Sun Health and Skin Care Tips — spf

We get this question so much that we decided to make a separate blog post about it. 

The disappointing truth is not really! And honestly, when dealing with skin cancer, "not really", is a frightening answer.

While most fabrics do provide some level of protection, their UPF ratings are not as high as you may think. In fact, you can still get sunburned through a cotton T-shirt! To offer proper protection, fabric should have a rating of UPF 50+. 

What does UPF mean?

The UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor which is a numerical rating to clothing.

A UPF protection clothing with rate 50 means that...

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,...

Well + Good interviewed 6 Dermatologists about staying safe while in the sun, and what did they have to say? You guessed it, 6 out of 6 MD's agree that wearing a big hat is key! Here are top 5 other helpful recommendations from those who get paid to talk sun protection:

1. Set an alarm to go off every two hours to remind you to reapply sunscreen during the day. Use one with 'broad spectrum' on the bottle. -Joshua Zeichner, MD
2. "Wear clothing with UPF 50 or more—my favorite is Uvida—and I wear a big hat and sunglasses. Take Heliocare...

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s UV Indexexternal icon for your area, and follow these recommendations to help protect yourself and your family.

Clothing

When possible, long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts can provide protection from...