The temperature is heating up, and your kids are spending more time outdoors. They’re sweating; they’re swimming. They need extra sun protection—and so do you!

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are at their strongest during the summer, and unprotected skin can be damaged in as little as 15 minutes. While applying a SPF (sun protection factor) 30 sunscreen is important throughout the year, taking extra sun-safety precautions during the summer is especially important.

Try these tips on your next family trip to the beach, pool, playground, ballpark or amusement/water park.

1. Put on extra sunscreen

“Kids who are sweating or swimming need to reapply sunscreen more often,” says Dennis Hughes, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric oncologist who takes care of children with melanoma at the Children’s Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson. “Reflective surfaces, such as water and sand, can intensify the sun’s rays and cause a greater burn.”

A sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 protects the skin from the sun. Apply one ounce of sunscreen (about the size of a ping pong ball) to all sun-exposed areas of the body. Don’t forget the ears, feet and behind the neck.

Because sunscreen can take up to 30 minutes to go into full effect, it’s a good idea to apply it at home before you drive to the pool or beach.

“Don’t let the kids out the door without being fully covered with sunscreen,” Hughes says. “If they’re spending time at a summer camp, make sure you give the camp counselors extra sunscreen for reapplication throughout the day.”

2. Protect lips and eyes

Choosing the right sunglasses and lip balm also can provide added UV protection for parents and kids. Apply a lip balm that offers SPF protection and reapply throughout the day. Choose wrap-around sunglasses that absorb at least 99% of UV rays to protect your eyes and the skin around your eyes.

3. Wear sun-protective clothing

While most people usually know to use sunscreen and sunglasses, few are aware of the availability of sun-protective clothing. Many companies offer a variety of sun-protective clothing with as much as ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) 50.

UPF indicates how much UV radiation can penetrate the fabric in clothing. For example, a shirt with UPF 30 means that just 1/30th of the sun’s UV radiation can reach the skin.

You can find swimsuits, hats, shirts, shorts and jackets that offer UPF protection in every color and size for both kids and adults.

“Certain items in your closet also may do the job,” says Susan Chon, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at MD Anderson. “Wear tightly woven, dark-colored fabrics.”

“These colors and fabrics offer more protection than others,” Chon says.

According to Chon, a long-sleeved shirt may offer sun protection; however, most light-weight cotton shirts used in the summer don’t offer more than UPF 10.

“A simple way to test your tee’s UV level is to hold it up to a light bulb. If you can see the light coming through, it probably isn’t offering you maximum protection.”

4. Find or make shade

It’s always a good idea to have a place where you and your family can find shade from the sun. Plan ahead.

“Seeking shade is especially important between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are at their strongest,” Chon says.

Depending on the activity or location, one of the options below may work for you.

• Choose parks with a covering over playgrounds. More parks are adding this feature to their kid’s play area.
• Carry a large beach umbrella. Did you know you can buy umbrellas with UPF protection? You can find a variety of good ones online.
• Put up a tent if you have the space. This is an especially good idea for large groups.
• Choose seating areas near trees.

5. Make a travel size sun-safety kit

You never know what the day has in store. At the beginning of the summer, create a travel size kit with all the items you need to keep your family sun safe. Don’t leave home without it!

Here are some basic, portable items to put in your kit.

• Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher
• Lip balm with SPF 15 or higher
• Hat with a brim or cap
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Sunglasses with UV protection

“These are great items to keep handy in your bag to prepare for the sun as it intensifies throughout the day,” Chon says.

credit to: MD Anderson Cancer Center

by Adelina Espat

Are you guys familiar with our South Eastern Sales Rep Doug Terry? He recently teamed up with Videofarm.tv to create a short video with a couple of our products! Check it out and let us know what you think. Would you like to see more like this?

Bad breath, medically called Halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems.  Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

How Does What You Eat Affect Breath?

Basically, all the food you eat begins to be broken down in your mouth. As foods are digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they are eventually carried to your lungs and given off in your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing — even mouthwash — merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.

Why Do Poor Habits Cause Bad Breath?

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which promotes bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath. In addition, odor-causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if dentures are not properly cleaned.

Smoking or chewing tobacco-based products can also cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods, and irritate the gums.

What Health Problems Are Associated With Bad Breath?

Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth may be warning signs of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. The bacteria cause toxins to form in the mouth, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone.

Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, yeast infections of the mouth, and dental caries.

The medical condition dry mouth (also called Xerostomia) can also cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten and cleanse the mouth by neutralizing acids produced by plaque and washing away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be caused by the side effects of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth.

Many other diseases and illnesses may cause bad breath. Here are some to be aware of: respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems.

What Can I Do to Prevent Bad Breath?

