When you’re walking around in intense sunlight, how much protection are you getting from your clothing? Can you tan through clothing, and can you get a sunburn?
Whether you like tans or prefer avoiding them, knowing about it matters. Plus, one thing is for sure: having tan lines isn’t fun even if you like tans! Thus, you should know about the possibility of tanning through clothes.
[Read more…] about Can You Tan Through Clothing?When your beautiful tan has already faded and you’re left with your usual pale skin tone, you can either flaunt your porcelain white skin or go for a tan. Either choice is great but if you’re more inclined to go for a tan, below is some useful information that’s great to know.
So you’ve decided to soak up the sun on your day-off to achieve the bronze goddess complexion you’ve been dreaming of. The only problem is you can’t control the weather! Instead of seeing the sun shining brightly, you see clouds everywhere.
You may start to frown and think that your sun tanning day is over. But have you ever asked yourself the question “can you tan when it’s cloudy”? Well, the answer is yes. Read more below to figure out why and to know how to tan, even when it’s cloudy.
We all know that exposing the skin to the sun for quite some time can result in the darkening of its color and all the benefits (and well-known drawbacks) of tanning outside. This is due to the reaction of the skin to the ultraviolet radiation exposure that is present in the sunlight.
Melanin is the pigments in the skin that are responsible for making it look darker. These pigments are naturally present in the skin are there to protect the body against ultraviolet radiation. When the skin detects that it is exposed to UV light, it has a natural reaction to produce more melanin pigments. This is the skin’s way of protecting itself so the tan color is just a side effect of the skin trying to protect itself from being exposed to UV rays.
The beautiful tan color of the skin due to melanin is actually a combination of two processes. The first process is the actual oxidation of the melanin that is already in the skin due to absorbing UVA radiation. In this process, the quantity of melanin remains the same, the melanin is just activated to protect against sunburn.
The second process involves UVB radiation. With this type of ultraviolet light, the melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin, are triggered. With this process, the darkening of the skin doesn’t immediately show up.
The effects will usually become visible after a couple of days as the production of the melanin also takes time. However, the tan from this process is more likely to last from a few weeks to months.
The sun’s rays are needed to produce tanned skin. But what happens when it is cloudy outside? Are you wondering if you can still tan when it’s cloudy? Well, the answer is yes. You can still get a tan even when it is cloudy and here is why.
From what we’ve discussed above, we learned that the skin gets tanned due to the UVA and UVB rays. The sun’s rays are made of that plus visible light as well. The ultraviolet rays can still penetrate the clouds so even if it’s cloudy, your skin still gets exposed to them.
Remember that it is not the visible light that causes the tan.
That’s also the reason why you should take the same precautions ) while tanning on a sunny day when your tanning on a cloudy day.
Some people make the mistake of exposing themselves for too long, tanning at the wrong time of day or skipping on the sunscreen, thinking that they won’t get burned because the clouds provide some shade.
Precaution should still be practiced even if you are sun tanning on a cloudy day. If you don’t, you would be at higher risk of developing more serious health problems.
No, you don’t tan better with clouds. Although you can still tan even there are clouds hiding the visible light from the sun, the ultraviolet rays that reach your skin are more or less the same as when there are no clouds. The clouds do not magnify the effects of the ultraviolet rays.
You won’t tan faster, and your tan won’t look better even if it’s cloudy.
The UV rays from the sun cause a reaction in the skin to darken it. However, that is not the only effect of the UV rays. The darkening or tanning of the skin is the only obvious change but there are also damages that happen to the skin.
The damages can increase the risk of developing different issues in the body involving the skin, the eyes, and the immune system.
Sunburn is the skin’s reaction to UV exposure when it gets damaged. There might be immediate redness in the exposed area and peeling that follows after a few days. It is short term damage and can go away on its own.
However, it can also be painful. Some suggest taking cool baths to help soothe it. If the sunburn is severe, you might need to be medically examined and treated. Those with severe sunburn don’t only have reddish areas of the skin but also blistered skin. They may also experience fever and headache.
