Sun Protective Clothing - Review of Choices

Sun protective clothing is all over the news today, which we are thankful for considering the rising incidence of skin cancer in the country. We are rediscovering the importance of sun protection especially with the intensity of the sun's rays becoming hotter in recent months. This can be attributed to the thinning layer of the ozone in the atmosphere that lets in more of sunlight and, hence, more of the harmful ultraviolet rays.

And lest anybody thinks that sun protective clothing is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of the fashionable public, think again. You have so many choices in sun protection clothes that you will start wondering why you have not looked into them in the first place.

Then, you could have avoided the blistering sunburns in years past. Or better yet, you could have started changing your ordinary clothes with no UV protection whatsoever into something more appropriate for your sun-worshiping lifestyle.

Hats On, Please

Let's start with the hats simply because the head is one of the most overlooked areas when it comes to sun protection. Contrary to popular conception, baseball hats are not sufficient protection against the sun's ultraviolet rays. Your ears, back of the head and neck are still exposed to the sun, which defeats the purpose of covering up on the torso and legs.

Instead, we recommend wide-brimmed hats with UPF protection. Your whole face and head will be covered with the added benefit that your eyes will also be shielded from the heat of the sun. Aside from skin cancer, macular degeneration is a serious consequence of being unprotected from the sun.

Sunglasses On

Even with the hat, you should still wear sunglasses preferably the polarized type with 100% UVA and UVB protection rating. In this way, you enjoy a sharper view because of the reduced glare while being assured that your eyes are protected from the ultraviolet radiation of the sun as reflected on the surfaces of water, roads and buildings.

Plus, you should opt for a wraparound design so that your eyes are covered on all sides. You can then achieve both fashion and function with these sunglasses.

Keep Your Shirt On

The most important parts of sun protective clothing are the tops. These can be a long-sleeved top or a T-shirt as well as a shawl or scarf, all of which are manufactured to provide certain levels of ultraviolet protection factor similar to the SPF in sunscreens.

The best thing about UV protective clothing is the sheer variety of choice available. You can choose from swimwear and sports wear to travel outfits and everyday clothes. For example, if you are an avid golfer, you have many choices in colorful UV protection golf shirts. Or if you are a driver of a truck, you have long-sleeved shirts and gloves to provide 100% sun protection.

So, if you have yet to do it, we strongly suggest slowly but surely replacing your old clothes with sun protective clothing. It may be expensive in the short-term period but the benefits for the long-term period make the time, effort and money worthwhile.