Cherish Your Children's Eyes this Summer

"Wearing Sunglasses is COOL for KIDS this Summer!", says Jenifer Kuykendall, Mrs. Rockport-Fulton International. She tells everyone she meets to "Cherish their Skin" AND now, their eyes, too!

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sunglasses may save their skin and eyes later in life by blocking the sun's powerful ultraviolet rays (UVR).

Children under age 10 are at a high risk for skin and eye damage from UVR. The skin on their eyelids and around their eyes is more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin. "And until about age 10, the lens of a child's eye is clear, allowing greater solar penetration and thus greater UVR-induced ocular changes," explains Adelaide A. Hebert, MD, professor and vice chair of Dermatology, University of Texas, Houston. "After that, the lens starts to become more opaque, providing better protection."UVR exposure causes 90 percent of all skin cancers. In addition, retinal exposure to UVR is associated with cataracts and macular degeneration, both causes of vision impairment. UVR damage builds over time, so the sooner you start protecting your children's eyes from the sun, the lower their risk will be of ever developing future eye problems.

Fortunately, good sunglasses protect both the skin around the eye and the eye itself. While children under 6 months old should never be exposed to the sun, once they reach 6 months, they should wear sunglasses outside. If they require prescription glasses, they should also wear prescription sunglasses.Keep these rules in mind when buying sunglasses for children:

• Find glasses that block 99-100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Buy ones that indicate the percentage of UVR protection they provide. The more skin covered, the better, so look for large, wraparound styles.


• Use playground-proof lenses. Kids run, trip, fall, and bounce off objects at alarming speed. Their sunglasses should match this active lifestyle. Find impact-resistant, scratch-proof lenses that don't pop out of the frames. Avoid glass lenses, unless recommended by a doctor; plastic is safer. Frames should be bendable but unbreakable. Make sure the glasses fit snugly, close to the face.
  
• Let them choose. You're not the one who has to wear the glasses or hear other kids' comments on them. Children – especially older kids and teens – are likelier to actually wear them if they select them themselves.
  
• Eyeball the glasses. Check to see that lenses are not scratched or warped and have no other flaws that distort vision. Very young children may not know to complain if the glasses are flawed, so it's up to you to check before buying.
  
• Double Up. Sunglasses block only rays that come directly through the lenses. The skin around the eyes remains vulnerable to rays entering though the sides or from the top, or reflected upwards off snow, sand, water, etc. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is a good backup, blocking out many rays from above and even from the sides, while also shielding the face and neck.
  
  
  "We need to teach children early the importance of wearing sunglasses – just as we teach them to brush their teeth and wear a seat belt, so that they develop good habits that last for life," concludes Dr. Hebert.
• Source: Skin Cancer Foundation 2010

FDA Panel Advises No Tanning Beds for Minors

Yesterday was a GIANT LEAP forward toward a ban on the sale of UV tanning to minors! The collective testimonies of some very dedicated physicians, researchers, organizations and individuals made it very difficult for the FDA committee to recommend anything other than a ban for minors.

Melanoma Survivor and Cherish Your Skin Organization Founder, Jenifer Kuykendall, "What an amazing experience to be a part of this influential group addressing the FDA panel. Let's hope the FDA does the right thing and protects our children."

Stay Tuned for the final ruling to come soon!

According to ABC News this morning:

FDA Panel Advises No Tanning Beds for Minors
FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Ban on Tanning Beds for Children Under 18

Minors could be barred from indoor tanning and a registry could be required to monitor the use of tanning beds by salons if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration heeds advice from a panel it convened to review the classification of tanning beds.