It’s really easy to overdo it when laying out in the sun while its cloudy. The sun is still there, and your body is still soaking in those rays, but it doesn’t quite feel like it. Bad sunburns are a frequent result of tanning too long on a cloudy day, so be careful. The one thing that virtually all medical specialists agree on is that you really want to avoid sunburns as much as possible.
A tan can look great but getting it often could also increase the risk of premature aging. This photoaging can bring wrinkled skin and dark spots. The reason why this happens is that the UV radiation can also damage the collagen and elastin on the skin.
When this happens often, the skin loses elasticity, and folds or wrinkles are formed. Additionally, dark spots can also show up permanently.
This skin condition is a concern because it can develop into skin cancer. Like skin cancer, you should watch out for scaly bumps that are raised and rough.
These will usually be treated and removed by a dermatologist by using chemical peels or even liquid nitrogen.
There are many different factors that can increase the risk of developing skin cancer. It can be hereditary but exposure to ultraviolet rays can also cause it. This is because the ultraviolet radiation damages the DNA of the skin cells, which could lead to abnormal growths. Additionally, ultraviolet radiation can also weaken the body’s immune system that helps fight cancer cells.
Treatment varies depending on the severity and type of skin cancer. However, it would be best to prevent it from happening in the first place. That’s why it is important to protect your skin when exposing it to ultraviolet rays.
Tanning under the sun always comes with risks.
As discussed earlier, we now know that the tanning of the skin is a sign of skin damage. The best way to avoid those risks is not to have a tan through sun exposure. There are alternatives like self-tanners and bronzers, like the L’Oreal Sublime Bronzer shown below, that could help you achieve a bronze glow.
But these just aren’t the same as the real deal. If you really like to have a tan under the sun, there are ways on how to minimize the risks.
Such would involve the following:
Although you can see your skin darken a bit after tanning under the sun, you shouldn’t stay under the sun until you achieve the color you want. Take it slow and build up to your color. You just can’t achieve that tan you want in just a single day, in one sitting.
It is best to only spend about 10 to 15 minutes exposed directly under the sun, and use sunscreen after that point (see our article on how long to tan for more information). You can always the sun exposure the next day.
Remember that your skin can still darken even if you’re not in the sun as a result of the increase in melanin production.
Preparing the skin is a very important step in tanning. Whether you are planning to go under the sun or use products for a fake tan, preparation is key. The skin is prepared by gentle exfoliation and moisturizing it.
Use an exfoliating scrub to help remove the dead skin cells. You can use exfoliating scrubs regularly as a weekly regimen to help make your skin smoother. Also, don’t forget to keep your skin nourished by using a moisturizer or lotion. Keep yourself well hydrated too! Drink a lot of water because it also helps keep your skin hydrated.
Covering up is one option, and it’s a good one. But often you still want to be in the sun, so its time to put on an appropriate amount of sunscreen. This will help prevent too much exposure from the damaging ultraviolet rays. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen and of at least SPF-30 (we love the Blue Lizard sunscreen shown above). Apply it when you’ve reached your allotted time in the sun, and reapply every two hours.
If you get wet, reapply it.
Even if the sunscreen says its waterproof, it’s not.
The skin on your body isn’t the only part of your body that you should protect from the sun, you should also think about your scalp, eyes, and lips. A hat can help provide shade for your head and you can also use sprays like Coola’s mist hair sunscreen or powders like Supergoop that are specifically made for that purpose.
There are sunscreens (like Elta’s Clear Facial Sunscreen) suitable and gentle for the face that you can also apply around the eye area. However, remember that the skin on the eye area is very sensitive. You can wear some sunglasses to protect the skin around the eyes and to shield your eyes from the bright light of the sun too.
Additionally, you shouldn’t forget to protect your lips from the sun too. There are lip balms that also contain SPF so you can also prevent your lips from painful sunburns.
Even with sunscreen, you can still get some areas sunburned due to various factors. It’s possible that you missed a few spots, you didn’t reapply the sunscreen as needed, you didn’t give the sunscreen enough time for them to work or you exposed your skin under the sun for far too long.
Whether you accidentally have sunburned parts or not, it is best to apply after-sun care products to help soothe and cool down the skin.
