History of the DJ 101

So let’s chat about the most popular person in the party. No not the champagne girl, not one of the groupies and no, not the guy who buys all the drinks for every girl at the bar.

I’m talking about the DJ.

This is a little history lesson, a timeline that shows where it came from to where it is today.

• In the 1880s Emile Berline invented the gramophone, yes, the first record player.

• In the 1920s radio became the damn thing, but no hip hop and reggae just yet, jazz and swing music were the hot plates of the day. Back in those days, the DJ was both the presenter and the salesman.

• In the 40s and 50s two guys by the name of Al Bensen and Eddie O’Jay created something called RnB.

• In the 50s and 60s the youths took over and the idea of top 40 music explodes. So at this time, DJs began to replace bands at ball rooms and dances. The idea of discothèques started in wartime France. DJs could now earn a living spinning at jazz and twist clubs. Oh the swinging 60’s, good times in London and New York. The music scene now began to revolve around the DJs. At this point we get the idea of sound systems from a guy called Alex Rosner at the world trade show, with the introduction of the first mixer called the ‘Rosie’. 

In Jamaica sound systems like “King Tubby” and “Sir Coxsone” were spinning Ska and Rocksteady, and reggae emerges and the dubplate was used. Jamaica distinguishes the sound of the DJs with the use of the echo and the rewind or the “pull up!!”

• In the 70s disco comes alive in NY. Then comes beat-matching, the pioneer was a guy by the name of Francis Grasso.

• In the 80s came Warehouse, also known as “house music” out of New York, from the legendary Frankie Knuckles from Chicago and Larry Levan. At this time the consensus was that “disco sucks ass”. We then travel to Detroit to meet Derrick May, Kevin Sanderson and Juan Atkins for techno. Then with the emergence of the electronic age, the drum machine became the proverbial sliced bread.

And now for the hip hop heads….

• From the ghettos of the Bronx in New York, the DJs created this music, hip hop, that has since taken the world over by storm, and driven certain cultures society to date. DJ Kool Herc, who introduced breaks, funky and percussions, went on to influence Grandmaster Flash who developed manual sampling and looping. 

• Then came Grand Wizard Theodore who invented the “scratch”. A far cry from what is today, it was much less advanced, just push and pull the record once or twice, but back then, that ish sounded like oil was discovered. 

• To date, hip hop is the biggest selling music in the world, thanks to the DJs of course.

So the next time you at the party, why not give the DJ a pound (for the non-Caribbean crew, this would be a friendly greeting that involves the connecting of closed fists, please do not give loose change), out of respect for those that came before him or her.

It’s Elroy, educating the masses.

Random music quote of the day: 3oh!

“… Don’t trust a ho…”

- Don’t trust me, 3oh!

Don’t shoot the messenger.

Have a mind-blowing Monday y’all!

Supernova

Q/A: Is toner important?

“Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize… is it important that I use toner on my skin?”

There is some debate as to whether the toning step is a necessary part of maintaining the skin’s health. Some people see this as an unnecessary step in a skin-care regime.

The purpose of a toner is to balance the skin’s pH after cleansing.  So purely from this stand-point, yes it is important to add a toner to your skin-care regime.

This is why:

The skin produces both oils (sebum) and sweat, which create a barrier on the skin’s surface. This layer forms a protective barrier against certain forms of bacteria and microorganisms and it may be a factor in the natural skin shedding and renewal process.

The degree to which a substance is acidic or alkaline is measured on a pH scale that goes from 1 (most acidic)  to 14 (most alkaline).

A substance is considered an acid if it has a pH value lower than 7, like lemon which has a pH value of just above 2
A substance is considered alkaline if it has a pH of higher than 7, like soap which has a pH value of 10. Most substances that feel sudsy or are difficult to wash off your fingers, because you wash and wash and wash and wash and your skin still feels sudsy even though it looks clean, are considered to be alkaline.

Pure water is neither acidic nor alkaline and has a pH value of 7 

So with this in mind, the skin’s pH varies between 4.5 and 6.2, so washing your face with even the purest water will change the pH balance of your skin as pure water (at pH 7) is considered to be more alkaline than the skin (average pH 5.5).

Imagine then washing your face with soap (pH 10)… the barrier of your skin is totally stripped, making it defenseless against those bacteria and migro-organisms that are ready and waiting to have a feast. It is for this reason it is not recommended that you wash your skin with very harsh cleansers in an effort to rid your skin of oil, as it will just make matters worse.

