Why Sun Protective Swimwear Helps Prevent Skin Cancer

Society generally thinks that tanning is attractive, but the rate at which skin cancer is rising shows us that there is more here than meets the eye. In truth, a tan is the skin’s way or protecting itself from ultraviolet radiation, which causes significant damage to the skin. This is why frequent tanning increases your risk of skin cancer exponentially.

Of course the reality of skin cancer does not mean that we all need to spend more time indoors. There are plenty of other ways to stay safe in the sun. sun protective clothing and clothing with built-in sun protection are the newest forms of sun safety measures available. Wearing swimwear and clothing that are manufactured with sun safety in mind will reduce your risk of skin cancer because they are made specifically to keep ultraviolet radiation away from your skin. They also offer the best protection available on the market today. Sunscreen has been around for many years, and it is still an important part of sun protection, but there are just too many issues with sunscreen to make it your primary source of sun protection. It can wash off and needs to be reapplied every two hours, but sun protective clothing or swimwear are protecting your skin as long as you have them on.

Sun protective swimwear covers as much of the skin as possible. It is generally snug, but not as tight as traditional swimwear, and it's made from a tightly woven fabric that helps keep UVR away from the skin. One of the most important things to look at when buying sun protective swimwear is the UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor, of the garment. This measures how well the fabric protects against UVR. The highest UPF available is 50+, so always opt for this high rating, especially when choosing kids' swimwear.

Swimwear of any kind is simply too hot to wear in the sun if you are not in the water, so it is important that you plan ahead if you intend to split your time between the sand and the surf. Sun protective clothing should involve much more than just a t-shirt thrown over your swimwear. The average piece of summer clothing has UPF of 5, which is definitely not enough to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Instead look for clothing that is manufactured specifically with sun safety in mind. Choose pieces with high UPF, and avoid lightly colored or pastel fabrics because they do not provide as much sun protection as darker colors. Also look for more tightly woven fabrics, which are better at keeping ultraviolet radiation away from your skin.

Here are some other tips to keep in mind when choosing fun in the sun. Remember to apply sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 on all areas of the skin that are not covered by sun protective clothing. Remind your kids to stay indoors between the hours of 10am and 2pm to further reduce their exposure to UVR.