Why is UV sun protection important?
Sun protection is important because sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer and over one in 5 Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US; each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood or 5 or more sunburns at any age more than doubles the risk of melanoma later in life. UV radiation from the sun is associated with about 90% of all skin cancers. And to add insult to injury, up to 90% of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun as well.
The good news? Skin cancer is highly preventable with UV protection, including UV protective apparel, sunglasses, sunscreens and reducing sun exposure between 10AM to 4PM. (Source: The Skin Cancer Foundation)
What is Sun Protection clothing… Why shouldn’t I just stick to my usual sunscreen?
A 2007 review in the medical journal, The Lancet, reported that UV protective clothing and reducing sun exposure are more effective than using sunscreen.
The advantage of Iconic Sport’s sun protection apparel is that Iconic’s sun protection is mechanical, not chemical and so it does not wash out, rub off or sweat off– they are an intrinsic, non-chemical part of our fabrics.
Part of the problem with sunscreens is that most people neither apply enough sunscreen nor do they reapply frequently enough or 30 minutes before sun exposure for effective chemical absorbtion. There’s also the stickiness/glop factor and the fact that sunscreen chemicals are absorbed into your body with unclear consequences.
With appropriate sun protective clothing your sun protection level does not vary. Plus you avoid the ‘sticky’ factor of sunscreens and the scary pollutant factor which is being reported about a number of common sunscreen ingredients which are showing up systematically in our population and in our oceans, lakes and waterways.
In addition, not all sunscreens provide UVA and UVB Broad spectrum coverage. The SPF rating only applies to the UVB (burning) radiation protection level. From a cost effectiveness point of view, our sun sleeves cost about the same as 2-3 bottles of sunscreen and can be used over and over…
That said, we recommend sun protective clothing where possible and practical plus using a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, (preferably a physical block sunscreen, i.e. zinc oxide based sunscreen) for areas not covered by UV protective clothing or hats, i.e face, hands etc, sunglasses and avoiding prolonged sun exposure between 10 AM and 4 PM.
How do I play it safe in the sun?
The Skin Cancer Foundation asked several athletes who are uniquely qualified to advise- they’re also dermatologists! As skin experts, all of them take certain general precautions and recommend that you do the same:
• Avoid outdoor athletics between the peak sun hours of 10 AM and 4 PM
• Wear UV protective clothing, hats and UV-blocking sunglasses. The Skin Cancer Foundation considers UPF 30-49 fabrics to be very good protection and UPF 50+ to be excellent sun protection
• Use a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB blocking), sweat-resistant SPF 15 or higher sunscreen, being careful to cover often-missed exposed spots such as the hands and the back of the neck. Apply 15 – 30 minutes before exposure and reapply often – at least every 90 minutes – and more if you are sweating or wet.
What are UVA, UVB and UVC vs plain-old UV rays vs light rays? The radiation we receive from the sun consists of 50% infrared radiation (IR), 40% visible light, and 10% UV radiation. The UV wavelength rays (UVA, UVB and UVC radiation) and most of IR are invisible to the human eye. Shortest UV wavelength UVC rays are the most damaging/carcenogenic UV rays and are filtered by the atmosphere/ozone layer. (Note, the high level of skin cancer in Australia (50% vs 20% in the US) is linked to the ozone hole in the southern polar region which increases UVC rays in parts of the southern hemisphere, including Australia.) The medium wavelength UVB rays cause sunburn and cancer, but do not penetrate beyond the superficial skin layers although they still cause mutations and damage DNA. UVB rays comprise about 5% of the UV radiation (0.5% of total sun radiation) reaching the earth. UVA rays, the longest UV wavelength rays, comprise approximately 95% of the UV radiation (or 9.5% of total sun radiation) reaching the earth’s surface, penetrates deeper into the skin layers and is linked to degenerative changes in DNA, skin, fibrous tissue and blood vessels resulting in premature skin aging (wrinkles, age spots, degraded collagen etc.) and increased skin cancer and cataract risk.
Do UV levels vary throughout the day?
Yes! Interestingly, although both UVA and UVB radiation levels are highest at mid-day, UVB radiation levels are highest between 10am and 4pm, but UVA levels are present for most of the day, following the variation of visible light, although it still peaks somewhat around mid-day.
Do the windows in my car and house/ office block UV rays?
UVA radiation is transmitted through glass whereas UVB is almost entirely blocked. So high UVA radiation can be received inside a building with a lot of glass, c.f. {1}.
So you can be getting UVA exposure even inside, especially in a building with a lot of sunlight. Note that some glass is treated to block UVA – typically car windshields are treated for UVA blocking, but not side or rear windows. Building windows typically are not treated for UVA blocking but laminates glass and coated glass can block UVA. Note also that ‘low-e’ glass does not block UVA, only UVB and infrared (heat) rays to reduce heating and cooling costs. For more info see {3}, {4}
What is the difference between SPF and UPF sun protection rating scales?