A cleanser needs to be more alkaline than the skin so that it can remove the dirt, but not so alkaline that it removes this protective barrier.This is why it is recommended that you use pH balanced skin cleansers rather than soap to cleanse your skin. *ooooohhhhhh*. Yes, it is more than just marketing, it’s actually scientific.

Toners then, are formulated bring the pH of your skin down after cleansing, closer to the skin’s natural pH (they are acidic in nature to balance the alkaline nature of most cleansers). This assists the skin in rebalancing itself after you cleanse, which makes your skin more prepared to deal with absorbing the moisture/ oils it needs from your moisturizer.

So from that point of view, yes toners are necessary. 

Toodles.

Supernova

It’s not me, it’s you

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Society would like us to believe that we are the problem. As a result we try our best to fit in, to cater to,  and to be something that we are essentially not. We play nicely with others, hold back that thought and be polite just so that everyone else can be happy. What’s really hood with that. What about me dammit? How about I be happy for a change.  Sometimes all the patience and smiles in the world is not enough and only a good ole’ swing of the cutlass will do the trick. *SLISH!*

We grow out of our clothing, habits, shoes, social events and dare I say we grow out of people. Interests change. WE change, and not everyone can keep up  or at the very least accept the sheer pace that comes along with greatness. 

As much as we may not like to say it aloud, all people aren’t created equal and as such not everyone was meant to be in our lives. 

There are times when certain relationships just don’t work anymore. Try as we may, there seems to be a disconnect somewhere and we wonder if we are missing something, some really big part of the puzzle. We make sure to carefully edit the things we say or don’t say, we meditate on the things we do and don’t do in their presence and even still we never seem to get it right. We don’t even recognise ourself in the relationship anymore and just being around the person is a chore because we aren’t allowed to be ourselves. We aren’t free to talk about our successes for fear of trampelling on their dream for themselves, because apparently only one dream in this life can be fulfilled and it ain’t ours!

We can’t seek inspiration from these individuals, because they just are incapable of dreaming the kaleidoscopic dream that we can. We want more for ourselves and they are content in reliving the glory days of the past rather than embracing the splendor of the present and the untapped potential of the future. Still, we kill ourselves bending backward to make it work because after all this relationship is part of who we are, it’s what we’ve known most of our life.

Or is it?

Relationships change. Just as there are relationships that take on a greater significance – like the long lost high-school friend you came to partner with to form a highly successful company, there are some that just slowly fizzle and become a dud. *pphhhssssshhhhh*

Just like our yards, apartments and ourselves, at times we need to clean our social/ personal circle. Keep the positive and release the negative vibes. There is something to be said for decluttering our personal lives. We ought to click the edit button on the operating system of our lives and examine the key players. Who are they? The ones who support us to become the person that we would like to be, let us cherish them for in this age of ‘instant friendship’, *social networking site names withheld*, this is not easy to come by.  Then, consider giving the ones who don’t that pink slip.

The fact that a relationship doesn’t work need not turn into a blame game. It can be as simple as ‘its not working’.

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It’s not me, it’s you.

Photo: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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It's that time of year

Halloween. The time when we get to reveal our inner $2 hooker and disturbed serial killer. Interesting times. 

I never got this ‘celebration’ so I don’t have any supercool ideas of where to go, what to do, where to get the best costume. Therefore I’ll keep it brief and get it moving.

For us adults, we’ve read it numerous times that we ought to take even more precaution than we would any other club night that is filled with drunken stupour:

~ Arrive Alive, Don’t Drink & Drive
~ Keep in groups
~ Eat well before you drink etc.

However, for all my parents with young kids who participate in this activity, there are some pointers I feel compelled to share. For example:

On that note, why do some people come out looking like Lada Gaga everyday? It’s not even Halloween yet biatch.

Anyways, I digress, back to the kids

1. Children should be accompanied by an adult
2. Children should wear clothing that can easily be seen at night. Retro-reflective materials are best
3. Children should trick or treat in one well-known area and not wander into unknown neighbourhoods 
4. All candy should be inspected by an adult to make sure that no one has tampered with it. If it looks suspicious, the police should be contacted
5. Children should avoid stray animals (humans included)
6. Children should wear masks that do not interfere with vision. Better yet they can avoid masks my wearing makeup
7. Children should watch for moving vehicles when crossing streets
8. Costumes should be short enough that the child will not trip
9. Trick or treaters should dress appropriately for the weather and carry a flashlight
10. For extra safety, organize a Halloween party for your children in your neighbourhood.