After exposing your body to the sun, you have to hydrate. You can even do this while sunbathing. This helps you from being dehydrated and overheated. If you don’t do this, you could feel lightheaded and dizzy.
Tanning under the sun is possible whether it’s a clear sunny day or a cloudy one. You absolutely can tan when it’s cloudy out! The UV rays are still able to penetrate through the clouds so you can still get a tan. However, you have to remember that tanning causes damage to the skin, and overexposure to UV rays has its risks.
The best way to minimize those risks is to avoid having exposing the skin under the sun just to get a tan. However, if you’d really like to have that sunkissed glow, you can still minimize the risks by using various products discussed above and applying precautions while sunbathing.
Laser light was discovered in the 1960s. Over the years, engineers have expanded their use to therapeutic and healing, in fascinating ways. Many pioneers are creating ground-breaking electronic devices with successful results in hair growth.
Two of the most popular laser products designed for hair growth are HairMax and iGrow. These products come in different formats, but work in pretty similar fashions. They shine laser light at the follicles, restoring their functionality and preventing hair loss from occurring.
In this article, we’ll look at Hairmax vs iGrow. We’ll consider the pros and cons of each, and consider the effectiveness, convenience, and costs of both product lines. But first, let’s go over the basics of hair lasers.
Hair lasers can encourage hair growth, but they don’t work miracles!
Unfortunately, hair cannot be restored if the follicle is dead, as in male/female baldness. What laser sensors can do is prevent this stage from ever happening.
The heat of the laser works on the hair follicles where the hair is thinning before baldness occurs. This is known as the telogen phase.
The laser energy intervenes and sends the follicle back to a healthy growth stage, known as the anagen phase.
What’s more, this treatment can be done at home! There is no need to spend thousands of dollars at a specialist clinic.
HairMax and iGrow produce some of the latest innovative electronic devices in hair growth technology. Both are on our list of the Best Laser Caps available.
They have incorporated red light laser diodes into head gear. These devices are proving successful at thickening hair where it’s thinning.
This means the hair doesn’t get to the telegenic stage. The laser sensors stimulate the blood flow underneath the skin. It’s that process that induces hair follicle regrowth as cells are healed.
HairMax is a reputable brand name. All their hair growth devices are FDA (US Federal and Drug Administration) cleared. While HairMax is a global business, created in 2000, its parent company is Saks Medical & Cosmetic Ltd (SMC).
They are pioneers in home-treatment devices for hair growth. This is a leading brand with bona fide clinical studies. They have many international medical licenses, and numerous published medical journals.
Here’s a short video showcasing some of the details behind HairMax Products:
Hairmax has introduced electronic devices that use red laser diodes effectively. It’s the heat from the laser sensors that promote hair growth in thinning hair. You can still use laser treatment even if you have dyed your hair. Please note that these devices are more effective on dry hair.
HairMax has a pretty wide product line, with items at several price points including laser combs, laser caps, laser bands, etc. Note that there are two models of the HairMax laser band. They look identical but have a different amount of laser sensors.
The bands have combed teeth to part the hair so the heat can gain better access to the scalp. Each laser gives off collimated light, which means it’s more direct than LED light sensors are.
With 82 medical laser diodes, it equates to 246 sensors as it moves over three different parts of the head. Recommended use for this laser band is 3 times a week and each session should total only 90 seconds.
You could have 30-second sessions on 3 different parts of the head if you have multiple thinning patches.
The band vibrates to let you know when to move it if you want to.
This model has 41 medical laser diodes, or half of the LaserBand 82. It equates to 246 sensors if moved over six different areas of the scalp. Recommended usage is 3 minutes every other day.
Once again, the band vibrates a little to let you know when to move it should you wish to do so.
Although there is a price difference between the 2 models, they both do the same thing. The model with fewer laser sensors needs to be worn for a longer time during each treatment.
Another of HairMax’s hair products are Laser Combs. Such combs were the pioneers of laser hair growth in the beginning but many prefer to use them instead of wearing head gear.
The manufacturer recommends using this product for 11-minute sessions on 3 days of the week. It’s ideal for areas on the head where the hair is thinning, but can be used over the entire scalp.
