THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING YOUR SKIN!

The sins of my youth … are finally catching up with me.

No, not those kinds of sins.  I never went through a wild child phase (more like slight mischief at the most), but the “sin” of ignorance.   I grew up in a generation that knew little about the dangers of the sun.  I was one of those that assumed you “had to burn, before you could tan”.  I did nothing to protect my skin in my early years.

Then as a teenager and young adult, I was introduced to the beaches and worked 12 hour days selling suntan lotion to tourists in Daytona Beach.  I learned a little bit about sun protection and a little bit more about using aloe at night to help heal the skin.  But, I still didn’t know enough.

I really believe my education wasn’t complete until 20 years ago when I started Absolutely Natural.  It was through exhaustive research searching for the best, all natural sun protection, tanning products and after sun aloes, that I really learned about how to protect yourself in the sun; how to enjoy the outdoors and still be responsible; how to get and keep a healthy, safe tan.

I was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer last week and tomorrow am going in for surgery.  Now, the great news is that it was caught early and the surgery is outpatient and the chances of it being life threatening are very slim.  

The reason for this blog is twofold.  One, I beg you to use proper products in the sun.  Of course, our sunscreens offer the best protection and are the safest to use but even if you don’t buy ours, make sure you use a physical sunscreen (titanium and/or zinc) and make sure you steer clear of the very high SPF values that chemical sunscreen companies are promoting.

Second, please, please, please visit a dermatologist and get regular check- ups for skin cancer.    Doing a self-check is valuable but the only way to be 100% sure, is to let a professional exam you.   A synopsis of the three types of skin cancer follows:

Three Kinds of Cancer:
The two most common forms are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. They are referred to as nonmelanoma skin cancer. The most dangerous form is melanoma that tends to metastasize throughout the body and can cause death. There are almost 70,000 new cases of melanoma every year.

Basal cell accounts for 90% of new skin cancers and usually begins as a small dome shaped bump. They can appear very dark and are usually irregular shaped. Squamous begins in the squamous cells which are flat, scale-like cells that form the surface of the skin, the hollow organs of the body and the respiratory and digestive tracts. So, squamous can form in any of these tissues. It most frequently appears on the skin as rough, red bumps on the scalp, face, ears and backs of the hands. It can take 10 years for the cancer to invade deeply into the skin and become fully developed squamous cell carcinoma.

The risks for developing any of these cancers include age, UV exposure in tanning beds, therapeutic radiation and most prominently exposure to the sun.

Skin Cancer claims 12,000 lives a year.  Caught early, as mine was, it usually poses little risk.  Let it go too long and you can, unfortunately, be one of the statistics.

Best regards,

Charley

The Turtles Need Our Help

We are fortunate enough to live, work and play in Brevard County Florida, one of the worlds most important nesting grounds for sea turtles. From the first of May through the early fall, sea turtles climb the beach to the dunes where they build nests to lay their hundreds of eggs.

The hatchlings emerge (usually in the summer) and frantically head toward the water. It is an amazing phenomenon to watch and my kids and I saw it right before our eyes about 20 years ago on one warm summer night at our beach. I have been a huge fan and supporter of sea turtles ever since. As you may be aware, these majestic creatures are struggling to survive and thrive.

Recently we partnered with the Brevard Zoo and becoming patrons supporting their important work as they build their sea turtle rehab program. In addition, with the start of our newest Absolutely Natural spa line, we have dedicated space on each label to help raise awareness of sea turtles. These bottles are distributed worldwide to resorts fronting the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Of course, our products are reef-friendly and the recent scientific study of our sunblocks proves that our sunscreens biodegrade in as little as 14 days. Incredible when you consider chemical sunscreens can take months and months to biodegrade and are thought to be one of the main causes of our precious coral reefs dying off at an alarming rate.

We invite you to join us in supporting these magnificent turtles. To learn how you can help make a difference in sea turtle survival, visit:

Sea Turtle Conservancy
The Sea Turtle Conservancy, formerly known as the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, is the world's oldest sea turtle research and conservation group. Sea Turtle Conservancy's research programs have yielded much of what is now known about sea turtles and the threats they face, and the organization is applying this knowledge to carry out the world's most successful sea turtle protection and recovery programs.

Sea Turtle Preservation Society
The society's goal is to help maintain the current sea turtle population and to prevent a potentially irreversible decline in that population.

The Narture Conservency
The Nature Conservancy protects Earth's most important natural places — for you and future generations — through great science and smart partnerships.

Florida Wildlife Federation
The "Goal" of the Federation is to be the leader in promoting, through education and political action, the conservation, restoration, sound management, and wise and ethical use of Florida's natural resources, to the end that present and future Floridians may live, work and pursue traditional outdoor activities in an outstanding natural environment.

Florida Marine Turtle Program
FWC helps to protect and conserve marine turtles and their habitat through the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation - Imperiled Species Management Section (ISM), the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) and the the Division of Law Enforcement (LE).

New Year’s Resolutions … Absolutely Natural Style

Year after year it’s always the same thing:
• Lose weight
• Get organized
• Exercise 20 hours a week.

The resolutions usually last less than the time it takes to make them, but I challenge our customers to embark upon an Absolutely Natural Year of Resolutions.

Resolve to do something good for your whole body:
Resolve to use our incredible Organic Oil or Organic Crème daily for a month. You will be amazed at the results. I talked to a man just yesterday who has severe eczema … to the point where he has had no hair on his right arm for years. His wife talked him into using the organic oil everyday and within one month his skin condition improved dramatically and his arm hair had returned! He is absolutely thrilled.

Resolve to reveal more radiant youthful skin:
We recommend your daily “work out” consist of our daily regimen for your face, Facials … the Absolutely Natural five-step facials program. Burn calories morning and night using our cleanser and following with the astringent, toner and then our uplifting daily facial lotion. Two to three times a week you can increase the activity by incorporating our bamboo exfoliator into the mix. Feel the burn? Actually, no you won’t; you’ll only feel the amazing softness, smoothness and enjoy the youthfulness our Facials System promises and delivers.

Resolve this year to eliminate
sulfates, phthalates and parabens from your skin and blood stream:
It’s easy with Absolutely Natural’s new spa products. Choose between our Papaya Pineapple or Cucumber Mint natural fragrances in the personal care products … shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion. The products are moisturizing and a nutrient-rich treat for the skin, hair and scalp.

Resolve to stay hydrated and protected:
This summer keep your skin protected by our natural sunscreens and hydrated by the phenomenal aloe, shea butter, squalane-based lotion in all of our sunscreens and Rosehip Aloe.

Resolve to save the planet’s precious resources:
While enjoying the sun, you can live up to your resolution of helping save the planet as NONE of our products will harm the coral reefs of our precious oceans.

In fact, as the founder and owner of company, I think we should all resolve to improve our skin, our hair, our health and environment by using as many Absolutely Natural products as possible. Of course, this is written with serious tongue-in-cheek intentions. I’m all for exercising, losing weight and all the resolutions so many of us make year in and year out, but the Absolutely Natural 2011 resolutions will be the easiest to stick with.

Happy New Year and thanks for your continued support.

Charley

Do as I say ...

You know the old adage ... do as I say; not as I do.

Obviously I have driven my two sons crazy with that over the years, but now I am telling all the thousands and thousands of people I have trained on the proper way to take care of your skin in the sun and all the tens of thousands of customers over 18 years, the same thing. Do as I say!

I, Charley Richards, owner of Absolutely Natural Sun care (the world's best), got a bad sunburn recently on my face, neck and shoulders. Of course, I have taken a merciless ribbing from just about everyone that knows me with copious offers to "sell me some sunscreen" etc etc. All well deserved.

Circumstances were understandable (at least to me). An enjoyable outing on the boat; I thought she had the sunscreen, she thought he had it, he thought she had it and she was sure I had it. No sunscreen.

The point to this besides a living definition/example of "irony", is a certifiable, testimonial on how incredible our Absolutely Natural aloes are. By Sunday afternoon at 4pm, my face was a glowing red that would put Rudolph's famous nose to shame. The heat coming off me could be felt several inches away from my face. Uncomfortable, of course, but the potential embarrassment was worse. You see, I had a presentation to do in front of a few dozen business leaders gathered in Melbourne from across the Southeast. How much credibility would I have if my face were still in this condition when speech time came around?

Desperate, I turned to the aloes. I applied (smeared) the Pure Aloe w/ Tea Tree on all affected areas and let it sit until it went into the skin. Then I applied (coated) the Rosehip Aloe lotion on immediately afterwards. I repeated this dozens of times over the nexttwo days.

Immediately the heat left my face and other areas. And, slowly, the red turned to my version of brown (as a red head of Irish descent, my "tan" is sort of a reddish one to begin with). By Tuesday morning (fewer than 48 hours after my folly), I looked healthy and my version of "tan" instead of like someone who needed to go to the emergency room.

I DO NOT suggest you try this at home as I am a professional (yea, a professional that doesn't bring sunscreen on a boat outing in Florida!).

At any rate, I always try turning a negative into a positive and thus the story of the face saving aloes (double entendre intended) .

Best regards,

Charley

60% of Sunscreens Don't Protect Adequately & Contain Toxic Ingredients

Should you be scared? Not if you're using our products at Absolutely Natural!

These statistics come from the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) 2009 Study.

I'll attach a link at the end of this post to a report posted on WebMD, regarding their thoughts on the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) study.

I have my own opinions of the criteria used by the EWG to rate sunscreens and will be sharing many thoughts in coming posts. In general, I believe each of the following quotes found within the WebMD article hold merit:

Jane Houlihan, EWG, Senior VP for Research:

"I'd give the industry a C minus. They have moved from a D to a C-minus in my book."

Sandra Read, MD, a Washington, D.C., Dermatologist and member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Dermatology:

"Using sunscreen correctly, using the right sunscreen for your exposure and skin type, and reapplying every two hours is crucial."

Henry Lim, MD, Chairman of the department of dermatology at Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit. Member of the photobiology committee of the Skin Cancer Foundation and chairman of the Council on Science and Research of the American Academy of Dermatology.

"Some points are definitely correct. But, he adds, this report has somewhat of an alarmist tone.''

MY THOUGHTS
From the perspective of Absolutely Natural and our suncare products in comparison to the chemically laden products typically found on merchant's shelves:

• We applaud the efforts of the EWG to serve as a consumer watchdog group regarding the safety of suncare and other consumer products. They definitely have helped raise awareness of potential toxic dangers from various chemical ingredients commonly used in sunscreens.
• We created the first 100% natural suncare line in 1992 for the sole purpose of removing chemical sunscreens, parabens, petro-chemicals and other ingredients we viewed as non-desirable for our customers.
  

Proud to be 100% Natural since 1992!

RESOURCES
Article Link from WebMD summarizing the Environmental Working Group's 2009 Suncare Report and from where I sourced quotes from the various individuals noted in my post.