The Sun and your Skin

There is a continuing debate about whether or not sunshine is good for us. On the one hand we are told that we need adequate regular exposure to sunshine to enable our bodies to synthesize vitamin D to prevent us from getting ricketts or osteoporosis.

On the other hand we know that too much sun exposure can damage our skin, making it look prematurely old and wrinkled, and can even cause cancer. A tan though, helps to protect us from sun damage as well as making us look more attractive and healthy, and scientists have been looking at ways to encourage our bodies to produce more of the pigment, melanin, in the skin before we get actual exposure to the sun, so as to give us more protection. They came up with a form of a natural hormone that worked to an extent, but did not last long enough in its effect, but have since found a peptide which has been called melanotan 2 which does seem to do the trick as far as promoting melanin production is concerned.

Scientists have suggested that this substance might help prevent the development of melanomas which are a serious form of skin cancer and usually form in moles due to excessive exposure to sunlight over a period of time. By stimulating the body's natural pigment producing process, one could conceivably produce a tan without first needing exposure to harmful levels of UV radiation, thereby reducing the potential for damage to the skin. The peptides found to be active in this way have been made available as drugs, and trials have shown them to be efective in inducing a tan, and also to have some interesting side effects. (more...)

Locating cheap health insurance is essential is todays economy

Many people are dropping their health insurance since it is so expensive. They are unable to maintain their health insurance and provide food for the family. When they go to the doctor, they have to pay out-of-pocket, which can mount up, if they see their doctor often. In order to be able to have health insurance, a person can locate sites that allow him or her to compare rates from more than one company. There may be health insurance companies on the site that you may not have heard of that offer cheap rates.

You can also take a look at www.uknetguide.co.uk to find information on health insurance. They compile a list of health insurance companies for readers to make the search process easier. The list that they compile, is a list of the top sites that they recommend pertaining to health insurance. Click on the links of your choice to start the process of finding cheaper health insurance.

When looking for cheaper health insurance, consider getting a policy with a high deductible. With a high deductible, your co-payment may be more, but your monthly premium will be less. This is a good option for a family who doesn't go to the doctor often. At UK Net, they have already located the top health insurance companies for you. You can get a quote from all or some of them. Also, you can find out what each policy covers, such as prescription drugs. (more...)