Your clothing doesn’t just look great. It also absorbs or blocks harmful UV radiation and remains one of the most effective forms of protection against sun damage and skin cancer.
What’s more, sun-protective clothing is the simplest way to stay safe; unlike sunscreen, you never need to reapply!
UPF: What it is and why it matters
Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays and allows two percent (1/50th) to penetrate, thus reducing your exposure risk significantly.
A fabric must have a UPF of 30 to qualify for The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. A UPF of 30 to 49 offers very good protection, while UPF 50+ rates as excellent, representing the highest standard of sun protection.
How does UPF differ from SPF?
UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach your skin. Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, is based on the time it takes for UV-exposed skin to redden; if you burn after 20 minutes, if used correctly, an SPF 15 sunscreen may protect your skin 15 times longer.
Another important distinction: UPF measures both UVB and UVA rays, while SPF measures only UVB.
Start at the top – wear a hat
Safeguard against wrinkles and skin cancer and look cool at the beach by wearing a great hat whenever you’re outside. Hats are a perfect complement to UV-filtering sunglasses and broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your face and eyes.
Here’s what to look for in a sun-safe hat:
Wide Brim: The best hats for sun protection have a brim of at least three inches to shade the face, scalp, neck, shoulders and upper back, along with easily overlooked places like the tops of the ears and back of the neck.
Tight-Knit: Look for a tightly woven hat rather than a loosely constructed straw hat that lets in the UV rays.
Why hats are a must
Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas account for about 90 percent of all skin cancers, and often appear on the head and neck. Hats help safeguard your face, scalp and neck.