Safety in the Sun ☀️

As much as we love to spend time in the sun, with our son’s sensitive skin post radiation we have to take extra precautions 🧢☀️⛱

It’s also not just about applying any type of sunscreen. You want to make sure what is being applied to your skin, especially that of your child’s, is safe and non-toxic since it will be absorbed through the skin.

Ways to reduce the risk of sunburn, skin aging from sun and most importantly skin cancer:

☀️Make sure to always evenly apply sunscreen at least 15-30 minutes prior to sun exposure.

☀️ When shopping for a sunscreen opt for ones that are water resistant, have SPF of 30 or higher and are “broad spectrum”, which means the product has ingredients that can protect you from UVA, as well as UVB rays.

☀️ Most dermatologists will say you do not need SPF greater than 30-50. Very high SPFs often create a false sense of security. People who use them tend to stay out in the sun much longer and may skip reapplying simply because they think they are better protected. Which in turn puts them at risk for more UV exposure, which, of course, then defeats the purpose.

☀️Reapply according to package instructions (at least every 2 hours)

☀️Regularly use broad spectrum sunscreen with at least 30 SPF (exposure to UV rays during winter put you at the same risk as during the summer).🏖

☀️Wear sunglasses (this applies to children as well) They help protect your eyes from UV radiation!

☀️Wear added protection with wide brim hats (If you’ve lost your hair due to chemo, make sure to wear a hat out in the sun to protect your scalp. For added protection still apply sunscreen), pants or long sleeve shirts when possible 👖🧢🕶 Keep any surgical scars covered from the sun (If you cannot cover with a hat or clothes, once they are completely healed, you can apply sunscreen over them.)

☀️Limit time directly in the sun when possible from 10am-2pm (when UV rays are at their strongest)

☀️If you are unsure how strong the sun’s rays are, use the shadow test: if your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun’s rays are at its strongest!

☀️Some prescribed medications, especially chemo and radiation, make you at higher risk to develop sunburn (make sure to take extra precautions as the skin will absorb more UV rays under these conditions. Always carry sunscreen on-the-go.)

California Baby has this perfect “Fun In The Sun Essentials” organic tote bag for your outdoor fun with your kiddos! It includes
1.8oz Broad Spectrum SPF 30+ Super Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion,
2oz Natural Bug Blend Bug Spray,
0.5oz Broad Spectrum SPF 30+ Super Sensitive Sunscreen Stick,
0.5oz California Kids Supersensitive Broad Spectrum SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion,
California Baby® Designer Sunglasses and a make-up sponge to assist with a smooth and even sunscreen application.

Their mineral sunscreen goes on very light and blends well. A small amount goes a long way!

If you would like to try out California Baby products, click here to take a short quiz and claim a free prize! Hope you love their products just as much as we do!

For a full list of my recommended sunscreens go to: http://bit.ly/RnMomcologistSunscreens

Patch Strips

Shortly after our son Anthony was diagnosed with cancer, I tried searching for natural products to use on him to reduce the amount of toxins he would be exposed to. In doing so I came across Patch Strips. 

Anthony’s skin became so sensitive after radiation and one of the few things he dislikes is having to peel off bandages. He goes through enough pain with his procedures, removing a bandage shouldn’t have to be one of them. A cancer patient goes through hundreds of bandages during their course of treatment. Some even develop a sensitivity to them because of the the chemicals and materials they are made from. 

Going beyond just skin sensitivity is the important health care aspect of what we are actually exposing ourselves to. Our skin is the largest organ on our body. A lot of people don’t realize that what we put on our body is just as important as what we put in it!

Because Anthony’s skin became sensitive shortly after the start of treatment with radiation and one of the few things he has disliked is having to remove bandages off his skin, I went on a hunt for what could be best for his skin. He has gone through enough pain with his procedures, removing a bandage shouldn’t have to be one of them. Because he his implanted port is accessed routinely, he gets a bandage placed at least once every week. Upon conducting my search for something that could be not only sensitive to my son’s skin but also ideally made from non-toxic material I came across Patch Strips.Not only are they natural and safe for our skin but also the environment! Needless to say it was love at first try!

One of the things that I have tried to eliminate from our lives as much as possible is plastic. Most bandages out on the market are made from plastic.The adhesive portion of a bandage is usually made from a type of plastic, either PVC (polyvinyl chloride-the most toxic plastic for both our personal health and environment), polyethylene, or polyurethane. Our skin is the largest organ of our body, so what we put on it is just as important as what we put in it. If we are so concerned as to what we eat to maintain our health, what we put on our skin should be just as important. Even more so if we are covering an open wound, we have now lost that protective layer of skin and are at an increased risk of infection or perhaps an easier source of having toxic chemicals absorbed into our bodies.

Patch Strips was created by a dad on a mission to prevent nasty skin reactions that his son would get while using traditional band-aids. Once he discovered the array of chemicals that even goes into making a band-aid he wanted to create a natural alternative. Patch Strips are made from 100% organic bamboo fiber, aloe vera, coconut oil or activated charcoal. Not only is their product safe for our skin but also the environment! Their product is completely compostable from the bandage to the packaging itself. 

You can order a sample pack here of their natural bamboo or activated charcoal bandage if you would like to test them out prior to comitting to purchasing an entire tube. But I promise you, you will love them just as much as we do!