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To prevent skin damage and wrinkles you need to dress carefully before going out in the summer sun.
The parts of the body which people often leave exposed to the full force of the sun's rays are the face, neck, arms and legs. Research shows, not surprisingly, the face is burned more often than any other part of the body. People also suffer more burns on their legs, arms and shoulders than anywhere else on the body. These are also the places where people most commonly develop melanoma and other skin cancers.
Before you go out in the sun, make sure you have clothing and a hat to protect your face, ears, nose, shoulders, trunk, arms and legs. Just as important, check that any children you are caring for are sunsmart and “Slip on a shirt, Slop on some sunscreen, Slap on a hat and Wrap on some sunglasses”.
Effective UV Protection Clothing
Most fabrics will give some protection from the sun, but there are basic guidelines for choosing the best type of fabric.
Weave: The weave is most important, and tightly woven fabrics are better than loosely woven ones.
Colour: Darker fabrics give better protection than light-coloured ones.
Weight: A less important factor, though heavier fabrics let less UV radiation (UVR) through. But lightweight, tightly woven fabrics can provide good protection.
Stretch: Most woven fabrics don't stretch much, but ones which do stretch will offer less sun protection.
Wetness: Wet fabrics may only give half as much sun protection as when they are dry.
UPF Rated Fabric: There is a sun protective clothing standard known as AS/NZS4399:1996, which has voluntary compliance in this country. Clothing which has met this standard will carry a label giving an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF). UPF15 to 24 is rated as good protection, UPF25 to 39 is rated as very good protection and UPF40 to 50+ is rated as excellent protection.
Don't forget your hat
Cancer Society surveys show that more people get sunburned around the head and face than any other part of the body. The best way to avoid a sunburned face if you are outdoors in summer is to wear a wide-brimmed hat.
You also need sunscreen for your face and neck, applied thickly, before you go out in the sun. Unfortunately, sunscreen will wear off and sweat off. Many who use sunscreen get burned, probably because they rely on it too much and use too little of it.
Choosing good hats
When choosing hats:
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make sure the hat is made of a tightly woven fabric which doesn't let the sun's rays through
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choose a hat which shades your face, nose, neck and ears
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make sure it feels comfortable – cool, but firm around the headband
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a darker colour will keep out the sun's rays better
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you'll need a hat that stays on in the wind
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a brimmed hat or cap with flaps offers the best protection
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if you wear a cap, protect the ears and neck – with hair, collar, bandanna or sunscreen
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safety – make sure you can see under and around the brim
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the occasion dictates the style of hat – you may need more than one.
Lastly, make your hat a fun part of summer, and choose something which you like and feel good wearing!
Reproduced with kind permission from the Cancer Society of New Zealand.
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