Ultraviolet, or UV, lamps for tanning currently are considered class I medical devices by the FDA, which means they are subject to relatively few regulations.
The FDA could boost tanning beds either to a class II or class III medical device -- a change that would mean stricter regulation. Among the new rules could be a prohibition of devices containing mirrors that amplify the power of UV exposure. A few members of the FDA panel dissented on the under-18 ban. They agreed with the sentiment of a ban, but thought it would be unrealistic to implement a ban and would be better to require strong warnings and parental notification.
More than 30 million people tan indoors every year, and nearly three quarters of them are women between ages 16 and 29, according to the Journal of American Dermatology.

Using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma -- the deadliest form of skin cancer -- by 75 percent, according to the Melanoma Research Foundation.
Skin cancer is one of the few cancers for which a preventative option exists, said Dr. Allen Halpern, vice president of The Skin Cancer Foundation, who testified at the panel meeting.

Tanning salon businesses, one of the many industries hard hit by the recession, are already feeling the heat with the passage of the Obama administration's new health care bill. The bill includes a 10 percent tax on individuals receiving indoor tanning services, and the initiative is expected to generate $2.7 billion over 10 years to help fund the health care overhaul.

Mrs. Rockport-Fulton Heads to FDA TODAY

I am honored to join a panel of ADVOCATES to present my personal story at the upcoming FDA General and Plastic Surgery Devices Advisory Panel Meeting tomorrow, March 25th, 2010 in Maryland.

Also presenting their stories will be other cancer survivors, and sadly, families of patients who died from Skin Cancer.

American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) President, William D. James, M.D., FAAD will lead the meeting of top physicians and researchers in Dermatology, who will share the undeniable facts about the cancer causing UV tanning devices.

Together, we will ask for a ban on tanning bed usage for under 18 years of age, to better protect our children. We will also be asking the FDA to appropriately reclassify tanning beds to better protect the American public.

Stay tuned!

Mrs. Rockport-Fulton's Cherish Your Skin Guacamole for Your Face

When life gives you LEMONS, make GUACAMOLE (for your face)!

The best way to relax is to CHERISH YOUR SKIN.

You know I want you wearing SPF 30 and above to protect your skin from the dangerous rays.... but here is a great way you can pamper your beautiful skin.

Grab a friend and mash up some fun!:

AVOCADO MOISTURIZING CHERISH YOUR SKIN MASK

Benefits of avocado are numerous: it is filled with monounsaturated fats, Vitamin B and E, nutrients excellent for moisturizing and rejuvenating dry or tired skin.

FOR Dry and Sensitive Skin
Ingredients:
1 avocado
3-4 drops of almond oil
Preparation
Peel and mash avocado and add almond oil until the mass is consistent.
Apply to face while massaging it gently.
Let it rest for 30 minutes and rinse off with warm water

You will certainly enhance your own GLOW with this yummy, healthy recipe.

This mask smelled so good, I used the other avocados to whip up some GUAC for myself, grabbing the extra hot salsa and chips, too!

Aren't you glad you took the time to CHERISH YOUR SKIN?!

Spring Break 2010: Cherish Your Skin

The World Health Organization report last summer made clear that UV radiation from tanning beds causes skin cancer. This, along with the melanoma gene study pointing to the link between UV radiation and melanoma, make basking in the sun on vacation a no-no.
Without question, intense, intermittent sun exposure's link to basal cell carcinoma and melanoma reinforce the case against tanning.
Sorry to say, tanning as a lifestyle is over. Fashion and beauty insiders agree that today, it’s all about natural beauty.

“Beauty begins with healthy, glowing skin,” says Bobbi Brown of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. “No matter what your age, protect yourself daily from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which not only wrinkle and dull the skin, but increase your risk for skin cancer. It’s the best beauty advice I have for keeping your skin looking smooth, luminous and radiant.

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Spring Break Checklist:

• A broad-spectrum SPF 15+ sunscreen
• Lip balm with SPF 15+ sunscreen
• Wide-brimmed hat to protect the head and neck
• UV-blocking sunglasses to protect the eyes
• Beach sarong to cover the legs
• Beach umbrella to help you seek the shade
  
  
  

And, don't forget to drink lots of H2O which keeps that gorgeous skin and body hydrated!

