Go biking, hiking, running, picnic-ing, swimming, boating, and all the other -ings out there that you love to do. Have fun in the sun but remember to always protect your skin!

Dealing with skin cancer is challenging. I have to take extra precautions to make sure I’m protecting my skin as much as possible since I live at the beach, so I am ALWAYS surrounded by sunshine. That’s why I wear sun protective clothing on top of sunscreen when I know I’ll be out in the sun for a long period of time.  I wish I had done this a long time ago when most of the sun damage was done to my skin.

Clothing is the single most effective form of sun protection for the body, but you shouldn’t rely on just any clothing, because regular clothing only protects you from 1/15 of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. So if you’re planning on going to the beach for the whole day, taking a long hike, riding your bike for miles, or any other outdoor activity, then opting for sun protective clothing will provide you with the right amount of added protection. And it doesn’t mean you have to look like grandma either ;). There are so many fun brands out there that are chic and modern.

              Left Image: Mott 50 tunic and sun hat                                         Right Image: Coolibar sun hat

My favorite brands that I wear are Mott 50, Coolibar, and Cabana Life (image below). I like them because they are stylish and chic, so you don’t have to sacrifice style for safety in the sun. Winning! Plus, these brands are made for an active lifestyle.

Sun protective clothing tends to be labeled with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating, similar to SPF for for sunscreen. The UPF measures how well the garment filters out UV rays.

It’s important to note that when you’re buying clothes to be worn under the sun, there are a few points to keep in mind:

• Stick to fabrics that are tighter because as the weave gets tighter, the number of holes are lower, keeping more UV rays out.
• Materials that are lighter let in more UV rays than heavier ones.
• Dark colors block more UV rays out than lighter colors. For instance, a light cotton t-shirt has a UPF of 5, which means it allows 1/5th of the sun’s UV rays to penetrate.
• Polyester and nylon tend to block out more UV rays than natural fabrics. Additional chemicals need to be added into the natural fabrics in order for them to work the same as synthetic ones.
• Always consider the environment you’re in, especially if you get wet. Wetness decreased UPF protection by 10 points (e.g. a shirt with an UPF rating of 30 has an UPF rating of 20 when wet).

It’s always important to make sure you’re protecting your skin from the sun’s rays at all times, with sunscreen and/or clothing. I can’t tell you enough the amount of damage you can do to your skin if you’re not taking the right steps to keep it healthy (and happy)!

xoxo