AROMATHERAPY

Despite repeated warnings, in the press and elsewhere, thet skin cancer is caused at least in part, by exposure to the sun, we still flock in our millions to the beaches  where we lie prostrate soaking in as much as we can.
Malignant melanoma has a very high cure rate if caught early and the thing to look for is changes in your moles. Specifically, go to your doctor straight away, if you develop  a dark patch of skin or a wart-like growth or if one of your moles becomes, itchy, painful, grows in, is large or has an irrigular outline, has a mixture of shades of brown and black, has a red edge, is inflamed, or bleeds, or if it oozes a fluid or is crusty.

This is quite a list and if you have a lot of moles it can be very worrying, especially as a few of us, really do know the colour and shape of those we have, and therefore what changes they might have gone through. lying on the beach more than half naked with nothing much to do provides the perfect opportunity to make a detailed note - and that means writing-of the moles we do have.

And as we seldom lie on the beach alone, our companion can examine the back of our body too. the commonest sites for melanomas, are on the thighs for women and on the backs for men. This mole-map might just turn out to be the most useful souvenir  you take home with you.

The nature of sunlight is changing as pollution destroys the ozone layers  and lets in too much ultraviolet light. There's not a lot that we as individuals can do about it, but what we can do, and really should, is keep out of the sun between the hours of twelve and three and cover ourselves with a sun scren factor ten or more. but the fact remains that human beings need sun - we manufacture vitamin A within our bodies as a direct result of it.

At the famous Bircher BENNER clinic in Switzerland sun is an important part of many treatments, and it is well known that a lack of sunlight  can cause depression in susceptible people, even making them suicidal. The skin disorders of psoriasis, eczema and acne heal wonderfully in sunlight, and aches and pains just seem to vanish. we all know how sun makes us feel so much better all round - but in moderation please.

sunburn may be as severe as blistering and peeling  or simply a feeling of tightness and soreness, but a burn is a burn and whether from prolonged  exposure to the sun or from a hot iron, the most effective treatment for it, is the miraculous oil of lavender. with all burns, it is crucial to get the heat out of the skin, so fill a sink or bath with cold water, add ice if possible, and immerse yourself as soon as you can.

Stay under the water for at least ten minutes, then apply neat lavender oil all over the burnt area, bearing in mind that one drop of lavender will cover quite a large area - you don't need to over do it, simply make sure that the lavender has covered  the surface. if you do this by morning you won't notice a thing - but do be sensible and stay out of the sun for at least two days, even though the area looks perfectly healed.

if you haven't got any lavender with you, use eucalyptus instead, ( do not forget to dilute the eucalyptus in a carrier base, prior to application.) and don't forget your sunscreen.
after a dose of sun bathing make sure you use an oil that contains essential oils - it will not only prolong your tan, but will nourish your skin. Apply all over the body after showing or bathing.

• 
  After-sun oil
  Lavender       10 drops
  Chamomile    5 drops         {Dilute in 30ml sesame oil and 70 mls almond oil}
  Bergamot      1 drop
  Geranium      2 drops

sesame seed oil is a natural sun filter  and by using it in warm evening baths you will be protecting your skin  from the early evening sun and cooling yourself down before going out to the hot, sweaty disco to dance the night away!

• After- Sun Bath
  Chamomile                  4 drops
  Geranium                    3 drops       {Diluted in 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil}
  Peppermint                  1 drop

Dilute the oils in the Jojoba oil and add it all to the bath. While there, gently massage the oil over the areas that have been exposed to the sun - thighs, bottom, chests  and breasts are usually the worst affected.
the following oil is very effective in the drying conditions of sunburn, such as experience  when skiing, sailing or hiking. it is rather a thick oil but works really well in protecting faces exposed to thesun in the more invigorating  types of weather and activities. Blend the ingredients  well together and use the oil every night before sleeping and during the day use a sun screen:

• 
  Apres Ski ,Sea, Sun, Sail and Hike OIl
  Chamomile                10 drops
  Geranium                  10 drops     {Diluted in { 5mls Jojoba oil-5ml sesame oil
  Lavender                   10 drops     {5ml evening primrose oil- 15ml almond oil}

Hair can also suffer from over-exposure to sun, sea, wind and the chlorine in swimming pools. see "essential car for Hair" for good conditioning treatments . Bald patches on the head should be well protected. hair on the head provides natural protection from the sun, which is why African babies are born with it, but if you are not an African baby -wear a hat!

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy/ Valerie A. Worwood