Understanding SPF and Sunscreens by Emily Shiflett, Aesthetician

Summer is just around the corner, and this usually means a lot of time spent outside swimming, sports, and other fun activities. If you are not applying sunscreen while outside you may be doing harmful damage to your skin. Sunscreen is a product that works by reflecting and or absorbing some of the suns ultraviolet, or UV, radiation, and can come in the form of liquid, gels, sticks, sprays, or powder. The suns rays are divided into three categories- UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVC radiation does not reach Earth because of the ozone layer in the atmosphere. UVB rays are also known as "the tanning rays" and only effect the epidermis, or the first layer of the skin. Most sunburn cases are from UVB rays. The rays that penetrate to the dermis, or the second layer of the skin, are UVA rays. These rays go deeper into the skin causing premature aging. Unlike UVB rays, UVA rays can go through glass damaging your skin while indoors or driving. Both types of rays are causes in skin cancer and premature aging. Understanding SPF is important for protecting your skin against these harmful rays.

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is the number given to show the protection a sunscreen offers. An SPF number is determined by measuring the amount of UV rays it takes a sun sensitive person to burn without the use of sunscreen, and then is redone with the use of sunscreen. The time found using the sunscreen is divided by the time found without the use of sunscreen to find the SPF. Easier put, if someone typically burns in one hour, applying SPF 15 would allow them to stay in the sun 15 times longer than without the protection. By multiplying an SPF number and the amount of time it takes for you to burn without the use of sunscreen determine the maximum time you should spend in the sun. These numbers however are not accurate because sunscreen is usually not applied correctly. The rays are also more intense in the summer season and during certain hours in the day. Use a broad-spectrum SPF that is between 15-30. Be aware that anything above 50 can give a false sense of protection from the suns rays since an SPF 15 offers about 93% protection while an SPF 100 offers about 99%. The difference is not significant. Not properly protecting your skin from the suns rays can result in damage to the appearance of the skin, and also lead to more serious changes.

Too much sun exposure can lead to damage such as hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and even skin cancer. As you get a tan, the skin produces more melanin (skin containing more melanin has a darker appearance) to protect itself from the harmful UV rays. Sometimes it produces an uneven amount of melanin creating uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. Other damage can happen when the blood vessels dilate from sun exposure giving the skin a reddish appearance. The suns UV radiation breaks down collagen and elastin found in the dermis, or the second layer of the skin. When this breakdown happens the skin losses its flexibility and strength causing sagging skin and deep wrinkles. Every time your skin is exposed to the sun unprotected it changes structure making it harder for the body to fight off cancerous cells. Two common types of skin cancer are basal cell and squamous cell cancer. Melanoma is less common, however it's the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Applying sunscreen correctly is critical to help avoid these damaging changes from the sun.

Application of your sunscreen is important to ensure you are protected from the sun. With so many different types of sunscreen available in the stores, how can you tell which one is right? First be sure your sunscreen is broad-spectrum meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. When shopping for sunscreen, also know that there is no difference between ones marketed towards children and ones towards adults. Make sure the SPF is 15 or higher, and SPF 30 or higher for those with fair complexions. A 'shot glass' full of sunscreen is recommended for covering the body, and remember to cover the scalp, ears, and lips which are often forgotten with application. Reapplying of sunscreen needs to be done every two hours, or more if swimming or working outdoors since no sunscreen is completely waterproof. So the sunscreen can properly bind to the skin, apply when it is cool and dry. Don't apply while already in the sun since it takes about twenty minutes to be absorbed completely.

Some sunscreens on the market contain chemicals and other toxic ingredients that should be avoided. Oxybenzone is one ingredient that works by absorbing UV light, however has been shown to absorb into the skin and may be linked to causing hormonal changes in the body. Oxybenzone is an ingredient approved by the FDA, but only for those older than six months. Another potentially harmful ingredient found in several sunscreens is Retinyl Palminate. This ingredient is a type of vitamin A that may possibly increase the risk of skin cancer when on sun exposed skin. Protect your skin from the suns rays and toxic chemicals by choosing a broad-spectrum natural sunscreen.

At Alternatives we offer sunscreens with natural ingredients such as Epionce Ultra Shield Lotion SPF 50, and Epionce Active shield lotion SPF 30. These products are broad-spectrum and also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Containing zinc oxide, these sunscreens are safe and effective at protection from the sun. Come check out our other natural sunscreen products we have to offer at Alternatives, and don't let sunburn ruin your fun this summer!

What a Brain Map Lab Test Can Show You by Scott Carlson, LMHP, CTS

Alternatives is dedicated to the commission of medical and mental health professionals to care and "do no harm". If you have been diagnosed or have symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, brain injury, or depression, then there is a non-pharmaceutical treatment called Neurotherapy that can help. At Alternatives we use a unique system of neurotherapy that begins with a "brain map".  