Have a WONDERFUL and safe Spring Break 2010 and

CHERISH YOUR SKIN!

Coolibar Quality Sun Protection for Mrs. Rockport-Fulton and Family on Spring Break

We had a great Spring Break 2010 getaway with a 7-day cruise on the Disney Magic Ship! We made sure to apply sunscreen of SPF 30+ at least 30 minutes before leaving the ship, and to bring our hats and sunglasses, too. Thanks to our sponsor, Coolibar Clothing, we were protected from the sun on the gorgeous beaches, while touring the islands of St. Maartin and St. Thomas. My husband Kirk and I, along with our three children, also had a blast at the famous Mickey Pool and water slide.

Coolibar fabrics are developed and independently tested for their Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) and we wore the UPF 50+. This fabric rating means the fabric blocks 98% of the sun's UVA and UVB radiation.

We were surprised on our day at Castaway Cay, that having our bodies covered didn't make us hot and sweaty! The "COOL" and breathable fabric kept us comfortable....and confident we wouldn't return to our ship crispy and sunburned.Thanks to Coolibar, from Carson and the whole Kuykendall Clan for keeping us fashionable AND protected!

Coolibar has received the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation for sun-protective clothing.
For more information and to order Coolibar, visit
http://www.coolibar.com/

SmartShield Serious Sun Protection-Sponsors Cherish Your Skin Organization

Jenifer Kuykendall is the current Mrs. Rockport-Fulton International 2010 and she knows sunscreen is a MUST when fishing. Together with their three children, Jenifer and her husband Kirk enjoy bayfishing for tailing reds, trout and flounder in and around the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and the Rockport Bay Systems.




And the Kuykendalls always wear SmartShield Serious Sun Protection.

Jenifer also knows all too well that prolonged exposure to the UV rays can result in Skin Cancer. As a 5-year survivor of Malignant Melanoma, Jenifer is making a difference with her non-profit organization, Cherish Your Skin. She understands that education equals prevention and that early detection is a key part to surviving Skin Cancer. Jenifer's goal as Mrs. Texas International 2010 will be to heighten awareness about Skin Cancer and stress the importance of Skin Cancer Prevention. Opportunities abound throughout our great state of Texas to change paradigms and save lives. Cherish Your Skin Organization's mission, projects and platform will accomplish this, with vital partnerships with The Skin Cancer Foundation and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her educational outreach includes health fairs and skin cancer screenings with presentations to children, parents and teachers in our school system. Sunscreen distribution along with readings of her early education book, Cherish Your Skin, make a difference in the lives she touches.

Jenifer will compete for the Mrs. Texas International crown and title at the end of March 2010.
The Mrs. Texas International System celebrates women who want to excel in their lives while making a difference in their communities.For more information about Jenifer and Cherish Your Skin Organization, visit:www.cherishyourskin.org.


Go Catch the Crown, Jenifer!!! (With your SmartShield Serious Sun Protection ON!)

Fantastic Oysterfest Weekend in Rockport-Fulton

What a smashing 2010 Fulton Oysterfest parade! Mrs. Aransas County, Jan Burkhart, and I rode together, throwing multi-colored beads and sunscreen to the incredibly large crowd.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the gorgeous day and the fantastically creative floats. Best of all, the festival was for an important cause-all money raised benefited the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department. These are the amazing heroes who protect our towns!

Soon, everyone was off to enjoy the fair, rides and games-and listen to great local music. Many enjoyed the "famous"oysters. I stopped to reapply my sunscreen, though, making sure I was protected for the rest of our fun in the sun!

FDA to discuss stricter guidelines about Tanning Beds due to Skin Cancer

On March 25, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will meet to discuss the possible reclassification of UV-emitting tanning beds and lamps. Currently, tanning beds and lamps are Class I medical devices, putting them in the same category as elastic bandages and tongue depressors. But UV radiation from tanning machines is a proven human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), and the chief cause of skin cancer. Reclassification by the FDA would permit more oversight and stringent regulation.