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is a UVB-only sun rating for sunscreens only. Basically SPF testing has some poor person stick his/her arm in UV light and the time until s/he gets sunburned is measured. If that guy/gal sunburns in 5 minutes without sunscreen and, for example, ten times longer (50 minutes) with sunscreen,then that lotion is SPF 10. This is a measure of UVB (think Burning rays and cancer), not UVA spectrum rays (think Aging/skin damage and cancer rays). Sunscreen manufacturers self-test their products without a standard test protocol or certification so your mileage will vary. Note that Consumer Reports found only 2 of 20 tested provided the SPF protection promised after water immersion, with 18 ranging from 4 – 50% less than claimed.
The non-profit organization, The Environmental Working Group does independent annual testing of sunscreen safety and effectiveness for UVA and UVB for thousands of sunscreens and is well worth checking.
UPF (UV Protection Factor) is defined specifically for fabrics and measures how much UVA and UVB radiation gets thru the fabric barrier. Standard test procedures must be followed, as defined by several testing agencies (see next section). For example, UPF 50 means that the amount of the UVA and UVB radiation that makes it through the fabric is 1/50 or 2% of the incoming UVA and UVB light. UPF 50+ (the highest allowable rating) means less than 2% of the UV light gets through. UPF 30 means 1/30 = 3.33% of the incoming UV rays get through to you, etc. So higher UPF ratings have better UV protection.
How do I know how much UV protection I’m getting from sun protective clothing?
The way the UV radiation is measured and how fabrics are UPF-rated is specified by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) standards agency so it is very repeatable. We send our fabrics to an independent testing agency for testing using AATCC Test Method 183. Any legitimate sun protection clothing should have a test rating from one of the standards agencies. Other standards agencies with UV testing methods include the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and ARPANSA (formerly the Australian Radiation Laboratory) and Australian Standard Evaluation and classification AS/NZS4399.
What sun protection level (UPF) is enough for me?
The Skin Cancer Foundation, recommends sun-protective fabrics with at least UPF 30 for extended sun exposure. They consider a UPF rating of 30-49 to offer very good protection, and 50+ excellent protection. Although like regular clothing, sun-protective clothing may lose its effectiveness if pulled too tight or stretched out, if it becomes damp or wet, or if it is washed (for UV additives) or worn through. (Note, iconic’s microfiber polyester blend fabrics do not lose UPF ratings when wet and sometimes increase, nor does repeated washing affect iconic’s microfiber polyester-based fabrics.)
However, (of course) your mileage may vary– infants, children, very fair complected people, those with sun sensitivity (sometimes due to medications, chemotherapy, lupus and other conditions), those in extreme environments (water/snow reflection, high altitude, near equator etc.) should increase their sun protection levels. Note that if you are a member of a darker complected ethnicity, you can’t get complacent either– Asians, African Americans and Hispanics tend to have the more serious/deadly forms of skin cancer when it’s diagnosed, c.f. The Skin Cancer Foundation. (Who knew that Bob Marley died from melanoma?)
How much sun protection is available in ‘regular’ clothing?
The material, thickness, color, whether the fabric is stretched or wet– all affect UV protection levels. Generally, light-colored, loosely woven fabrics offer less sun protection than dark, tightly woven or fine-gage knit fabrics. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a dry white cotton tee shirt offers a UPF value of around 5 to 7 (blocks 80 – 86% of UVA and B) and about UPF 3 when wet, or 66% blocking). A darker green tee shirt may be around UPF 10 when dry. Heavy dark denim offers an estimated UPF value of 1700. Fabrics with a sheen (polyester, nylon, silk) tend to reflect more UV rays than matte natural fibers such as cotton, rayon or wool. Also natural fibers tend to lose about 50% of their UV protection level when wet because the fibers relax and there are more ‘gaps’ in the material. Synthetics tend to mat (rather than loosen) when wet and so usually increase the level of UV protection. Chemical additives can be used at home or by the manufacturer to increase reflectivity (and thus UV protection) for a certain # of washes.
Do I need sun protection when it’s cloudy?
Yes! Depending on the type of cloud, and how deep it is through atmosphere, UV radiation can be either lower (for thin clouds) or higher for clouds which reflect UV and thus intensify the UV levels at ground level.
If I’m not getting sunburned, am I safe from skin cancer?
No. Sun burning is from UVB spectrum rays; UVA (and UVC cancer-causing rays if you are in an ozone hole) cancer-causing rays can penetrate through narrow spectrum high SPF sunscreen and fabrics which only block UVB rays. So just because you are not getting sunburned does not mean you are protected from skin cancer and damaging ultraviolet rays.
I’m dark-complected ethnically and I tan easily. Am I safe from skin cancer?
No. While melanoma is uncommon in African Americans, Latinos, and Asians, it is frequently fatal for these populations; primarily because people of color are frequently diagnosed with skin cancer at later stages. These delays mean that skin cancers are often advanced and potentially fatal, whereas most skin cancers are curable if caught and treated in a timely manner.
