Sun protective clothing - options for babies, children, and adults

Even the most devout sun worshipper knows how much damage the sun’s rays can do to our bodies. Spending smart time in the sun these days is as easy as buying sun protective clothing for yourself and your family - including, babies, children, and adults.

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is emitted by the sun, although we can’t see or feel it as it reaches the earth’s surface. The ozone layer absorbs a lot of this radiation, but it’s the amount we receive that causes sunburn and other skin damage.

These UV rays can’t be seen or felt and are not related directly to heat. The risk of eventually developing skin cancer is related to the amount of ultraviolet radiation a person is exposed to during their lifetime.

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The efficiency of sun protective clothing is classified with an ultraviolet protection factor, or UPF. This determines how much ultraviolet light will pass through the clothing - a fabric with a UPF of 20 will only allow one-twentieth of ultraviolet rays in the atmosphere to pass through to your skin.

Sun protective clothes are especially important for children, as a lot of sun damage occurs early on in life to delicate young skin. Children’s sun safe clothes should boast a UPF factor of 50+, meaning 98 percent of UV rays won’t reach the skin. Stringent testing standards are required for sun safe clothes, and Europe, the United States and Australia all hold their own variant on these guidelines.

High necked, t-shirt armed swimsuits are a simple solution for children’s sun protection. These suits can be knee or full length, and made with lightweight material which dries easily. The suits maintain sun protection wet or dry, and are available as separates and two piece styles for girls. The classic legionnaire’s hat is a great way to shade the neck and face. The long neck and wide brim is ideal for any time kids are outdoors.

Of course sun protective clothes aren’t just required by children. As well as donning a sunscreen of at least SPF 15, the rest of us should cover up in the sun during the fiercest parts of the day to avoid skin cancer. Hats and shirts are par for the course during a day outdoors, and extra care should be taken if you’re involved in outdoor sports, have fair skin, or spending a laid-back day at the beach.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Sun Protective Clothing

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