The brain is a highly complex organ made up of billions of cells called neurons. Neurons send and receive messages to and from all parts of your body. These messages are electrical impulses that create brain waves. The brain map is an important tool we use to evaluate your brainwaves and identify opportunities to improve communication between various regions of the brain. The brain map is able to capture a window of brain activity, analyze the data, and create a visual representation for each lobe of the brain and each specific brain wave (Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta).

The system we use utilizes a specialized mapping system that records specific brainwaves, converts them into electronic data, and generates a detailed report that is specific to each and every patient. This process allows you to give a detailed analysis of the results to your patient, and in a language that they can understand. By using a cap placed on the scalp, our software captures the electrical impulses in the brain. This method is known as an electroencephalogram (EEG). The results show brain wave patterns in different parts of the brain. The process takes about 30 minutes, and the data is then converted into a visual brain map report. We analyze the brain map report, identify problem areas, consult with the patient about the problem areas and then together put together an individualized plan to begin neurotherapy.

The Most Important Part of Your Cholesterol Test You May Be Missing by Kathi Bratberg RN, MS Holistic Nutrition

The cholesterol / lipid panel is a test that has become an integral part of the American health care system. Many of us have heard the diagnosis from our Primary Care docs - "your cholesterol level is too high"; however, what is considered "too high" is an arbitrary number at best and changed numerous times to reflect current trends. After that comes the standard advice- cut back on your fat intake, lose weight, exercise, and maybe even take the latest and greatest statin drug- because we all know that cholesterol is a bad substance that causes heart disease. Or does it?

Many have tried to follow this advice, but at what cost. The statin drugs are not without side effects- muscle pain, weakness and tingling, fatigue, memory loss, increased cancer risk, depression and sexual dysfunction. And don't even get me started on low fat diets. Low fat = high carb = weight gain= metabolic syndrome = type 2 diabetes. Well, that went well. Healthy fat IS NOT a problem with cholesterol levels and IT NEVER WAS. Trans fats are a different story.  

Exercise is important, but not many people really follow this advice, though I whole-heartedly indorse regular exercise.

What if I told you Cholesterol is a very important body substance, and there is a lot of new theory to back this up. "The Great Cholesterol Myth" - by Dr. Stephen Sinatra MD, cardiologist and Dr. Johnny Bowden PHD Nutrition, provides plenty of evidence.

So what do the numbers on the cholesterol/lipid panel actually reflect? Let's review. A typical lipid panel will show Cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL, LDL, and VLDL levels. 

Cholesterol is a waxy substance, an important part of ALL of our 50 trillion cell membranes. Most of it is made in our liver, a little is absorbed from the diet. Cholesterol is the basic building substance for all of our Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA, and Adrenal hormones. It is a major component of bile - responsible for fat digestion and the extraction of Vitamins A, D, E and K from our dietary fats. It is a super antioxidant and super protector for all of our cells. Current recommendations are to keep your number under 200;  but if your number is under 150 you are at increased risk for cancer. If your number is higher than 200 it could be a marker of infection or inflammation in the body. In some people there is a genetic component to this number.

Cholesterol travels to all parts of the body in the form of lipoproteins- namely HDL (high density lipoprotein) and LDL (low density lipoprotein).  

HDL is considered the good cholesterol. A HDL of 60 or higher is considered optimal for health. But some new evidence states that there are subgroups of HDL and what subgroup you are in is also important. This is not commonly tested. Also HDL is more controlled by genetics then LDL.  

LDL is considered the "bad cholesterol" (though why we think nature would put a bad substance in our body is beyond me). The lab normal for LDL is a result under 100. But again it is not that simple. There are also subgroups of LDL. This is the most important information for you if your LDL is elevated. There is a test called "Lipoprotein particle size or VAP ". Large fluffy, buoyant LDL-A is the preferred result. Small, hard, dense BB size LDL -B molecules are a different story. There is also some genetic predisposition for some with high LDL levels.  

TRIGLYCERIDES are another type of fat in the body. These are the storage form for excessive carbohydrates (note I did not say fats). If triglycerides are high, it is a tip off that you need to radically reduce the amount of simple sugars and alcohol in your diet. Eating low carb is also one of the ways to change those small BB size LDL particles to the large buoyant ones, along with exercise. Intermittent fasting is also helpful.

VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) is the carrier form of triglyceride. So if both VLDL and triglyceride are elevated, it's time to rethink your diet.

Chronic stress and lack of sleep, which is viewed by the body as stress, will also affect these numbers because of the cortisol connection.  

So to quote Dr. Sinatra, "Inflammation, NOT CHOLESTEROL, is at the "the heart" of heart disease. It's worth pointing out that the metabolic effects of sugar and all processed foods are highly inflammatory to your artery walls."

So relax and enjoy healthy fats!

