This Summer Remember That Sunscreen Is No Longer Enough -- People Spending Time In The Sun Should Consider Sun Protective Clothing

Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Melanoma / Skin Cancer
Article Date: 03 Jul 2008 - 1:00 PST

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Sunscreen has become a daily necessity for anyone spending time outdoors in the sun, especially during the hot summer months. Yet, very few people consider the protection afforded to them from their clothing. Clothing does protect the skin against the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, but not all clothing provides the same protection. Variables like the tightness of the weave, the type of fiber, the weight of the fabric and the amount of skin covered by the garment all greatly affect the amount of protection provided.

One company recognizes that typical summer clothing does little to protect precious skin underneath the clothing. Cabana Life, founded by Melissa Papock, a skin cancer survivor, combines fashion with function by offering fun, stylish clothing with 50+ UV protection. "When I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma at 26, it was a real wake up call," Papock explains. "I discovered that the clothing I thought was protecting me offered very little protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun. In fact, typical lightweight clothing offers the equivalent of SPF 5! This astonishing realization, inspired me to develop stylish, 100% cotton, UPF clothing for fashion conscious people who want to enjoy time outdoors, while protecting their skin at the same time."

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and indicates how much of the sun's UV radiation is absorbed. A fabric with a rating of 50, like those offered by Cabana Life, will allow only 1/50 of the sun's UV rays to pass through. In other words, the fabric will reduce your skin's UV radiation exposure significantly, as only 2 percent of the UV rays will get through.

If you are interested in learning more about the importance of sun protective clothing contact the company directly or visit http://www.cabanalife.com.

About Cabana Life

Cabana Life is a specialty retailer offering stylish sun protective clothing with patented High IQ Protection for women and children. It is a socially conscious brand that strives to increase skin cancer education through numerous strategic partnerships with non-profit organizations such as The Skin Cancer Foundation and Women's Dermatologic Society.

Cabana Life