Do I Need Sun Protection If I Have Darker Skin?
Yes! People with darker skin produce more of a pigment called melanin, which does offer some natural protection against UV radiation. However, this protection is minimal, and even with darker skin, you can still get sunburned, and you can develop skin cancer from UV damage.
Does Clothing Block UV Rays?
Not really. Different types of material offer different levels of protection, depending on the type of material, but nothing is completely effective, unless it's labeled UV protective clothing. These clothes contain an Ultraviolet Protective Factor (UPF), which tells you how well the material shields the skin from UV rays. A UPF of 50, which blocks 98% of the sun’s rays, is recommended. To learn more, check out our blog on UV clothing.
Do I Need Sun Protection On An Airplane?
Yes! Up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can actually penetrate through clouds and damage your skin. UV rays are especially dangerous when you are in flight. For every 1000 foot increase in elevation, there is roughly a 2% increase in UV radiation. Airplane windows protect you from UVB rays, they don’t fully block out UVA rays.