The Most Accurate Non-invasive Blood Pressure Test by Michelle McCaslin, ARNP, NP-C

Do you know your CASP number? So many numbers we should know. But what is the CASP? CASP is an acronym that stands for Central Aortic Systolic Pressure. In the past the only way to get this pressure or "number" was to go under a procedure called at Cardiac Catherization. In this procedure they utilize the Femoral Artery accessed by your groin area and they thread a catheter up to the top of the heart where they can get the CASP.

Technology has advanced, and while many physicians are not aware of this, they can actually get this same pressure with a device made by Save1Heart called the CASPro.  It looks similar to a watchband that goes around your wrist, gathers a pulse wave from your blood vessels in your wrist, and combines this information with a reading from a traditional blood pressure arm cuff. This device has been studied in Singapore and was found to be 99.17% accurate in determining the CASP compared to a team performing a Cardiac Catherization.

At Alternatives we use this state of the art technology to help determine heart health and also to help in prevention of heart disease by suggestions based in biochemistry or nutrition. Because this procedure is non-invasive, the test can be repeated pretty quickly and with ease. In addition to providing a CASP value, this device provides additional information that helps diagnose what is going in the heart and blood vessels.

Other numbers to consider with assessing heart and blood vessel health are the CRP-HS and the LP-PLA2. Both of these numbers can be obtained with a blood lab. CRP-HS is a cardiac marker that gives us an over-view of total body inflammation, which is not specific. While the LP-PLA2 gives us more specific information related to inflammation in the blood vessels.

If you currently have cardiovascular disease or a family history of it, are starting to notice your blood pressure is creeping up, have Diabetes, or just want to be preventative - the CASP test and/or checking the CRP-HS and LP-PLA2 will be helpful. The information from these tests is important when making specific suggestions to help prevent or treat cardiovascular disease and disease processes that affect the heart and blood vessels.

The Importance of Laboratory Testing by Patricia Ryan, MD

We work with several different companies to provide a variety of ways to look at the body from the level of chemistry. Many of you know about hormone testing, but do you know we can do a test that shows how you are metabolizing your estrogen-whether you are converting it into a safe metabolite or a precancerous form? We also have genomics test which looks at your genetic ability to metabolize hormones or toxic hormone-like substances such as pesticides or herbicides. The good news about finding this out is that you will now know what your weaknesses are that you were born with and what you can do about them. There are always nutritional answers to these genetic predispositions.

Everyone wants to know their cholesterol level to determine their risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. There are however more specific tests for heart disease. We have a CASP device and some new lab tests including LaPLA2. Find out how these can help you change the direction of your health. Michelle and Kathi will cover these in more detail.

Michelle and I just returned from a conference on lipid biochemistry. Lipid biochemistry is the study of fats in the body. Every single cell membrane is made up of fatty acids. There needs to be a certain balance of these to provide adequate function of ALL the cells in our body. In addition, the nervous system is comprised of 80% fat! That means that memory, headaches, insomnia could all be a result of fatty acid imbalance. (of course there are other causes).  

       

One of the primary places where free radical damage occurs is at the level of the cell membrane.  If the fats get damaged, the cell communication suffers. That includes all of your hormone receptors! This is part of how pesticides and herbicides wreak so much havoc in the body. For example, Atrazine, the corn herbicide, is a fat-soluble toxin. It very easily gets through the cell membrane into the cells. There it disrupts insulin function, mitochondrial function, and can also attach to your DNA. Atrazine and all herbicides, pesticides, plastics, and BPA are also estrogen-like and disrupt estrogen, testosterone and thyroid function. What I learned, that was very interesting, is that if you have low cholesterol you are even at more risk to all toxins. Dr. Patricia Kane  (specialist in lipid biochemistry with 40 years experience) said, "Having low cholesterol is like having a screen door for toxins. The person cannot protect themselves now from any toxic substance because the cell membrane integrity is impaired."

We are now offering a test that will look at all of your biochemistry, including an entire fatty acid analysis. This will show if you have the balance of all of the essential fatty acids you need to be healthy. It will also show abnormal long chain fatty acids that should NOT be in the body.  In addition, your blood will be analyzed for specific nutrients deficiencies based on having your CBC and CMP results plugged into a medical software program that has 50,000 literature references. From this information, we can come up with a plan that is specific for your needs. Unfortunately, this lab is not covered by insurance. I have hope some day that our insurance companies will start paying for tests that help you regain your health!  

      

Speaking of brain function, Scott Carlson, LMHT, will be discussing brain mapping as a means to help diagnose ADHD, anxiety, brain injury, or depression. It is a very simple test that provides important information about the current fun tinning of the brain. Where an MRI looks at the anatomy, the brain map looks at the physiology. This is very different information and much more helpful in most cases. And finally, because we are going to get to see the sun shine, our aesthetician Emily will discuss sunscreens and allude to the importance of avoiding toxic ones!