As a survivor of Malignant Melanoma who spent many years in tanning beds, I have joined the Skin Cancer Foundation in this important fight against tanning beds. I was told by the tanning bed salons that laying in the bed would provide a "safer" tan since I would "not be exposed to the dangerous rays". I was encouraged to get my daily "fix" over many years, because tanned bodies look healthier, right?

On Monday, I submitted my personal experience to the FDA and am hopeful I will be chosen to speak on the dangers of tanning beds in front of the panel at the end of the month.

You can also help in this fight by signing an important petition to the FDA at the following site:

http://support.skincancer.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FDA_Dec_2009_Petition

Thank you for your efforts on getting tanning beds reclassified by the FDA.

Source: The Skin Cancer Foundation

Castaways Thrift Shop is a Blessing to the Coastal Bend Community

Mrs. Rockport-Fulton had the chance to drop off donations and a Rockport Pie while visiting the Castaways Thrift Shop. This nonprofit shop has been serving the community since 1972 and is run by the cheerful, committed volunteers.

Castaways is a fun place to search for that special book, affordable clothing, gently used toys, furniture, and many other household goods. You can also find some great holiday decorations; the group was getting the Easter baskets organized.
The proceeds of the goods sold at Castaways benefit five area church groups which in turn, make donations to other community organizations benefiting our county overall. In 2009, Castaways gave $225,430 to over 25 organizations.

The Castaway volunteers are a special bunch who benefit our community greatly through their participation at the shop! We appreciate all of you and are so glad you give back to the Coastal Bend and Aransas County through Castaways.

A Valentine's Visit by Mrs. Rockport to the Coastal Bend Adult Day Care

Mrs. Rockport-Fulton had a great day visiting with the fun people at Coastal Bend Adult Daycare in Fulton. The Coastal Bend Adult Daycare is committed to providing the highest possible quality of care for their clients. Joanna Sain, R.N. is the cheerful director and her team's mission is to keep their clients enthusiastic, busy and active in order to maintain or improve their level of functioning.

A qualified nursing staff assists clients with their medications, as well as monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar. Hot, nutritious meals and snacks are part of their services. An activity director coordinates fun outings as well as music, arts & crafts, bingo, movies and dances.

The Valentine's Day party was complete with goodies generously donated by the Guerras at Rockport Bakery. Jenifer shared information about skin cancer prevention with sunscreen samples, while also going over important ABCDs of malignant melanoma.

Our community is made richer by the kind people at the Coastal Bend Adult Daycare!

Know the ABCDs of Melanoma

Look for Danger Signs in Pigmented Lesions of the Skin

Consult your dermatologist immediately is any of your moles exhibit:

A Assymmetry- One half is unlike the other half.

B Border- Irregular, scalloped or poorly defined border.

C Color- Varied from one area to another; shades of tan and
brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue.

D Diameter- Melanomas are usually greater than 6mm

in diameter (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed. If you notice a mole different from others that changes, itches or bleeds- see a dermatologist.

MIND THESE ABCDs: They may be the signs of a malignant melanoma.

ALWAYS APPLY SUNSCREEN WITH SPF 30 or ABOVE!

CHERISH YOUR SKIN in 2010!!

Cherish Your Skin Website Launch!

We are excited to announce the Cherish Your Skin Organization website, http://www.cherishyourskin.org/ went LIVE today! The Mission of CYSO is to raise awareness about Skin Cancer and stress Skin Cancer Prevention. We will do so in three important ways: Educate through informational forums and web links, Donate to various Skin Cancer foundations through organizational fundraising efforts, and Support Skin Cancer patients through outreach programs. As a mother, wife, daughter and Skin Cancer Survivor of Malignant Melanoma, I am committed to leading the way in this important fight against Skin Cancer.