Sun, Sun, Sun, Here It Comes!

The weather in NY as of late has not exactly been doing a great job in helping to remind us that it is again that time of year to grab your straw hat, sunglasses and your non-toxic sunscreen.  So, I guess I'll make it my job to remind us all.

Everyday I wash my face and when I reach for my towel I can't help but notice a long purple-blue scar that now marks a permanent reminder on my skin.  The reminder is to protect one of this lifetime’s greatest gifts.  Our skin!  I must admit before melanoma I rarely gave the whole concept of sun exposure the proper thought it deserves. 

Today, I arm my family and myself with a few basic rules:
            1.  We need a minimum of 20 minutes a day of direct sunlight for Vitamin D
            2.  The best time of day for sun exposure is before 10 a.m. & after 4 p.m.
            3.  When in the sun choose clothing to cover and protect your skin       
            4.  Choose a sunscreen that is up to date and without harmful chemicals

I think the first 3 are relatively self explanatory, don’t you?  Rule 4 is very tricky and has taken me quite a long time to find what works best and without exposing my precious gifts (that would be my children and husband on most days!) to harmful toxins or vitamins and minerals that when exposed to the sun becomes harmful.

You want to use sunscreens that do not use PABA, OXYBENZONE or RETINOL PALMITATE, better known as Vitamin A.   There have been reports that these chemicals and vitamins (that become toxic when are applied and sun exposed) may actually be causing skin cancers!

Vitamin A is wonderful for your skin but not when you soak it in to your skin and then expose your skin to sunlight.  It would be the unhealthy equivalent of taking nature’s beautiful organic offerings such as blueberries and oatmeal and heating them in the microwave in a China made # 7 toxic plastic container!  Sort of like eating McD’s new breakfast oatmeal!  Mother Nature’s product has only one ingredient in oatmeal, rolled oats.  McD’s has 11, go figure!

Here are a few sunscreens that are PABA, OXYBENZONE & VITAMIN A Free:
Aubrey Organics- SPF 30                    
Badger Sunscreen- SPF 30
California Baby- SPF 30
COOLA Baby- SPF 45
Dr. T’s Super Goop- SPF 30
ECO Skin Care- SPF 30
Kiss My Face- SPF 30
Maui Natural Organics– SPF 30
Poofy Organics-SPF 30 (Just Love That Name!)
Sun Bunnies 100% All Natural-SPF 30 (I found that one for you Kristen!)

The above should keep you busy for a while and loving the Sun.  So grab your hat, favorite kiddies and sunscreen.  Enjoy what Nature intended you to enjoy naturally.

Happy Mother's Day, Make all your Health-care appointments!!!!!

May 6, 2011

Happy Mother’s Day, Make all of your Healthcare Appointments!

I am starting this Blog off by sharing a little bed-time story that could have turned out to be a life-nightmare and is now the reason why I choose to make Mother’s Day my reminder to make all of my family’s healthcare appointments, including my own.

Once upon a time, I used to go to a fine, reputable gynecologist.  I truly loved her and was devastated to learn that she was moving.  I had asked around for referrals and landed in an office that several of my friends were going to.  Like any practice that agrees to take on a patient, I assumed that they would remind me when it was time for my annual checkup, including setting up an appointment for my mammography.  I also assume if my dentist can send out a reminder every 6 months the gynecologist could surely send out one as well.  O.K., I will not skirt around the fact that ultimately it is my job to make the appointment……but a little help for a 40 something soggy brain would be greatly appreciated.

Any who, I received a cute little post card from the radiologist’s office telling me that it had been over 2 years since my last appointment and they miss me!  Being that it was over 1 year I, unfortunately, had to make an appointment with the gyno in order to get an entrance ticket to the radiology show. Procuring that appointment was like trying to get an appointment with the President!  They had no room at the Inn for apx. 6 months.  I asked why they do not send out reminders to their patients and was told that they have way too many patients and this would be too costly for them.  I offered to write my own postcard and buy the stamp; all they would have to do is send it.  I was livid and would not hang up the phone until I spoke with a manager.  Apparently the receptionist was used to this routine and left me hanging for an insane amount of time.  The office was only down the street, so I decided to meet my phone mate in person to demand that manager.  Funny how you can get an appointment when onlookers are present.  An appointment was granted, a ticket to the radiology show was given and all was well. 

I am a glass half full kind of gal.  Because it was Mother’s Day, I decided to make that the day every year that I remind myself to make everyone’s appointments for their healthcare, including mine.  So I made appointments with everyone’s general doctor and for the first time the dermatologist.  I resisted going because I have fair skin, blue-green eyes and love, love, love the sun.  I knew this meant a well deserved lecture from the professional whose help I was seeking.    

I was not prepared for the phone call I received after my own dermatology appointment!  I was told that together we saved my life because the scraping she took from my wrist in fact was Melanoma!  Melanoma, I thought, that can’t be.  No one I know has ever had that.  I think I was in shock and of course as stories often go, I was alone receiving this extremely disturbing news.  My doctor very calmly explained to me that I was to call this surgeon and set an appointment for removal of the cancerous area.  Yes, of course doctor, right away.  I hung up and immediately thought of the only 2 cases of Melanoma that I have heard of.  One of my dearest clients’ husband was diagnosed and left this lifetime within 3 months.  The other may sound quite silly but you know how crazy our minds can sometimes be.  The other was Izzy, a doctor on one of my favorite shows.  They were killing her off the show through the cancer that spread through a mole on her back that she was not aware of.  Wow I thought, who do I talk to, what do I say?  I found myself sleep-dialing the number to the surgeon’s office.  When a woman, poor thing that had to deal with me at this point in time, answered I found after a few words I was uncontrollably and inconsolably sobbing and trying to form the words that I needed an appointment for surgery!  She was a dear lady and afforded me my breakdown.  When I woke up and realized that I had been crying buckets to a stranger on the phone I was able to make enough audible words come out to make the appointment.  The cancer was removed and I now see my dermatologist a few times through out the year and my family sees her at least once a year.  So, crisis was averted and I get to live this lifetime a little longer and that allows me to appreciate fully all that I have in my life to be great full for.

I am sharing this story because I truly believe:

THE MORE WE SHARE, THE MORE WE LEARN & THE HEALTHIER WE ALL WILL BE.

Please share any of your own experiences.  Our knowledge base can only grow from it.

Cindy D

Stay tuned to the next blog on sharing of good vs. bad sun screens!