This model has 12 laser sensors. By using the product on your scalp for 8 minutes, 3 times a week, it will stimulate hair growth where the hair follicles are slowing down. It also has removable teeth for easy cleaning. The timer lights up so you can monitor how many minutes of treatment you have left.
Both Combs are handheld and you move them over the scalp as if brushing the hair slowly.
They’re charged by sitting in a cradle that plugs into the normal electricity supply. This makes them cordless so you can continue on with your daily routine as you use it.
See here for more information on HairMax’s laser combs specifically.
The Laser sensors on the laser combs work by healing damaged cells. Though, it does take time for the hair to return to a healthy condition.
Indeed, you may lose hair that’s already damaged before the healthier hair comes through. Be patient, it may take months for good results.
HairMax does not recommend daily use. The ideal way to use a HairMax laser product is for only 3 days a week. At the moment there are no known side effects of using laser treatment for hair growth.
You may also have heard that laser treatment can remove hair as well as grow it. Don’t worry if you overdo your sessions because to remove hair the wavelength of the sensors needs to be much higher.
Typically, the sun emits a wavelength of heat between 250-2,500 nanometers (nm).
Laser therapy hair devices, for hair growth, give off a wavelength of around 630-670nm.
To remove hair the laser treatment would need to output a wavelength of around 690-1100. This overheats the hair follicle and destroys the roots, as opposed to encouraging it to grow.
This shows that it’s unlikely you can do any damage to your hair follicles if you overuse laser products. The strength of the heat wavelength is set at a safe level.
HairMax has conducted 7 clinical trials. The results are showing that laser treatment for hair growth does work. They have studied 460 people with pattern baldness resulting in a 90% success rate in hair growth.
This indicates that their laser method is successful in stimulating hair growth.
They’re so confident of this that they offer a 5-month money-back guarantee, to give you time to use the equipment and see for yourself.
In 2004, Apira Science inc. introduced their first hair laser system. Apira has carried out many clinical trials and scientific studies. This helps them to develop home user-friendly devices for hair growth, among other health products.
Unlike HairMax, iGrow basically only has one flagship product: the iGrow helmet.
Here’s a quick video showcasing the iGrow Helmet.
The iGrow laser helmet looks quite different from the Hairmax devices, though it works on much the same principle. It uses LLLT (low level light therapy) in the form of laser sensors. This model uses laser diodes and LED lights, so it has a combination of LLLT sensors.
The helmet sits on the head and covers the whole scalp. It cannot damage existing hair and is perfectly safe to use. The skin absorbs the heat and the healing process. The heat stimulates blood flow, which in turn encourages cells to regenerate.
Dying cells begin to heal and this results in the thickening of hair strands.
Clinical trials have shown a 35-36% increase in hair growth, over a 16 week period. Awesome!
The device is hands-free, making it easy to use as you continue on with your busy routine. It needs no batteries as it charges from the provided charger.
This revolutionary design has inbuilt headphones. Stay entertained while you undergo your treatment. You can listen to music or watch TV, using the aux-hook up.
There’s no evidence to show that the overuse of iGrow laser hair treatment has any detrimental effects. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on usage, for the best results.
It’s well accepted that laser treatment for hair growth has minimal side effects. This type of home treatment is considered safe to use. Once your hair begins to grow back, using a model such as iGrow will keep the hair thick and healthy.
There is one warning to note, however. If you have any lesions or skin growths on your scalp, overuse may encourage them to grow too. You could avoid that area altogether. Or, make sure you don’t overuse the laser treatment where the growths and lesions are more prominent.
While undergoing laser treatment, you can also continue to use hair growth solutions and medication.
When you first begin using laser head treatment for hair growth, including iGrow, you may notice that you experience some hair loss. This is not the fault of any particular laser hair treatment model, as it can happen no matter which brand you use.
Telogen effluvium (temporary shedding of hair) is a possible side effect in the beginning.
The likelihood is that you’re losing the weakened hairs where the follicles are already dying. Such follicles will become stimulated by the laser heat, and new hairs will start to grow.
