed
- Use SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher and apply frequently when outdoors.
- For mild sunburn, cool compresses with equal parts of milk and water may suffice.
- Cold compresses with Burow’s solution may also be used, and can be bought at a drugstore. Dissolve 1 packet in 1 pint of water. Soak gauze or a soft clean cloth in it.
- Gently wring out the cloth and apply to the sunburned area for 15-20 minutes.
- Change or refresh the cloth and solution every 2-3 hours.
- Aloe Vera gel or aloe-based lotions may soothe irritated skin.
- Cool (not ice cold) baths may help.
- Avoid bath salts, oils, and perfumes because these may produce sensitivity reactions.
- Avoid scrubbing the skin or shaving the skin.
- Use soft towels to gently dry the body.
- Don’t rub.
- Use a light, fragrance-free skin moisturizer.
- Stay out of the sun while you are sunburned.
- Stay hydrated to avoid dehydration.

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What are the health benefits of Vitamin D and how do you get Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique because it functions as a prohormone. Also, the body can synthesize it (as vitamin D3) when sun exposure is adequate. It is also known as the “sunshine vitamin”.

Health benefits of Vitamin D
1. Maintains Your Calcium Balance.
- Narrow range is vital for normal functioning of the nervous system.
- Vitamin D is required for bone growth, and maintenance of bone density.
- Vitamin D is essential for absorption of calcium by the body.
2. Aids Your Cell Differentiation
- Differentiation of cells leads to a decrease in proliferation.
- Cellular proliferation is essential for growth and wound healing.
- Uncontrolled proliferation of cells causes diseases like cancer.
- Proliferation inhibition and stimulation of the differentiation of cells is done by Vitamin D.
3. Boosts Your Immunity
- Active vitamin D is a potent immune system booster.
4. Has a Role in Insulin Secretion
- Insufficient vitamin D levels may have an adverse effect on insulin secretion.
- It also effects glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes.
5. Blood Pressure Regulation
- Adequate vitamin D levels is important for decreasing the risk of high blood pressure.

Vitamin D and Diseases
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Autoimmune Diseases
- Diabetes
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis

Vitamin D overdose
- Hypercalcemia
- Bone loss
- Kidney stones
- Calcification of organs like the heart and kidneys
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Sarcoidosis
- Tuberculosis
- Lymphoma

Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for Vitamin D
- Infants 0-12 months- 1000 IU
- Children 1-18 years- 2000 IU
- Adults 19 years and older- 2000 IU

Vitamin D Deficiency
- Rickets
- Osteomalacia
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Certain cancers
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Juvenile diabetes
- Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease

How do you get Vitamin D?
- Sunshine (natural)
- Foods are artificially fortified with vitamin D
- Vitamin Supplements

Dietary sources of vitamin D
- Fatty fish species, such as:
- Catfish, 85 g (3 oz) provides 425 IU (5 IU/g)
- Salmon, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz) provides 360 IU (3.6 IU/g)
- Mackerel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 345 IU (3.45 IU/g)
- Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 50 g (1.75 oz), 250 IU (5 IU/g)
- Tuna, canned in oil, 100 g (3.5 oz), 235 IU (2.35 IU/g)
- Eel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 200 IU (2.00 IU/g)
- A whole egg provides 20 IU if egg weighs 60 g (0.33 IU/g)
- Beef liver, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), provides 15 IU (0.15 IU/g)
- Fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, 1 Tbs. (15 ml) provides 1360 IU (90.6 IU/ml)
- UV-irradiated mushrooms and yeast are the only known vegan significant sources of vitamin D
- Exposure of portabella mushrooms to UV provides an increase of vitamin D

Basal Cell Carcinoma – Type of skin cancer

There are a number of different types of skin cancers depending on the type of skin cell from which they arise. Each kind of skin cancer has its own distinctive appearance. Certain skin cancers also tend to develop in specific areas of the body.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA : This cancer is the most common type, and is the type of skin cancer that 90% of US citizen are diagnosed with.
- Basal cell carcinoma arises from the basal cells in the bottom layer of the epiderrmis – stratum basale.
- Basal cell carcinoma does not metastasize like the other skin cancers, but can still badly damage the area they occupy.
- It resembles a small nodule that is red in color, and located on the face, hands, or sometimes the torso. Occasionally, these nodules appear on the trunk of the body, usually as flat growths.
- Basal cell carcinoma can lead to the loss of organ function on such external organs as the ears or eyes.
- Although most cases of basal cell carcinoma are caused by the sun, other exposures can have the same results. Arsenic, severe burns, tattooing, vaccinations, and radiation can all cause basal cell carcinoma.

The variety in which basal cell carcinoma can appear makes for hard diagnosis. It can hide itself in the form of a mosquito bite, wart, rash, or cyst. For these reasons it is important for one to see a physician if any area of sun exposed skin looks unusual or has had prolonged pain.