MelanSol®
100% Natural Skin Care

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Q. How is MelanSol® different from other chemical or natural sunscreen?
A. Traditional sunscreens are lotions or oils that use active ingredients to either absorb or reflect UV radiation. What the inventor of MelanSol® discovered is that this sunscreen definition fell short of what is truly necessary to help prevent skin damage like the basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer he experienced. Because his research revealed that an unchecked accumulation of free radicals (oxidants) is the underlying cause of sunburn and longer term skin damage like skin cancer, a sunscreen formula also needed to contain a "system" of potent natural antioxidants to help skin cells fight the development of free radicals before they can harm your skin. The cornerstone of each MelanSol® formula is a complete "system" of antioxidants. Super antioxidant Bio-Melanin (date fruit extract), in combination with mixed natural vitamin E and Green Tea, allow you to safely enjoy the sun because they act "synergistically" to continuously capture and terminate free radicals that form on your skin. The proprietary "system" of antioxidants contained in MelanSol®, in combination with natural active ingredients (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), give your skin two levels of powerful all natural UV skin protection that begins to work the moment it is applied.

Q. Why should you adopt MelanSol® as your brand of sunscreen?
A. Because MelanSol® was invented by Peter Zahner, a man who experienced basal and squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer first hand. It is specifically formulated to help prevent sunburn and the kind of skin damage that can cause these two non-lethal forms of skin cancer. It accomplishes this by helping your body protect itself in two different ways, instead of just one. Your first level of protection is zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, natural active ingredients that safely reflect a high percentage of UV rays away from your skin. Your second level of protection, and the reason why MelanSol® sunscreen is so revolutionary, is a special combination of potent all natural antioxidants that help your body fight the buildup of free radicals--rogue molecules that form on your skin when its exposed to UV rays. Free radicals are the cause of sunburn and long-term skin damage that can lead to basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer. Recent studies have concluded that chemicals contained in traditional sunscreens can be harmful to your body and the environment as they decompose--possibly contributing to skin cancer. Your skin is the largest organ your body has and what you put on your skin is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

Q. Is MelanSol® absolutely 100% natural?
A. Yes. MelanSol® sunscreen is 100% natural. It's completely free of chemical active ingredients, synthetic preservatives, colors and scents. MelanSol® contains no alcohol and is NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS.

Q. Is MelanSol® approved by the FDA?
A. MelanSol® is compliant with FDA regulations.

Q. Is MelanSol® safe for the environment?
A. Yes. MelanSol® sunscreens are safe because they are biodegradable and CONTAIN NO HORMONE-ACTIVE UV-Filters OR CHEMICALS that can break down under exposure to the UV rays and pollute oceans, lakes, rivers and streams. Chemical UV filters behave, in most cases, like strong estrogen and have demonstrated hormone activity in lab tests. Several of these ingredients have been found in mother's breast milk. For a summary of the breast milk study go to the following link-http://journalclub.tox.ncsu.edu/linked_files/fall_05/schlumpf_04.pdf

Q. Is MelanSol® Hypo-Allergenic?
A. Yes. MelanSol has been tested by an independent consumer testing laboratory. The study did not indicate any potential for dermal irritation. Women have said that they prefer to use our products as pre-makeup moisturizers. If used in this manner, your face must be clean before its application.

Q. Has MelanSol® been tested by Dermatologists?
A. Yes. MelanSol® sun care has been independently tested and approved. Our sunscreens have been used successfully and recommended for several years by many European Dermatologists.

Q. Is MelanSol® also a sun block?
A. No, MelanSol® is not a sun block. It allows anywhere from 3 to 10% of UV rays to reach your skin. It is important not to block out all of the sun's UV rays because your skin needs them in order to synthesize vitamin D. The sun's rays are also important for your mental health. Several studies have demonstrated that UV rays are important for immune system health and might even play a hand in reducing diseases like cancer.

Q. What are the healthy benefits of MelanSol® 100% natural sunscreen?
A. Every ingredient in MelanSol® sunscreen has been selected because of its ability to help your body repair and rejuvenate. The formula conditions, nourishes and hydrates as well. Most importantly, MelanSol® 100% natural skin care supports your cells with protection against skin cancer.

Q. How does MelanSol® protect my skin?
A. MelanSol® provides a natural approach to efficiently supporting the body's defense against sunburn and chronic UV damage. The powerful super antioxidant Bio-Melanin, combined with green tea, a mixed form of natural vitamin E, and zinc oxide or titanium dioxide provide a synergistic, photo-protective effect to reduce the risk of UV damage and skin cancer. Other natural ingredients supply your skin with what it needs to nourish, condition, hydrate and protect itself.

Q. How should MelanSol® be applied to my skin?
A. The most effective way to apply MelanSol® is to put it on your fingertips first, then apply it to the various parts of your body from there. MelanSol® sunscreen provides immediate protection, so you don't have to apply MelanSol® 20 to 30 minutes before you go outside. Reapply MelanSol® after toweling dry or wiping areas where it has previously been applied.