An extra special shout out to all parents with young girl children…..HEEEEEEYYYYYY!!! *snap*

I know they may really want this particular costume since everyone else in their class thinks it’s ‘cool’… after all we are bombared with hyper-sexualized media hourly, so as a result there is the unnecessary pressure to be a ‘cool’ parent these days BUT 

*A 9 year old girl dressed as a dominatrix is not a good look, as the only people who really think this is a good idea are pedophiles and pervs.*

Read. Repeat. Recycle.

If during that process your mind flashes back to the costume that’s in your child’s closet, never fear there is plenty of time to get a new one. As Halloween is just a couple days away, there are plenty of sales to take advantage of. How smart are you!

Children depend on us for direction and safety so please let us take our responsibility safety. 

Consider this your friendly PSA

Have a safe Halloween!

Toodles,

Supernova

10 Top Skin-Care Faux Pas

Male or female, we can all do a little more to help our side on the skin-care front. Here are some of the top foolish skin-care mistakes that we all make, heed where applicable.

1. Not having a skin-care regime
“Cleanse, tone, moisturize.” Let that be your mantra. It’s one of the most basic ways to help maintain your skin, keep it healthy and get it glowing. If you wear makeup, it is critical that you remove your makeup at night before bed as not doing so can lead to clogged pores, which can lead to blackheads among other things.

2. Not knowing your skin type
Because if you use the wrong type of skin-care products on your skin you can exacerbate skin condition(s) you may have. Get products that are suited for your skin type. A qualified esthetician can help you determine your skin type through a skin care consultation, which is normally complimentary.

3. Not moisturizing
As we age our skin loses moisture, gets drier and needs to be hydrated from both the inside and the outside. Replenishing the moisture that our skin craves, through the use of a moisturizer, will help skin maintain it’s vibrancy and elasticity.

4. Not drinking enough water
Our bodies and our skin need water to perform the processes required to detoxify itself. Coffee is a diuretic, meaning it causes increased passing of urine. It is recommended that you drink two (2) glasses of water for every one cup of coffee ingested. Additionally, cut down on your daily intake of soda and fruit juices (save the calories for dessert!) and replace with water.

5. Not re-applying sunscreen
Sunscreen, when applied, does not last forever, especially if you sweat or get wet. Do reapply. The sun’s ultraviolet rays only speed up the aging process by damaging skin cells. Protect your skin. For more the damaging effects of the sun see article here)

6. Yo-Yo dieting
This confuses your skin. “Am I only getting only protein today, or am I only getting only cayenne pepper?”. The skin needs nutrients: vitamins, minerals and various antioxidants to maintain itself and repair against environmental damage. Protein diets do not offer all the nutrients the body needs so do get off the fad dieting and start a healthy balanced lifestyle, one that encourages you to start moving and to stuff your face with green and leafy veges.

7. Drinking excessively
Apart from obvious health and cognitive issues, high alcohol consumption can severely dehydrate the skin. Moderation is key.

8. Smoking
Really a one-way first-class ticket to accelerated aging of the skin. Also your breath smells and your teeth get yellow. It also takes a huge toll on the health of your lungs. Generally not considered ‘sexy-aging’ in 2009.

9.  Popping zits and picking pimples
This is a big ‘NO NO’. Popping zits or picking pimples with finger nails on an uncleansed face increases the risk of a bacterial infection on site.  It also increases the risk of hyper-pigmentation on skins at are prone to discoloration or darkening, especially on darker skin tones. Instead, reach for of for a cleanser and spot treatment that specifically targets acne. Product ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and sulphur specifically target acne. Do avoid using harsh alcohols directly on the skin. 

Do consider monthly professional facials to keep problem skin in check.

**If you cannot resist the urge to pop, do wash both hands AND face, and wrap each index finger in a sheet of tissue paper before you make your best go at it. Do not force the issue if the pimple is stubborn, it will come out eventually, maybe tomorrow. Over-squeezing will only break the outer layer of your skin causing damage, which can lead to hyper-pigmentation (darkening) and/ or scarring.**

10. Not getting enough sleep
The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School states that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions. Most of us do not get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep every night. With respect to the skin, sleep deprivation can result in dull skin tone, under eye puffiness, dark circles and bagginess. 

11. Stressing unnecessarily
I know I said ’10′, but this is just too important to leave out. Elevated stress levels can have an adverse effect on the condition of our skin and can potentially lead to break outs. Relax. If you can’t fix it today, leave it for tomorrow.

A little TLC goes a long way. 

