| In Australia, sun protective clothing sells almost | | | | protective clothing: |
| three times as well as sunscreen. In large part, | | | | Protection is Reliable Sun protective clothing |
| that's because for over two decades, the | | | | protects consistently and constantly. Unlike |
| Australian government has supported a national | | | | sunscreen, the portection offered by UPF-rated |
| campaign to reduce the epidemic of skin cancers | | | | clothing does not fade or wear off during the day. |
| in that nation. | | | | Protection is less ExpensiveClothing is bought only |
| The Australians also pioneered the concept of | | | | once and will last many seasons or until outgrown. |
| UPF, ultraviolet protection factor, a method of | | | | Over the long term, buying sun protection clothing |
| rating sun protection clothing. (In the late 1990s, | | | | is less expensive than buying sunscreen. |
| several influential American organizations including | | | | Protection is Not Messy Sun protection clothing is |
| the American Association of Textile Chemists and | | | | not sticky, oily, allergenic or difficult to apply, unlike |
| Colorists adopted the Australian UPF standard for | | | | sunscreens. In addition, UPF garments reduce the |
| use in the United States.) | | | | amount of exposed areas meaning sunscreen |
| UPF measures the amount of UVR (ultraviolet | | | | needs to be applied only to face and hands. This |
| radiation) that is blocked by a fabric. Unlike SPF, | | | | can be especially appealing to parents of young |
| the rating system used for sunscreen, UPF | | | | children...and to men. |
| measures both UVA (longwave) and UVB | | | | Protection is Provided for both UVA and UVB This |
| (shortwave) rays. SPF measures only UVB | | | | is worth mentioning again. Unlike sunscreens, which |
| protection. | | | | have SF ratings based only on UVB, UPF rating |
| Common sense suggests that a physical blok is | | | | clothing protects against both UVA and UVB. |
| the best way to protect the skin from the sun. | | | | When you are buying sun protective clothing, only |
| For example, we know that there is a direct | | | | buy UPF rated clothing. And, look for garments |
| correlation between the change in clothing styles | | | | with a high UPF rating. For example, a garment |
| (smaller and smaller bathing suits) and the increase | | | | with a UPF of 50 only allows 1/50th of the UV |
| in skin cancers. The fewer clothes people wear, | | | | radiation falling on the surface of the garment to |
| the more skin cancers they get. | | | | pass through it. In other words, it blocks 49/50ths |
| Here are the practical reasons for wearing sun | | | | or 98% of the UV radiation. |