Skin cancer represents one to two percent of malignancies in African Americans and Asian Indians. Although skin cancer comprises only two to four percent of all cancers in Chinese and Japanese Asians, the incidence is rising. Melanomas in African Americans, Asians, Filipinos, Indonesians, and native Hawaiians most often occur on non-exposed skin with less pigment, with up to 60-75 percent of tumors arising on the palms, soles, mucous membranes and nail regions. Among non-Caucasians, melanoma is a higher risk for children than adults: 6.5 percent of pediatric melanomas occur in non-Caucasians; c.f. skincancer.org. Little known fact, Bob Marley died from malignant melanoma on his toe at age 36. Here’s an informational link with info on skin cancer for black people (its title is for people of color but data and advice seem primarily focused on black people; have not yet found info which also includes other people of color e.g. Latinx, Asians, indigenous peoples). https://thedermreview.com/skin-cancer-awareness-prevention-for-people-of-color/
Why Sun Sleeves?
A round of golf, a training ride/run, afternoon hike, tennis match — all great fun but all can be a long time in the sun– and most people don’t apply sunscreen liberally (about a shot-glass worth) or frequently enough (at least every 90 minutes, more if you are sweating or wet). UV protective sun sleeves provide sun protection which will not rub, sweat or wash off. The ideal sun sleeves for golf and other arm-active sports should be comfortable (not hot!), with the highest UV protection rating (UPF 50+), resilient stretch and recovery, with perspiration-wicking and anti-microbial/ anti-odor properties and retain their sun protection level when damp or wet. They should be machine washable of course! Our sun sleeves are available in prints and solids, in unisex size XXS/Junior to XXL. For more information, please see our Sun sleeve FAQ in English or in Japanese.
Note: We have UPF 50+ leg coolers, leg warmers, sun gloves, sun gaiters (for neck protection) as well as women’s sun protective apparel. All made in the USA. Please go to the store portion of our website to see more.
I’ve heard I shouldn’t use very high SPF value sunscreens. Why is that?
EWG has a great article on this but to summarize, the main reasons are that: 1.) High SPF sunscreens only offer marginally better protection: A SPF of 100 theoretically means you can stay in the sun over 3X longer than with a SPF 30 sunscreen. But the SPF 30 sunscreen is blocking 97% of UVB rays and the SPF 100 sunscreen is blocking 99% which is a small difference. When used properly, SPF 30-50 sunscreens should be sufficient even for sun-sensitive people: 2.) sunscreens frequently fall short of the claimed levels of UVB protection (4-50% less); 3.) High SPF sunscreens typically do not have a proportional level of UVA protection, so people tend to stay in the sun longer than they should (because they have confidence in the high ratings) and then expose themselves to much higher levels of both UVA and UVB radiation 4.) typically people don’t use sunscreens correctly – usually only applying one fifth of the amount of sunscreen that they should – so at that rate, a SPF 100 sunscreen is only providing an SPF level of 2.3 or less than a cotton tee shirt… and most people do not apply frequently enough. 5.)There are additional health risks as well in the higher SPF products which require higher concentrations of chemicals than lower SPF products. Suggest you read the excellent full article for more details.
I’m getting wrinkles and age spots. How much of that is from the sun? Is it too late to do anything?
If you wear a watch, compare the skin color and texture under your watch to your non-watch wrist. If you’re a golfer, check the back of your glove hand versus your non-glove hand. Is there a difference in wrinkling, freckles or age spots? If there is, it’s most likely from sun/UVA exposure. Although the UV damage is cumulative, it’s not too late! Here are links to a couple research studies which show that appropriate sun protection can prevent additional damage {1}, {2},
There are new laser and other means such as IPL therapy, dermabration, medications and peels that can remove age/sun spots for some people; check with your dermatologist.
I’ve heard that better sunscreens are available in Europe and Asia. Is that true?
There are newer, widely-used sunscreen ingredients available abroad which are not approved here. The good news however is that the Sunscreen Innovation Act was signed into law in Dec. of 2014 specifically to expedite the review and approval of over the counter sunscreens by the US FDA, who has not approved a new active sunscreen ingredient since 1999, despite the fact that sunscreens awaiting approval have been approved and used over seas for over a decade. This new law gives the FDA 1 year to clear out its backlog (8 ingredients as of Feb 2015) and 18 months to respond to new requests. As of Feb 2015, the FDA indicated it needs more data on all 8 before coming to a conclusion.
What sunscreens do you recommend?
Personally, I prefer physical block sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) to reduce chemical exposure/absorbsion and allergies. But there are many to chose from; you should chose one that has ‘broad spectrum’ sun protection, i.e. UVA rays *and* UVB rays.
The non-profit organization, The Environmental Working Group does a very extensive independent annual testing of sunscreen safety (personal toxicity and environment effect) as well as level effectiveness of UVA and UVB blocking for thousands of sunscreens and is well worth checking.
What about eye protection?
Yes! you need it, even during overcast days. Find sunglasses you will wear with 100% UV blocking.
Where can I find out more about UV protection and preventing skin cancer?
Please check our links page for more information. The good news is that skin cancer and UV damage is highly preventable with UV protection.