Let us take better care of ourselves.

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Q/A: Have I been one nighted?

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“What does it really take for this chick to realize that it was a one-night stand?” - Anonymous Male

Really? It’s just embarrassing to have to defend this question sometimes. 

Ladies, do we know when it’s really not about love but rather just about two grown people getting it in?

Just a few pointers:

You know that you’ve been one-nighted when:

~ He doesn’t call you back within two days. Even though you’ve left over 20 voice mail messages.

~ He doesn’t respond to all your texts, emails and IMs.

~ He doesn’t seem interested in returning the underwear that you ‘accidentally’ forgot at his place

~ You no longer see him on your BlackBerry Messenger (bbm). You’ve re-added him and he’s still pending a week later.

~ He changed his number

~ You met him yesterday

No man is that busy. No he didn’t move, misplace your number, die in an accident, or have to visit his ailing family in Thailand. If he has not made an attempt to contact you within 48 hours, just cut your losses, start the proverbial morning walk of shame to find your pride, and keep it moving. Noone really has to know that you were just duped.

Please, for all that is grown ‘n sexy in this world, Do not:

~ Key his car or bust his windows (reference Jazmine Sullivan, loved that song by the way)

~ Blast him through a status update on facebook/ twitter/ myspace/ linkedin/ msn/ gtalk and beyond, talking about how men are dogs and what not. The only person who really looks bad here is you.

~ Take your friend’s phone and call him

**I must add a little disclaimer here that this can be applied to any type of intimate relationship so, male or female, if you are reading this and have to think twice about some of the pointers, do take heed. It’s just that I get it from men more often.**

Feel free to add any more pointers that I’ve missed, for the benefit of anyone who’s reading this post.

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Just one step away from being labeled “Hater”

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Sometimes there are people around us that… well lets just say we aren’t too sure if they are on our side or theirs.

I mean it’s hard to tell. They aren’t mean to us. It’s not like they backstab or anything, and they aren’t checking our significant other. They are always around us, always in our corner always there when we screw up sure, but they just can’t seem to say the thing that we need them to say. It’s not that you are looking for a sugar rush, or to be told just how badly we tanked because we were there when it happened, every millisecond of the way. A real and forward looking perspective never hurt nobody. Sometimes we are just looking for that… I don’t know that, ‘way forward’ maybe? Maybe it’s just me. 

So because we haven’t found any valid reason to pitch them off our 9 sq. ft. of personal planet space yet, we allow them to stay with the expectation that one day, sometime soon, they will say something at some inopportune moment that will entirely make us question the real purpose of the relationship yet again. But we hold on to be belief that they will turn around and say that very thing that we know that they are capable of saying, because we believe in them. I’ve had a couple of relationships like that in my lifetime, but that’s not what I really meant to talk about me and my friends today so I’ll come back to that.

This, however, is a shout out post to the blatant naysayers, because sometimes there is no greater motivation than to prove someone, who you know deep down means well, wrong. Understand, this is not a shout out to the “haters”, as they have issues that lie within themselves that they choose to project on us and I’m not qualified to speak of issues of this nature as my only response involves the word ‘ignore’. So yes, this is for the people in our lives who definitely know that we are on the path to destruction, so much so that they formulate an intervention to save us from ourselves. 

I once had a teacher in high-school who absolutely, positively refused to give me even a barely passing grade in Form 3 English, because she was adamant that I did not produce the work that I had submitted for the year. For everyone who’s confused by this, Form 3 is a grade in Caribbean high schools that is key for students because this is the grade from which, if you made it this far, the education system threatens that the La-La land that you are currently floating around in now ends and the blue-print for the rest of your life has now begun. It is the transition where you choose the direction you would like to pursue in life by choosing your ‘subjects’ and of course you weren’t permitted to choose anything you failed that term.

My parents were called in, the principal got involved and it was all very messy because, as she put it, what I have been doing was an ‘atrocity’ and she made it a point to get to the bottom of why I would be so disturbed to continually do something like submit work that wasn’t mine, after all it is considered an offense. Long story short, English (language) was/is a compulsory subject for everyone to take in high-school so after all the flapping and clucking, a failing grade or not, there I was, somewhere in the middle-row seat of the Form 4 Sciences English class. Although I knew that I produced all those English essays, even after a distinction in CXC English, for the rest of my life since then I always doubted my ability to write and leaned on my gift in Math and Science related subjects. Its not that I felt defeated, but that conviction just wasn’t there and there was always some lingering doubt that would rear it’s ugly head from time to time whenever I was required to produce anything, including myself, that was open to public scrutiny.

