Effect of taking a bath

According to a research conducted by the Department of Stress Science and Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, taking baths seem to offer physical and mental well being. Japan is known for the culture of taking baths and mostly famous for "onsen", hot springs.  According to the research, 60% of Japanese people take a bath 5 days a week, and 50% of the people do the same 7 days a week during the summer season. In the winter, 70% take a bath 5 days a week and 60% take every day. 80% of them do not take only shower; in other words, only 20% of people take shower only.  

So what makes them want to take a bath so often.  100% of people think that taking baths make their body warm, which is pretty imaginable, and 90% of people answered for its effects in "relaxation" and "recovering from fatigue".

After conducting a 2 week experiment with 26 elderly people for taking a bath in the "flowing water" for 30 minutes every day, the research group found significant effective results in "reducing pain" "increased mental health (against depression and anxiety)" and "increased feeling of overall well being."
from Effects of Bathing for Mental Status, Stress Relief and Relaxation,  by Hiroaki Kumano, Department of Stress Science and Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Tokyo Hospital　

Japanese women especially love to take a bath.  One of my indulgence during a travel to Japan is to go to "onsen" or  "spa centers" that offer various types of "ofuro" (bath tubs) including cypress, herb, jet, low frequency electric, cold water and open-air bath. Many places have saunas, steam rooms and resting rooms, and you can stay as long as you want.

Living in the U.S., you still can do the similar with a little bit of creativity. I enjoy my bath with nicely scented bath foam, candles, soothing music and a book.  It is really relaxing especially after a long day. 

Protecting your skin

Protecting your skin from harsh summer sun beams is essential for your healthy skin.  Not only maintaining youthful skin appearance but also preventing your skin from skin cancer is very important. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays in as little as 15 minutes. There are different types of skin cancers including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which are highly curable. But melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous.

Although the relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer are publicized very often and widely, it seems that not many people are actively engaging in preventions.  We still see many sun bathers with minimum protection on the beach and by the swimming pool.  Just walking on a street can be very harmful for your skin, but we can not imagine how much accumulative effects can cause serious damage to your health. Some countries like Australia and Japan, people are more cautious about being exposed to the ｓun. Wearing a hat, sunglasses, long sleeves with UV protection seem to be a norm.  Japanese women take aggressive form of protection.  In addition to those above mentioned measurement, they wear gloves for their hands and have a umbrella with UV protection.  Their main purpose of protecting skin is to maintain beautiful and youthful looking appearance; however, they are very much aware that the exposure to the sun causes serious consequence.

According to American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and more than 2 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are found in the U.S. each year. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 68,130 cases of skin cancer in 2010.

While enjoy the outdoor throughout the year, protect your skin for your youthful look and healthy body.

Prevention: by American Cancer Society plus our ideas

• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Seek shade: Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are strongest. Practice the shadow rule and teach it to children. If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
• Slip on a shirt: Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun. Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to a light.
• Slop on sunscreen: Use sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen (about a palmful) and reapply after swimming, toweling dry, or perspiring. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days.
• Slap on a hat: Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck. If you choose a baseball cap, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.
• Wrap on sunglasses: Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.
• Follow these practices to protect your skin even on cloudy or overcast days. UV rays travel through clouds.
• Avoid other sources of UV light. Tanning beds and sun lamps are dangerous because they can damage your skin

Plus our idea......Ladies use an umbrella or parasol!  It looks silly but works.