Your old, faded gardening shirt might not offer good protection from an afternoon in the sun. The July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers these tips on sun protection and clothing. Choose clothes that are:

¥ Tightly woven -- Thick, tightly woven fabrics block more sun. Polyester, wool, silk and unbleached cotton offer the best protection.

¥ Dark -- Dyes added to clothing help absorb ultraviolet rays before they reach the skin.

¥ New -- The more clothing has been washed, the less effective it is in blocking sun rays. ¥ Loose fitting -- Looser garments that cover as much skin as possible are best.

And, it is always important to apply a broad-spectrum sun screen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. Broad spectrum means it provides protection against ultraviolet A and B radiation.

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CITATIONS

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, Jul-2002 (Jul-2002)

TYPE OF ARTICLE
Research Results
SECTION
KEYWORDS
SUN Protection Clothes
COMMENTS | COMMENTING POLICY