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Should Teens Tan? California Says No.

Should teens be able to decide whether or not to use tanning beds? According to Aim at Melanoma Foundation, using a tanning bed before the age of 20 doubles a person’s risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Even more staggering is that 28 million individuals in the U.S. use tanning beds each year despite the statistics, which includes 2.3 million teens.

On Sunday, October 9, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill making California the first state to prohibit minors from using tanning beds. The only exception is if a minor obtains written consent from a medical professional that they’re tanning due to a medical condition. This law will go into effect on January 1, 2012. Multiple health organizations including the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) are praising the governor for taking action.

In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, placed tanning beds in its Class 1 carcinogen category.  Cigarettes, plutonium and ultraviolet radiation from the sun are in the same category. Just like the law protects minors from the negative health effects of cigarettes, this new law in California is a way to protect teens from the negative health effects of using tanning beds. Dermatologist Ann F. Haas, MD, FAAD, past president of the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery says, “Melanoma incidence rates have been increasing for the last 30 years, with the most rapid increases occurring among young, white women, 3 percent per year since 1992 in those ages 15 to 39. We pushed for this legislation in the hopes of stemming that rise and encouraging other states to follow California’s lead and prohibit the use of tanning devices by minors to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in the U.S.”

Prior to the ban, the state allowed those between 14 and 17 years of age to use tanning beds with parental consent. Thirty-one other states have similar laws restricting minors from using tanning beds without parental consent. The remaining 18 states have no restrictions. This is frightening not only because teens who tan put their health at risk, but also because adolescents choosing to tan are still developing their decision making skills and may make bad or uneducated decisions that will affect their quality of life down the road.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), “based on the stage of their brain development, adolescents are more likely to: act on impulse or engage in dangerous or risky behavior. Adolescents are also less likely to: think before they act, pause to consider the potential consequences of their actions and modify their dangerous or inappropriate behaviors.”

“These brain differences don’t mean that young people can’t make good decisions or tell the difference between right and wrong”, states an article on the AACAP website.  “It also doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be held responsible for their actions. But an awareness of these differences can help parents, teachers, advocates, and policy makers understand, anticipate, and manage the behavior of adolescents.”

On top of the cognitive development argument, there is a lack of awareness on the dangers of tanning. “Many parents may not be aware that melanoma is the most common skin cancer in children, followed by basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas,” Dr. Thomas Rohrer, Secretary of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Many tanning salons tout that tanning beds are safer than outdoor tanning as they use UVA rays or that it’s good to get a base tan before vacationing in warm regions.  These claims are false. UVA rays (aging rays) are not safer than UVB rays (burning) rays and numerous studies have proven this. Additionally, getting a base tan before a sunny vacation is equivalent to the sun protection of a SPF 3 or less, and the AAD suggests using SPF 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen and sun protective clothing for adequate sun protection.

Based on this information, would you be comfortable having your teen use a tanning bed? For every parent residing outside of the state of California, that’s for you, or your teen, to decide.

Michigan news broadcast with dermatologist insights on tanning beds.

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Expert Rx

Dermatologists, More than Pimple Popping M.D.s

Dermatologists are medical doctors who specialize in treating skin, hair and nails. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), at any given time, one out of every three people in the United States suffers from a skin disease.  Many skin conditions cannot be cured or relieved with over-the-counter treatments. For skin conditions that are out of your control or you’re not sure what to do about, make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist. Depending on your specific skin problem, you may even wish to search for a dermatologist online and find a doctor that specializes in specific areas, such as cosmetic procedures, skin cancer or skin of color.

Dermatologists are way more than “pimple popping M.D.s”, which according to the popular ‘90s sitcom Seinfeld is all the profession is good for. They save and improve lives every day by helping people get control of their problematic skin, hair and nail conditions.

Seinfeld Clip “Pimple Popping M.D.s”

Still not sure if you should seek medical attention? Here are some of the top reasons to see a dermatologist.

Acne. For acne that is not responding to an over-the-counter skin treatment, a dermatologist can determine which kind of prescription skin treatment would be most effective for your acne and lifestyle.

Eczema. Many people suffer from eczema, a chronic condition characterized by irritation, itchiness, and flaky patches of skin. A dermatologist can help find ways to manage this condition and, if necessary, will prescribe medications.

Skin cancer. An annual full body skin exam performed by a dermatologist is especially important if you are in a high-risk group (fair skin, had bad sunburns, especially blistering sunburns, skin that burns or freckles rather than tans, 50-plus moles or atypical moles). In addition to regular screenings, you should see a dermatologist if you notice a change in the shape, size or coloring of any of your moles. A dermatologist can remove some or all of the suspicious tissue, then examine it under a microscope for cancerous cells. Skin cancer does not discriminate. All ages and races are susceptible to skin cancer.

