DON'T LET SUNBURN RUIN YOUR HOLIDAY

When the sun comes out, it's only natural to want to strip off but exposing your skin to its harmful rays can have very painful consequences.
Sunburn has become a part of the typical British summer because we are careless about protecting our skin from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays and applying sunscreen.
A recent study by Cancer Research UK found that almost half (43 per cent) of British holidaymakers think they will probably get sunburnt while abroad.
The sun's UVB rays are the most harmful as they cause the skin to turn red and swollen before blistering and peeling, and, in the long term, damage the DNA.
Fearing it will stop us from developing a tan, many Brits opt for little or no sun protection factor (SPF) and end up sporting the dreaded lobster look. But this red and blotchy appearance is not just unsightly it can also be extremely painful and have lasting effects on your health, the most serious consequence being skin cancer or malignant melanoma.
Staying out of the sun during the hottest time of day, between 11am and 3pm, is the obvious way to prevent sunburn.
Slapping on sun-cream with a high protection factor (the higher the SPF rating, the greater the protection, for example, SPF30 blocks 96.7 per cent of UVB radiation), covering up, wearing a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes (which can also be sunburnt) are other ways. But here are more unusual ways of preventing your holiday from being spoilt by sunburn:

TAKE ASPRIN:
This does not prevent sunburn but does minimise the damage. So if you think you have overdone it, take an asprin or ibuprofen as these drugs reduce redness and swelling by blocking the formation of swelling causing chemicals.

WEAR A SKIN PATCH:
You can get reaction patches that changes colour when the wearer is about to get sunburn. These have built-in solar UV indicators which show a colour change when sun-worshippers are most at risk of burning. When it turns brown, the patch tells the wearer when to apply more sunscreen and when it turns orange you have exceeded the acceptable exposure to sunlight for the day.

EAT PIZZAS:
A 2008 study found that people who ate pizza topped with lashings of tomato paste were less likely to burn in the sun. Volunteers who ate tomato paste over a 12-week period before being exposed to UV light were 33 per cent more protected against sunlight. They found that eating a tomato-rich diet boosted the skin's procollagen and was equivalent to using sun-screen with a SPF 1.3.
And, if you suffer from burns caused by the sun, then besides applying after-sun there are a number of other options.

VINEGAR:
It is proven to take the sting out of sunburn, if you can stand the smell. Some experts in natural remedies suggest mixing olive oil with vinegar and applying it before a bath.

FRESH CREAM OR NATURAL YOGHURT:
Applying fresh cream or natural yoghurt to the affected area is soothing.

ONIONS OR CABBAGE LEAVES:
For a sunburnt forehead, apply onions or soak cabbage leaves in water as they have a cooling affect in the same way as applying a wet compress.

ALOE VERA:
Apply pure aloe vera gel and it will immediately soothe. Some swear by aloe vera supplements, claiming they speed up the healing process. Aloe vera is also said to act as a great sunscreen as it protects the skin from harmful rays (but applying sun cream with a high protection factor is the best way).

EAT YELLOW FRUITS:
Yellow fruits such as melons, mangos and apricots contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant which may successfully help the body to fight against sunburn. It's most effective when the sufferer eats at least five servings a day over a 10-week period.

VITAMIN E
Experts claim taking Vitamin E supplements is one of the best sunburn treatments or you can apply it in oil form all over your face before bed to help reduce sunburn.

COLD SHOWER
This helps you feel more comfortable because the cool water constricts the blood vessels.
Some claim having a hot shower works but experts say your skin is hot because you've got increased blood supply to the surface of the skin, and a hot shower or bath won't change this.

New Miracle Drink That Prevents Wrinkles.

THE world's first wrinkle-busting drink goes on sale today - and it's already notched up advance orders of more than 35,000.

Makers of the Glamtox Sticks - collagen-packed powder sachets - claim it reduces lines by 30 per cent over a six week period.

Sienna Miller, Victoria Beckham and Kate Bosworth are said to be fans of the sticks, which are supposed to be taken twice a day mixed with 200ml of water.

The product has been hailed as the first to attack the signs of ageing internally, avoiding the need for painful injections or operations.

It will go on sale at John Lewis, Space:NK, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Harrods this morning - at £49.99 for 14 sticks. (Amazon are selling them slightly cheaper)

Yesterday, Maria Hatzistefanis, founder of makers Rodial, said: "After a year's worth of research and development, we believe we have devised the most advanced and simplistic way of combating the signs of ageing from the inside out.

"We want to teach women that we can do more to tackle the devastating signs of ageing than just apply lotions, creams and chemicals to surface of the skin.

"By boosting the levels of natural collagen absorbed by your body internally, the dramatic anti-ageing effects are visible almost immediately."

The product is said to work by boosting the body's collagen, which reduces with ageing, leading to wrinkles and lines.

Packed with natural collagen-boosting extracts and peptides, Glamtox sticks are said to treat the skin to a collagen injection from within.

Until now, collagen has mainly been used as an exterior treatment in the form of expensive creams and invasive injections.

This is the first time a product which works through the digestive system has hit the market.

Glamtox Sticks contain two "vital ingredients". The first is pomegranate extracts, which increases the production of collagen and elastin to promote regeneration of skin cells.

The second is Peptan, which improve skin smoothness and prevents the formation of deep wrinkles. It is also said to improve skin suppleness and improve moisture levels.

The sticks have been in development for more than a year with independent clinical trials.

For more information on Glamtox Sticks click here