Fast forward some 17 years (?) I am sitting at home when I receive a call that I have been awarded the Jose Pinguelo General Education Award at the school that I had just graduated from a little over a month ago. I am totally confused now, because the address states “The School of Liberal Arts & Sciences” I automatically think that they have gotten the wrong address if only because I had attended “The Business School”. After clear and present bewilderment, I look at the letter again and it clearly states my name. Now I’m frantically shuffling through my mental archives, when I remember that time the professor of the course “Sociology of the Family”, one of three Liberal Arts courses I sat in the program, pulled me aside one time after class and asked my permission to submit a couple of the pieces that I done for the course; in particular an assessment of the media content of one of my favorite shows, “Sex and the City”, and an interview project that I was required to do on the effects on Divorce on the lives of 4 different individuals. Surely, this couldn’t be it though because, of course, “I don’t write THAT well…” I tell myself. 

* 

Funny how we have a tendency to have the negative script on repeat in our subconscious and the positive script that we are told anew everyday by strangers, with nothing to gain, do not register. Looking back I can’t quite recount how many times I’ve been told by others, including my Aunt who is an extraordinarily gifted journalist, that I write well; I’ve always accepted that she says it but I never quite believed it. 

This award, and the fact that I’m now writing articles for a living, is for you high-school teacher. It goes out to all those people we have had in our lives that are just that ONE step away from being labelled a “hater” because we are convinced, for whatever reason, that deep down inside they do really care.

“Yes I can”

Yes, I’ve considered removing that phrase and replacing it with some term as equally enthralling so that I don’t come across sounding terribly clichéd, but you know what, this is an article from the heart and that’s what the heart wants to say, so it stays. 

Be blessed.

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Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap

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We’ve all been there.

 An advertisement highlighting the damaging effects of the sun comes on and we think back to the time we wanted  a tan so badly we slathered our limbs with baby oil and beached ourselves on the sand.

 We’ve since, hopefully, learnt that this is not a good idea, and so we retired the baby oil and moved to the tanning  oil, the SPF 2 one.

Someone mentioned that this upgrade wasn’t a really much of one so we further upgraded to a SPF 15, the only problem is that we never remember to apply it the how-many-hours-before sun exposure and the how-many-hours-after being exposed to the sun.

We usually find some crafty reason we didn’t use sunscreen this morning with/in our moisturizer but the truth is that we really don’t think it’s that important because we protect ourselves otherwise, besides it’s not like we are beaching ourselves on the sand for the whole day. 

I was researching some info for SunKissed beauty the other day and came across this interesting list of sun exposure myths on sunsmart.org.nz .It’s a website from New Zealand (trust me to find it) so I’ve adapted it a bit. They have identified the top sun exposure myths as follows:

It’s not possible to get sunburnt on cloudy days.

False. You can get sunburnt on cloudy days as some ultraviolet radiation (UVR) penetrates cloud cover. Under partly cloudy skies UVR levels can be high, and even increase, due to reflection from clouds.

The wind burnt me, not the sun.

False. It is UVR from the sun that causes skin to burn. Wind lowers the temperature of the air making it easy to forget that the UVR from the sun is still strong.

I tan easily so my skin is less likely to be damaged.

False. Any exposure to UVR has the potential to cause skin damage. Burning and peeling are signs some damage has already occurred – even if it turns into a tan. The tan you develop won’t protect you from the harmful effects of the sun.

I can’t get sunburnt through glass.

False. Glass reduces but does not block transmission of all UVR. It typically transmits about 10 percent of the UVR. People who spend long periods in a car, or next to a window receiving direct sunlight should use sun protection.

I have had sunburn but now I protect my skin, so I am safe from developing skin cancer.

False. You can’t undo any damage that may have already occurred to your skin but you should prevent future sunburn to minimise any further risk.

Sunscreen blocks out the sun.

False. Sunscreen should not be used as a means of staying out in the sun longer. When exposure to the summer sun is unavoidable, sunscreen is the last line of defence to reduce the risk of sun damage to your skin. No sunscreen will completely shield you from the effects of UVR. Many people apply sunscreen at less than the recommended thickness, so reducing its effectiveness.

People with tans or dark skin don’t sunburn.

False. If your skin turns brown it is a sign of sun damage – even if there is no redness or peeling. If you tan easily or have dark skin you are still at risk of skin cancer and should use sun protection.

