YES! Sun care is the most important thing. Once you have found that perfect sunblock for your skin, the rest is easy. I wish I had known this in my twenties and I could have saved my skin from a lot of environmental damage. browntoestoo, have you heard about this product called Meladerm? I SWEAR by this stuff. I used it to lighten some age spots on my hands and even my husband was shocked how much they faded. I know melasma and age spots are different, but I think meladerm is supposed to lighten all kinds of pigmentation. Also, my sister's doctor had given her a product called triluma for her melasma several years ago. I did help her a bit, but I think she was allergic to it so had to stop. You can also look into this. But I believe it requires a prescription. If you are looking for triluma, their website is www.triluma.com. The Meladerm website is from a company called Civant. I found it through google. Here is a link that might be useful: Meladerm

Mrsmagoo, I'm so glad your daughter's BP resolved itself. Just to add to the info for anyone else who may come upon this... I had BP about 3 years ago. Long story, but I noticed I couldn't wiggle my ears... went to look in the mirror and saw that my smile and all facial movements were asymmetrical. My DH is a doctor so he suspected BP and we went to the ER. The ER doc diagnosed me and was about to discharge me with some oral steroids, but decided to call up to ENT and found a doc there on a Sunday afternoon. She was so very helpful -- gave me eyedrops to keep my non-blinking eye from drying out, and some ointment to help ward off eye infection. And taught me how to tape my eye shut so I could sleep. Yep. One of the side effects of the oral steroids is depression, and I was in a serious funk. Maybe due to the meds, maybe due to being self-conscious about my non-blinking eye and droopy mouth. Also, some foods were hard or impossible to eat and I kept biting my tongue. I was lucky, and it was pretty much gone within a month. I have an acquaintance who got BP after an attack of shingles, and she has had it, quite severely, for months. I found that it is common during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. I was afraid I'd have a recurrence during my 2nd pregnancy, but luckily I didn't. HTH. Amy

I have been doing yoga about every day of my life for the past 30 years. It was recommended to me by my PT after I healed from a serious back injury. I follow "Richard Hittleman's Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan." It is available on Amazon (the original, first published in 1969!) For decades, I have recommended this book, or bought it for people. After you get the 3 routines memorized, it only takes about 20 minutes a day.

OP, you reminded me of the time DH and I were in DC and it just happened that the finish line for the marathon was near our hotel. I knew a fellow from work was running so we went to watch him come in. It was an absolutely amazing sight to see the variation in marathon runners. Of course, in the beginning, it was mostly gazelle type bodies with long and powerful strides. But after that, the runners were literally in all shapes and sizes and ages and all forms of attire. Some had such an awkward stride...one guy kicked his feet up so high with every step that I swear he was kicking his own butt. One guy did the whole thing in combat boots. It was really something. More power to you and your running mates.