Sun Protective Swimwear

People baring large amounts of skin while on the beach or by the poolside is a common enough sight, but it isn't always the best idea. With skin cancer being the most common form of cancer in the United States, it's in one's best health interest to wear sun protective swimwear more often.¹

This type of swimsuit does more than just protect from sunburn, it also shields the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.



Bathing suits and other sun protective clothing are made from fabrics such as nylon, cotton, and spandex. A UV-protective swimsuit covers a lot more skin than a bikini does, but design and stylishness are not compromised.

Women shoppers can choose from among a variety of rash guards, halter-type tops, short sleeved tops, swim shorts and swim skirts. Some outdoor clothing brands, such as HydroChic, offer UV-safe swim shirts, skirts, shorts and skorts that can be worn by themselves, without the need to wear a swimsuit underneath for reasons of modesty.²



Rash guards, long sleeved swim shirts, and board shorts that protect from UV rays are available for men. Similarly, there is no shortage of options when it comes to sun protective swimwear for children and infants.

How can you tell if your swimsuit is providing sufficient UV protection? The best way would be to learn about the fabric's Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating. A number of countries have implemented standards for sun protective fabrics, and in the U.S. these standards were introduced in 2001. According to the American Melanoma Foundation, clothes that has UPF ratings of 40, 45, and 50+ offer excellent protection since they block up to 98 percent of UV rays.³

With the knowledge that overexposure to UV rays can have very harmful health effects, it makes perfect sense to protect yourself and those you love from them. Wearing sun protective swimwear, no matter what your age or gender, and whether you choose to play in the water or just lounge around on the beach or poolside, goes a long way toward achieving this goal.


Sources:

1. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/
2. http://hydrochic.com/upf50-sun-protection.html
3. http://www.melanomafoundation.org/prevention/clothing.htm

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Category › sun bathing , upf