Wrinkles, dark spots and scars. If you are concerned about minimizing skin damage or caring for aging skin, a dermatologist can suggest products or lifestyle changes that reduce your exposure to damaging elements. They can also perform cosmetic procedures to reduce visible signs of aging and scars.

For almost any condition that affects your appearance (skin, hair and nails) you can seek a dermatologist for advice and treatment. For a complete list of the conditions dermatologists treat, please visit the AAD website.

Take care of your skin, your largest organ. Remember, everyone needs sun protection, but those with skin conditions may be even more sensitive to the sun. When talking with your dermatologist, ask him or her about photosensitivity (a negative skin reaction to UV rays) and get sun protection recommendations.  Using sun protective clothing, wide-brim hats, sunglasses and broad-spectrum sunscreen regularly can reduce visible signs of aging and help prevent skin cancer.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Coolibar and its contributors is general skin care information and should not be a substitute for obtaining medical advice from your physician and is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific medical problem.

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Inside Coolibar

Spreading Shade in Joplin after Tornado

Hats for Joplin Relief Efforts

Two months after the devastating tornado touch-down in Joplin, MO the relief efforts continue. Over 8,000 homes were destroyed and more than 150 lives were lost. Relief workers and Joplin residents alike are working together to rebuild the city, spending countless hours in the summer sun.

The recent heat-wave has been taking its toll on everyone including volunteers, residents and those living outdoors all day, every day, since losing their homes. The people in Joplin have enough to worry about already, let alone the dangerous heat and UV they’re now facing. In an effort to protect those putting Joplin back together from the sun’s harmful rays and heat, Coolibar, in partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology and AmeriCorps, was able to provide some UPF 50+ hats to the relief efforts.

Wide-brim hats not only protect the scalp, face and neck from sunburn, they also help keep the body cooler as skin is not directly exposed to the sun. Coolibar is proud to help, even in the smallest way, with the relief efforts in Joplin, MO. Our thoughts and hearts at Coolibar go out to everyone in Joplin.

If you’re looking for a way to contribute to Joplin relief efforts, visit the American Red Cross website.

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Events Inside Coolibar

AAD 69th Annual Meeting

Once again, Coolibar’s team of Sun Protection Experts made an appearance at the 69th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The weekend of February 4th, more than 16,000 dermatologists and visitors from around the globe took over the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA for the largest dermatology meeting of the year. Seven of Coolibar’s employees spent hours, over the course of three days, speaking with dermatologists about the benefits of Coolibar sun protective clothing, distributing free sun hats, and passing out information!  Despite the record breaking cold weather, the dermatologists were out in full force, taking advantage of the opportunity to learn about our exciting new products (3D dri SUNTECT®) firsthand.  Exhausted, the Coolibar Crew returned with a renewed excitement for the essential sun protective hats, clothing and swimwear we design.

Check out our photo album of the bustling Coolibar booth. 

[nggallery id=8]

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Expert Rx SunAWARE Videos

Vitamin D and Sunshine (Video)

Dermatologist Dr. Jaime Davis
Uptown Dermatology
Minneapolis, MN

Hi, this is Dr. Davis for Coolibar Sun Protective Clothing.

I just wanted to touch on the topic of Vitamin D and Sunshine.  And while we all agree that we need adequate amounts of Vitamin D the American Academy of Dermatology holds the position that Ultraviolet light is not the safest way to get your Vitamin D

It’s preferred to do that through dietary intake – fish such as salmon or even tuna, even vitamin D supplementation in a vitamin pill is a lot safer for you than getting it through your skin.   In the old days when it was recommended that we get a little natural sunlight, the thing is there weren’t as good of variety of dietary sources and now there are.

So, vitamin D is something you can get adequately through your diet, still use your sunscreen and remain sun safe and SunAWARE!

Disclaimer: The information provided by Coolibar and its contributors is general skin care information and should not be a substitute for obtaining medical advice from your physician and is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific medical problem. 

Fatty fish, such as salmon, are natural sources of vitamin D
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Events

Over 10,000 Dermatology Professionals in one Location

Last February, Coolibar attended the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held in Miami, FL.  This was the 8th consecutive year that Coolibar exhibited at this meeting and roughly 1,100 dermatology professionals stopped by our booth to say hello and receive a free Coolibar UPF 50+ hat.

This year we brought with a staff of 8 employees to show off our latest and greatest products for the upcoming season.  We love attending these gatherings and meeting the doctors who recommend our products face to face.  Your feedback is immeasurable. 

This year we left with several insights;

1.)    UPF Rating, Skin Coverage and Comfort are most important to you.

2.)  You want to see more hat styles.

3.)  You would like more products created with our ZnO SUNTECT fabric.

We’ll keep these suggestions in mind for next season’s assortment.

 See you in New Orleans for the 69thAnnual Meeting.

Coolibar at the 2010 AAD Annual Meeting in Miami, FL
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