Ultra-Violet Rays & Cosmetics

 

A few years ago I was in the office of my optometrist for a routine eye exam. I asked him for his opinion on eye specific vitamins and supplements. He said his opinion was that as long as one had a general good health regimen they were not of much additional use. He was very definite in saying that there was a singular cause for the vast majority of eye health deterioration, that being the exposure of the human eye to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. I have done my best to always wear UV ray protecting sunglasses since.

 

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers; the role of ultraviolet radiation exposure in skin cancer has fairly recently become widely known. In the presidential election when Senator John McCain had a melanoma removed, he used the opportunity to give a warning to the public about exposure to the sun. One’s face and neck are exposed to the sun a fair amount, particularly if one does not work in an office. These easily damaged skin areas should be protected. Many low cost generic moisturizers are available. They should have a good SPF rating, say 15 or above. I am very high on transdermally absorbed MSM. I buy a cream from the local health food store which contains 25% MSM and also contains aloe vera extract. It takes just a few moments to combine the two in one’s palm and use as a moisturizer down to the neckline. (For those who wish a more aesthetically pleasing cosmetic, one can premix in a different jar and add lotion from any fragrance of Body and Bath’s reasonably priced products for accent. Use just the right fragrance, close your eyes when you put it on, and pretend you paid $50 an ounce at Bloomingdale’s.)

 

For those with dry and/or psoriatic skin, regularly using moisturizer on the hands, elbows, knees, feet, etc. is very important to maintaining health of the skin. Being at least a somewhat typical male, I find the time and effort required to use moisturizers and prescription steroid creams difficult to put up with. By continually working at convincing myself of the health benefits, I am getting better at doing what most ladies take pleasure in.