Bad breath can be reduced or prevented if you:

1. Practice good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your teeth after you eat (keep a toothbrush at work or school to brush after lunch). Don’t forget to brush your tongue, too. Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months. Use floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between your teeth once a day. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the next morning.
2. See your dentist regularly – at least twice a year. He or she will conduct an oral examination and professional teeth cleaning and will be able detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of bad mouth odor.
3. Stop smoking/chewing tobacco-based products. Ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.
4. Drink lots of water. This will keep your mouth moist. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria.
5. Keep a log of the foods you eat. If you think the foods that you eat may be causing your bad breath, record what you eat. Bring the log to your dentist to review. Similarly, make a list of the medications you take. Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odors.

Who Treats Bad Breath?

In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy and that the odor is not of oral origin, you may be referred to your family doctor or to a specialist to determine the odor source and treatment plan. If the odor is due to gum disease, for example, your dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating gum conditions.

What Products Can I Use to Eliminate Bad Breath?

You can buy a number of mouthwashes over-the-counter that claim to eliminate bad breath. However, keep in mind that many of these mouthwashes generally provide only a temporary way to mask unpleasant mouth odor. There are, however, several antiseptic mouth-rinse products available that instead of simply masking breath odor kill the germs that cause bad breath. Ask your dentist about which product is best for you.

For a quick easy cover-up when you are unable to treat the cause of your bad breath, breath mints and breath sprays can be a safe and effective method of getting you through until you address your bad breath.

As it turns out,  all of the uses for lip balm may not be so obvious. Check-out what we discovered with a little bit of research and a lot of know-how about lip balm.

1) Moisturize Knees & Elbows

Knees and elbows can have the roughest and driest skin on the entire human body. Soften them with an intense moisturizing treatment of lip balm.

2) Make Up Make-up

Ladies-use lip balm as a base with your favorite powered eye shadow or make-up and make a cream-shadow or even foundation.

3) Stop the Bleeding from Minor Cuts

Guys-next time you cut yourself shaving, ditch the embarrassing toilet paper piece on you neck or face for a clear coat of lip balm instead. Your pride will thank you later!

4) Sooth Rashes

Use lip balm to help soothe dry skin and rashes. With it’s high aloe and vitamin E content, it will sooth and repair your achy skin.

5) Tame Wild Hairs

Have some stubborn fly-aways, brow, or mustache hairs? Lip balm is wax-based and will help tame your wild mane.

6) Lubricate Zippers

The next time your zipper gets stuck, try rubbing some lip balm on it and the natural oils will help lubricate your zipper to run more smoothly.

7) Shine Your Shoes

If your shoes are looking a little dull, but you don’t have the time or the money to go get a shoe shine, rub some lip balm on your shoes and buff them with a dry washcloth.

8) Protect your Entire Face

Whether it’s from windburn or hair dye, rub some lip balm on your face for a solid barrier between your face and whatever you want to protect your face from.

9) Keep Your Shoes Tied

Coat the part of the shoelaces that you loop with lip balm to keep them from coming undone.

10) Repair a Scratched CD

Spread a thin layer of lip balm over a scratch on your CD and it will stop it from skipping.

If you want to read about even more unusual ways to use lip balm, read these three articles:

http://www.nichetopics.info/lip-balm-uses.html

http://thegloss.com/beauty/makeup-minute-top-10-uses-for-lip-balm/

http://ecoki.com/tips-for-chapstick/

Leashables has several different lip balms to fit any budget and taste. Shop on our website www.Leashables.com.

While you’re out there having fun in the snow this winter, don’t forget how important SPF protection is. An area that a lot of people pay for neglecting in the winter is their lips. Lip balm with SPF 15 protection or higher can help manage the risk of chapped lips due to the harsh elements and blazing sun. Please take precautions to apply and re-apply lip balm this winter weather-even when it’s cloudy.

A recent study posted by the Archives of Dermatology lists UV readings for 32 of North America’s most popular slopes as well as adult skier/snowboarder sun protection habits. Want to help protect your employees, clients, and winter sportsman alike from harmful UV rays? Leashables.com carries a number of quality-tested SPF 15 & SPF 30 lip balms that can be customized with your logo and winter wishes!

Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

This will not only help the individual, but the CDC describes maintaining clean hands as a way to have a healthier family, working environment, and community as well. It is important that the hand sanitizer is alcohol-based and potent enough to kill harmful bacteria.

Check-out other suggestions for making 2011 a healthy year by visiting the CDC’s page and always have Sanell® hand sanitizer on standby!

We’re having Cyber Monday Funday over at http://leashables.com!

You’ll get 5% off all online orders today on any and all purchases – take advantage of a great deal.

In the meantime check out a funny video about our typical online savings: