Grape compound may protect skin against the sun

For ladies who are interested in protecting their ethnic skin naturally, there may be a new tool in the battle against damage from the sun - grapes. Researchers at the University of Barcelona have found a compound in grapes that may protect against the sun's ultraviolet rays.

These findings add grapes to the list of fruits that contain sun-protecting properties, which also includes pomegranate, found in some skin care products for black skin. The compound, called flavonoid, has already been shown to have other health benefits, particularly for brain health.

These results could lead to the development of new skin care products that contain grape extract.

"This study supports the idea of using these products to protect the skin from cell damage and death caused by solar radiation, as well as increasing our understanding of the mechanism by which they act," said researcher Marta Cascante.

Until those products are developed, there are plenty of other natural African American skin care products on the market that contain healthy extracts of fruit and green tea for sun protection. 

New skin care brochures available in Spanish

The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) has recently released educational brochures in Spanish about the importance of skin care and wound treatment. In the past, these brochures have been widely used by doctors and caregivers, now they will be available in Spanish to better serve the Hispanic population. 

One of the pamphlets, called The Skin You're In (La Piel en la Que Estás) details how to protect skin against environmental factors such as sun and wind. The association released a statement about the importance of these brochures.

"The brochures are invaluable, containing useful information for those who suffer not only with a skin issue but also with a low budget. Many clinics and hospitals display them within their facilities. The great part is that while they can be purchased from AAWC, the brochures are also available to download and print free of charge without permission," states Terry Treadwell, M.D., FACS and AAWC President.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau there are and estimated 48.4 million Hispanic people in the U.S. The only country with a larger population of Hispanics is Mexico.

Learning about proper skin care is important for people from every culture. Women looking to better understand skin care should research ethnic skin care products, which can help protect the skin with SPF and antioxidants while keeping it looking great.  

Uncovering the myths of skin cancer

Although there has been a lot of talk about skin cancer lately, many people still can't differentiate between facts and fiction about the disease.

Recently, Medscape News ran an article explaining some of the myths about sun cancer, to help people gain a better understanding of how to protect themselves from this usually preventable form of cancer.

One of the myths they corrected was that darker-skinned people do not need sunscreen. Medscape's expert stated that increased skin pigmentation is equivalent to an SPF protection of 3, which is not enough to protect against skin cancer.

Another theory they explored was that people do not have to wear sunscreen in the car. While windshields may provide mild UVB protection, most side windows do not. Therefore, it's important to wear sunscreen in cars to to protect exposed arms.

The New York Times reports 74 percent of skin cancer tumors are found on the left side of people's bodies. This statistic has been connected to sun exposure while driving.

Ethnic women looking to protect themselves from sun damage should consider using an African American skin care product with added SPF.

Website offers tips for office beauty

Ladies, trying to look flawless at the office can be difficult. Skincare-News.com recently offered some tips on classy and affordable ways to look good at work.

First, the website recommended wearing hair in a high bun. Along with looking put together and professional, this look can help keep the back of the neck cool while working in the hot summer months. Next, they suggested wearing fun shades of eyeshadow such as green or aquamarine. As long as the look is toned down enough for the daytime, there's no reason not to be creative with the color.

For the face Skincare News suggested wearing a barely-there blush to give cheeks as splash of color without looking overwhelming. It's important to match skin tones when it comes to foundation, ethnic women should consider using black skin care products made especially to match darker skin tones.

Finally, the website recommended a light or nude tone for the lips rather than a dark red. Wearing a lip balm can provide and even more subtle look.

WebMD warns against using sunscreen for the body but neglecting the lips. They suggest wearing a lip balm that contains SPF to protect against harmful UVB rays that come from the sun. Remember to re-apply every two hours planning to be outside for long periods of time.