Fashion and sun protection

Daily Fashion Juice
Friday, June 24, 2011

Fashion and sun protection come together

By Mary Richards

Debbie and her daughter Lindsey are chatting by the Gateway fountain, before the sun gets too high in the sky. Even before the peak hours, Debbie says sunscreen is a must.

"It's kind of scary, because I had a niece who was diagnosed with melanoma at 30 years old."

Debbie has shades, and both women are wearing hats with brims. Lindsey says fashion and sun protection are now hand-in-hand.

"You can go to the mall, and 90 percent of the hats are so cute."

More companies like Cabana Life, Mott 50, UV Skinz have products to specifically block uv rays.

Other designers now have longer swimsuits or more fashionable clothing to wear at the waterpark and beach.

No excuse, it seems, to be at risk for skin cancer

"Just cover up," says Lindsey

The University of Utah has a summer sun quiz to help you determine how risky your activities are in terms of skin cancer.

Some sun protection rules of thumb

UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) ratings are like SPF ratings for clothing. Higher offers more protection. For instance, a UPF rating of 50 means that only 1/50th of the sun's light will get through.

Any UPF rating above 15 may be labeled as "sun protective."

The lighter the weight and color of the fabric, the less protection it gives. Darker, heavier clothing works better.

If you can see through clothing when holding it up to a light, UV rays can get though it.

Wet clothing may have half the UPF of dry clothing, so pay attention to what you plan on doing while out. If you are going swimming, wear something darker, rather than, for instance, a white shirt.

Tightly woven fabrics protect better. There are some clothes specially designed to block the sun.

There are some laundry additives that may increase an article of clothing's UPF.