| With all of us feverishly trying to keep up with | | | | skin cancer such as blonde or red hair, blue or |
| the latest fads Hollywood exports, finally there is | | | | green eyes, fair or sensitive skin, many atypical |
| a fashion tip that will truly enhance our lives. | | | | moles, and even family history of skin cancer - |
| Recently, Tom Cruise's former sidekick Nicole | | | | like Nicole Kidman. Wearing sun protective clothing, |
| Kidman was quoted by the Associated Press as | | | | coupled with proper year-round use of |
| saying: "I wish that I hadn't been born with red | | | | sunscreens, is the quite simply the best protection |
| hair and fair skin" as she is concerned about the | | | | available, Sancy says. And her colleagues in the |
| amount sun exposure and its direct link to an | | | | field of dermatological medicine agree. |
| increased risk for skin cancer. She should know, | | | | "Appropriate sun apparel should offer effective |
| too. After all, she hails from Australia where skin | | | | protection against both short term and long term |
| cancer is an exploding epidemic. | | | | photo damage [such as wrinkling, skin cancer, and |
| Subsequently, Australia is the leading the world in | | | | even cataracts]," says Dr. J.M. Mentor, who also |
| heightening the quality of skin cancer prevention | | | | teaches dermatology at the Morehouse School of |
| education and proactive sun safety behavior. | | | | Medicine ( In other words, effective sun safety |
| Truth be told, skin cancer is the world's most | | | | apparel ought to protect against both UV-B and |
| common cancer. Americans are no exception to | | | | UV-A rays, and sun protective products such as |
| the rule either! Every hour someone in the United | | | | those specially manufactured by Stingray in |
| States dies from skin cancer, according to the | | | | Australia, do exactly that. |
| American Academy of Dermatology ( Perhaps, | | | | Stingray is the original sun protection clothing |
| Kidman's example will encourage the propagation | | | | company to specialize in UV protection swimwear |
| of a new fashion wave - sun protective clothing ( | | | | and daily attire for children and adults. "As a result |
| Whereas, sun protective clothing (also known as | | | | of listening to the needs of our many customers, |
| ultraviolet radiation protective clothing; or "UVR") is | | | | we are able to deliver products that take the |
| widely used in Australia, Europe, and South Africa, | | | | 'sting out of the sun's rays,'" says Wendy Lister, |
| it is still relatively unknown here in the U.S. Sun | | | | Managing Director of Stingray. "[People] are now |
| protective clothing, however, is a highly effective | | | | getting the best possible UV protection." Those |
| option for individuals to protect themselves from | | | | living at high altitudes or near the equator, have |
| the harmful affects of UV-rays all day, every | | | | the highest risk in for skin cancer, according to |
| day. | | | | the American Academy of Dermatology. |
| If you consider that the average white 100% | | | | Glen and Liisa Tomson, both natives of South |
| cotton t-shirt is equivalent to only a SPF 6 (which | | | | Africa, know first-hand the devastating toll sun |
| provides about 14% worth of sun protection), | | | | damage can take on our health. As such, they |
| clearly there is a need for light-weight, functional, | | | | have recently partnered up with The Cancer |
| stylish, economical, clothing that also provides | | | | Crusaders Organization ( in a five-year |
| exceptional protection from over-exposure to the | | | | international skin cancer prevention education |
| sun. | | | | campaign called "Only Skin Deep?" This program |
| On the other hand, sun protective clothing blocks | | | | aims to actively engage parents and young adults |
| out more than 97.5% of UV rays (which is an | | | | in the fight against the world's most common, yet |
| equivalent to a SPF 30 sunscreen). This is | | | | preventable, cancer. |
| considered by the Skin Cancer Foundation to be | | | | "We see a great and pressing need for increased |
| "the best of the best" as it were when it comes | | | | awareness and education here in the U.S.," says |
| to effective sun protection. If you consider that a | | | | Glen Tomson. "Too many times my wife and I will |
| SPF 20 sunscreen is allowing only five out of | | | | be at the pool, and see all these children running |
| every 100 UV protons to reach your skin; it is | | | | around sun burnt. Often, we'll offer shade |
| 95% protective, than sun protective clothing is | | | | [clothing] and sunscreen to the parents so they |
| quite simply the most revolutionary new product | | | | can better protect their children." Glen and Liisa, in |
| available on the market today for those looking | | | | addition to being entrepreneurs and experts, are |
| for a viable, yet extremely effective, way to | | | | parents and realize the importance of instilling the |
| protect themselves and their loved ones from | | | | practice of sunscreen usage and the wearing of |
| sun damage. | | | | sun protective clothing at a young age so as to |
| Dermatologist-oncologist, Sancy A. Leachman of | | | | develop a lifelong habit of sun safety behavior. |
| the Tom C. Mathews Jr. Familial Melanoma | | | | In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology |
| Research Clinic at The Huntsman Cancer Institute | | | | reports that sustaining just one severe "blistering" |
| ( recommends that everyone use a sunscreen | | | | sunburn before age 18 increases one's likeliness of |
| with a sun protection factor of 15 for daily, | | | | a future skin cancer diagnosis by an estimated |
| year-round use; SPF 30 is recommended if we | | | | 60%. In other words, 80% of one's lifetime skin |
| are outdoors between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. | | | | damage occurs in the first 18 years of life. This is |
| when UV rays are most intense. | | | | of particular concern the mountain states where |
| SPF 30 sunscreen is also highly recommended for | | | | high elevation exposes us to more intense UV |
| those of us who possess multiple risk factors for | | | | irradiation. |