Q. What is a Free Radical?
A. Free Radicals, also referred to as oxidants, are charged molecules formed when skin is exposed to UV rays. They are also formed when chemical compounds like chemical active ingredients used in traditional sunscreen are activated by UV light energy, (breaking its double bond to produce two free radicals). Free radicals attack healthy cells and react with other molecules, damaging collagen and elastin, fats, proteins and the DNA of the cells. The most immediate form of free radical damage is sunburn. Over time, free radical damage is revealed as wrinkles, premature skin aging, sun spots and skin cancer.

Q. What is an antioxidant?
A. Antioxidants act as cell protectors and are capable of counteracting the damaging, but normal, effects of oxidation (free radical damage) in tissues. Antioxidants counteract free radicals by binding with them before they can damage skin cells.

Q. What is Bio-Melanin?
A. Melanin is a natural antioxidant naturally present in the skin to protect it from sunlight damage. The super antioxidant Bio-Melanin used in the MelanSol® formula is real date phytomelanin, a dark brown pigment, extracted from the fruit of the date palm. Melanin protects the date fruit from intense solar radiation found in the desert environment. Bio-Melanin, a dynamic super anti-oxidant and free radical scavenger, has a one thousand times greater capacity than vitamin E, for capturing and terminating free radicals.

Q. Is MelanSol® safe for children?
A. Yes. MelanSol® is gentle and highly suitable for children's tender skin. Because it contains NO CHEMICALS of any kind, it won't burn your eyes and can also be used on your lips.

Q. Are there any nano-particles in MelanSol®?
A. The zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in MelanSol® are nanosize zinc oxide pigments (30-60 nano). Several studies in Europe and here in the US have shown that the nanosize pigments do not penetrate the skin. Zinc oxide is the most effective UV filter and covers the whole spectrum UVB, UVA-1 and UVA-2.

Q. Is the vitamin E in MelanSol® natural or synthetic?
A. MelanSol® sunscreen uses a natural form of vitamin E- mixed d-tocopherol. We use this form of vitamin E because it's much more bio-active (a greater ability to capture free radicals on your skin) than any other form. (Natural vitamin E stays in your system for a longer period of time) The synthetic form of vitamin E used in most sunscreens is dl-alpha tocopherol, a form that is incapable of fighting free radicals that develop on your skin.

Q. Can you explain SPF, PA & UV?
A. SPF (Sun Protection Factor UVB) measures the length of time a sunscreen protects against skin reddening (sunburn) from UV (Ultra Violet) radiation, compared to how long it takes to redden without protection. If, for example, it takes 30 minutes without protection for your skin to redden, using an SPF-25 sunscreen should prevent you from reddening 25 times longer. Of course this formula is highly subjective because everyone has a different skin type and chemical active ingredients need to be reapplied more frequently. An SPF-25 blocks 96% of UV rays, while an SPF-100 only blocks 3% more. Keep in mind that SPF is only a measure of how a sunscreen protects skin from UVB rays. Check out a more detailed free report about SPF to gain a better understanding of why double the SPF doesn't mean you will get double the protection. It can be obtained on the homepage of this website. PA (Protection Grade UVA) is the expression for UVA Protection, based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) test method which we used to test MelanSol®.

• * PA+ Low UVA Protection
• * PA++ Medium UVA Protection
• * PA+++ High UVA Protection

*As of August, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced new proposed standards for formulating, testing and labeling UVA protection for over the counter (OTC) sunscreen drug products. We are glad that the FDA is in the process of adopting these new rules for testing UVA protection. The method produces very realistic results. Keep in mind that darker skin tones do not require high levels of UV protection because they already filter a high percentage of UV rays. As far as we know, MelanSol® is one of a handful of sunscreens currently being marketed in the US with a UVA rating on the label, which, along with the SPF rating, lets you know that you getting protection over the full UVA and UVB spectrum.

Q. Why doesn't MelanSol® produces a higher SPF rating than 30?
A. MelanSol® represents a new generation in sunscreen protection that uses Super antioxidant Bio-Melanin, coupled with reflective zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect you from photodamage. When it comes to choosing an SPF (Sun Protection Factor), it is important to understand that UV protection is not linear, and that choosing a higher SPF of 60, for example, does not give you twice the protection of an SPF-30.

As shown in the SPF&UVB Chart below, an SPF-25 already provides 96 percent UV protection (filtering of the UVB rays). Using an SPF-100 will give you only 3% more protection, however, a significant amount of chemical active ingredients are required to achieve the higher SPF.

High SPF ratings send the wrong message and give you a false sense of security. People are led to believe that they can apply a high SPF sunscreen and proceed to spend an unlimited amount of time in the sun, which is not the case.

Extended time exposed to UV rays causes the absorption of an undesirable high dose of UV radiation. Products with high SPF-generally contain chemical UV filters (some that are estrogenic) - switch off the red warning signal (red skin) that sunburn represents.

It is better to use a moderate SPF and spend less time in the sun, gradually increasing your exposure in successive days, than to use a higher SPF and expose yourself for a longer period the first time out.  

SPF and Sun Protection