Protecting our skin from the damaging rays of the sun is important. While most people equate sun protection with sunscreen use, sun protective behaviours (e.g. seeking shade and the use of sun protective clothing) should be considered as the first line of defence against the damaging rays of the sun.
The sun and our skin
The sun emits solar radiation, with over-exposure to specific spectra associated with skin damage. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comprises of both UVB (280-320nm) and UVA (320-400nm). UVB is predominantly associated with acute skin damage, such as occurs with sun burn, while chronic over-exposure to both UVB and UVA is associated with the development of skin cancers and with photo-ageing. UVA is associated with pigmentation of the skin in individuals with darker skin tones. Visible light (VL) (400-700nm) also induces intense and persistent pigmentation in individuals with darker skin tones, acting synergistically with UVA. VL and UVA are also important for some skin conditions which are exacerbated by sunlight e.g. solar urticaria and porphyria.
Emerging evidence indicates that the infrared spectra may also adversely affect the skin.
Beyond sunscreen use!
Beyond the correct use of sunscreens, other aspects of sun protection include:
- Seeking shade when appropriate.
- Limiting outdoor activities when the sun’s ray is strongest.
- Use of protective clothing, including wearing a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses (100% UV protection), as well as clothes with longer sleeves and trousers if possible. Consider clothing with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF).
Take time to download the SunSmart Global UV Index App. UV index describes the level of solar UV radiation at the earth’s surface. It is provided on a scale from 1 (Low) to 11 and higher (Extreme). Broadly speaking a high UV index equates to a greater potential for the sun’s rays to cause damage to the skin and eye, taking less time to do so the higher the UV index.
Using the SunSmart Global UV index App, you can check the UV index of your local area daily, and use this to guide your sun protective behaviour.
What about sun protective clothing?
All clothing will offer some degree of sun protection, but specialised sun protective clothing offers more sun protection, having been designed to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays. An average weight cotton T shirt can provide a sun protective factor of 7, while specialist sun protective clothing can provide a much higher protection (ultraviolet protection factor (UPF)-50).
When measuring the sun protection offered by fabrics an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) is used as a measure of how much UV radiation penetrates through the fabric i.e. the ability of the fabric to protect against UV-induced redness of the skin. Thus, the UPF of a fabric is akin to the SPF of a sunscreen.
The UPF of a fabric is dependent on several factors including the content, weave and colour of the fabric, as well as the finishing processes and the presence of additives. Over time the UPF of the fabric will vary, being dependent on factors such as stretching, shrinkage, laundering and general wear and tear. Furthermore, the UPF of a fabric may be reduced to as much as 50% if wet.
What about laundry additives that boost sun protection of clothes?
Laundry additives can be used to add extra UPF protection to normal clothing. The protection will usually disappear after 20 washes, so this should be a temporary protection. One example of a laundry additive is Sun Guard, which can add a UPF protection of 30 to everyday clothing.
Conclusion
Don’t forget that sun protection really does go beyond the use of sunscreens/sun creams!
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Useful links
Where to buy sun protective clothing:
Where to buy boost Sun protection:
The SunSmart Global UV Index App
Reference
Boothby-Shoemaker WT et al. Photoprotection by clothing: A review. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2022; 38(5): 478-488