With the development of home devices, such as the iGrow, it means that treatment is available in the comfort of your own home. Not only that, but you also have full control of the treatment sessions.
IGrow hair growth laser treatment is much less expensive than laser treatment in a specialist clinic. Many clinics don’t recommend using them.
Could that be because they have a vested interest?
Instead, seek the advice of a dermatologist, who will be less biased. All you’ll have is a one-off payment and then the use of electricity during the sessions. Plus, you will need lots of patience. Any laser hair growth treatment takes a long time.
The effects of the iGrow laser helmet will be positive if you continue to use it. Even after hair growth begins to show, you should keep using it to keep the new hair thick and healthy.
Given what many studies are showing and ecstatic users are reporting, it is clear that laser treatment can work. But the process does take time, and it does not work for everyone.
Both HairMax and iGrow are reputable companies, and their laser caps, bands, and combs are powerful and effective.
If we had to choose one, we would lean the HairMax’s offerings, due largely to its much wider product line with laser combs, caps, bands, etc.
This product differentiation means that buyers can choose the price point they’re comfortable with, at least to start, and once they’re comfortable, they can jump to the next product if they like.
But the iGrow helmet is excellent, and has many fans across the globe, so you certainly won’t go wrong if you want to just jump in with that.
Be sure you carefully follow the instructions, and have a good understanding for the process before you get started. Each brand model is different.
It’s important to read how many sessions and minutes you need for your hair growth laser treatment to be successful.
We’re still very much in the early days for research to be showing how effective long term laser treatment can be. For those who are willing to go through 3-4 sessions a week, for many months, the statistics are favorable.
Generally, we lose up to 100 hairs daily. Under normal circumstances, these are hairs that will grow back again. That is if you don’t suffer from pattern balding, or androgenetic alopecia (genetic or hormonal balding).
As we mentioned above, laser treatment cannot return hair that is already lost to dead follicles. What these systems are designed to do is to rejuvenate dying follicles, and prevent them from dying completely.
That means if your hair is only at the thinning stage, then the laser treatment should help thicken those hairs. If you have a bit of that thin fuzzy stuff in areas of your scalp, then it’s not too late to try out laser treatment to thicken it.
Buying your own laser hair growth device means that you can do this safely. As well as having sessions in your own time, and in the comfort of your own home.
While our understanding of lasers has come a long way since the 1960s, it’s still not known what the optimal usage is. It could even be that it’s different for each person. These kinds of results should come about in the next few years of scientific studies.
We’ll keep watch for more information, and update as new studies come in. Until then, good luck and good hair growth!
Wondering how to hydrate hair after bleaching and reverse hair damage? You’ve come to the right place!
Changing your hair color can be pretty exciting and frankly, life-altering. However, going to light from naturally dark hair doesn’t come without a cost. Most hair lightening products contain bleach, which can leave your locks looking dull, dry, and damaged.
Using bleach to lighten hair color compromises those cuticles. It rips off the moisture and breaks apart hair proteins to remove color. So, while bleaching sure works like a charm to lighten hair, it can cause some serious damage. Hair fall, breakage, and frizz are just some side effects of using bleach.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t rock that Khaleesi-blond look! In other words, you can use bleach and opt for any hair color as long as you are ready to show your hair some extra TLC afterward. The goal is to hydrate hair after bleach and restore your hair’s strength and softness.
Wondering how to do that? Let’s find out!
[Read more…] about How to Hydrate Hair after BleachingWhen you’re pregnant, you’re pretty much told not to do anything. If you have to ask whether it’s ok to do something while pregnant, the answer is almost always “nope!”
After all, you’re not only thinking about your health and well being but also the health and wellbeing of your unborn child. Different people have all their beliefs about what pregnant women should and should not do. Prof. Emily Oster has written extensively about this, and her book Expecting Better is a must-read for all moms to be!
One of the arguable things that pregnant women are advised against is a pedicure or a manicure. Today, we’ll help you figure out if it’s ok to get a pedicure while pregnant (or a manicure), and how to mitigate your risks at the salon.
[Read more…] about Is it OK to Get a Pedicure While Pregnant?