‘Burn time’ is 20 minutes therefore I am safe in the sun within this timeframe.

False. A time indication for how long it will take your skin to burn is not accurate, so really there is no such thing as ‘burn time’. People have different skin types and therefore some burn quicker than others. 

Suntans are healthy.

False. There is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan. It does not improve your body’s ability to protect yourself from the sun. Some exposure to the sun for vitamin D is healthy, but most people get enough vitamin D through normal daily activity – even with sun protection.

I’m sure this was not a mean attempt to freak people out but it might as well have been.

They do suggest that you slip, slop, slap and wrap…. Interesting, I like i.e. 

SLIP on a shirt
SLOP on some sunscreen
SLAP on a hat and
WRAP on a pair of sunglasses.

Reminds me of that ‘SlapChop’ commercial on TV where the guy says “Making America thinner, one SLAP at a time!” LOL. If only.

Source: SunSmart

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Sunkissed beauty

Fall is here and the last of the brilliant summer days have long gone. For my fellow temperate climate earthlings, this is an unfortunate reality. For everyone basking in tropical paradise on permanent vacay… live it up!

The body does need sufficient amounts of UVRs in order to generate Vitamin D. A study by the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine shows that vitamin D has been found to help boost the immune system in its attempt to heal wounds (here), good stuff! Low levels of Vitamin D/ light have also been found to be associated with depression (here), not-so-good stuff. So this is not meant to address moderate sun exposure but rather sun-exposure as a sport.

What are ultraviolet rays?

The sun gives energy in the form of light waves of different lengths and intensity. The sunlight we see is called visible light. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is located just above visible light. UVR is divided into different energy levels from longest to shortest wavelengths: UVA, UVB and UVC. (Olay)

UVA rays can be considered as ‘Aging rays’ (Think A=Aging). They have the least energy but penetrate the most deeply into the skin. It has been reported to be the least associated with skin cancer, but if delivered in high dosages can cause skin cancer, allergic and non-allergic sun-induced eruptions, darkening and pigmentation of the skin (a skin condition of great concern for darker skins, also seen as ‘freckles’ on fair to medium complexions), and acceleration of the aging process. After chronic, long-term exposure, the skin may appear dry, scaly, spotted, wrinkled and leathery.

UVB rays can be considered to be the “Burning rays” (again think B= Burn). They are the rays most responsible for imparting what is referred to as a ‘tan’, the bronzing effect. In excess, these rays can cause sunburn and can also lead to the development of certain skin cancers and are the most potent rays to reach the earth.

Which brings us to UVC rays. These rays are of the shortest wavelength, carry the most energy and are the most damaging. Fortunately they are blocked out by the ozone layer, as there is no defence against these rays by the skin. The degradation of the ozone can of course be an issue in the future. Makes you think.

The skin and its response to ultraviolet rays

One of the fundamental properties of skin is its ability to respond to UVRs. UVRs emitted from tanning beds can be just as damaging as those emitted from the sun, or even more so as you are less likely to be concerned about the effects of the UVR when you are paying to get it. Who doesn’t want to get their money’s worth? How about that complementary extra 10 minutes at the tanning salon?…

Redness, also known as erythema is the skin’s first visible signal that the skin is in jeopardy. The first *DING DING DING* alarm. It signals to the individual that you may want to head inside now and shows that the immune system is active and that the healing process has begun. Redness is usually more visible in skin types I to III and less obvious in skin types IV to VI. In the darker skin types, however the individual may experience a warming sensation on the skin.

Tanning is the second pigmentary response to UVR rays and is really a signal from the skin saying:

 “Okay then… you wanna play it like that and ignore me, fine. I’ll have to bring out the battalion.” The alarm has been sounded; all defences are up. Skin is now in overdrive.

During tanning, the skin facilitates the development of darker skin on regions of the body exposed to UVR rays. The lighter the complexion, the more the skin has to compensate for it than it does for darker complexions, all UVRs being equal. This is because darker complexions can have up to as much protection as a sunscreen of a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15. Sunburns are a result of the skin being stretched beyond its capacity to repair itself.

The term ‘healthy tan’ is an oxymoron; a combination of two normally contradicting terms, which in this case is normally said in error.

Didn’t think getting bronzed ‘n sexy was so complicated huh?

Tropical paradises are lovely. There is something about the yummy-ness of feeling we get when the sun hits the body, that ‘happy’ feeling… sigh.

Moderation the key. So let us act like we know.

Sources: Olay,  SunSmart, Vitamin D, Notes.

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