Dermatologists Encourage Consumers to Be 'Clothes' Minded When It Comes to Selecting Summer Wardrobe

Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Melanoma / Skin Cancer
Article Date: 03 May 2005 - 11:00 PDT


While the sheer lightweight fabrics of summer are a welcome relief from endless months of winter's dark and heavy garb, many of summer's fashion staples offer inadequate protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) recommends that anyone who works or plays in the sun this summer should choose clothing that offers UV protection when shopping for this season's list of must-haves.

Speaking today at the Academy's Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month news conference, dermatologist Susan H. Weinkle, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla., discussed the differences in the amount of UV protection provided by a variety of styles and fabrics of clothing.

"It's a misconception to think that every form of clothing provides enough sun protection to prevent sunburn," said Dr. Weinkle. "In fact, most of the summer clothes we have hanging in our closets would not get high marks for sun protection. But knowing what types of fabrics and colors to look for is a good start."

Several factors determine the effectiveness of clothing in blocking harmful UV rays, including fabric construction, fiber content and weave, fabric color, finishing processes and the presence of additives. For example, a basic white cotton T-shirt provides only moderate protection from sunburn, with an average sun protection factor (SPF) of 7. At the other end of the spectrum, a long-sleeve dark denim shirt offers excellent sun protection -- an estimated SPF of 1,700.

In general, clothing made of tightly-woven fabric performs the best at protecting skin from the sun. Woven fabrics that have see-through holes between individual threads allow UV rays to penetrate through to the skin and are not recommended for sun protection. Darker colored fabrics also are favored over lighter colors for increased sun protection. For instance, the SPF of a green cotton T-shirt is 10 vs. 7 for white cotton, and a thicker fabric such as velvet in black, blue or dark green has an approximate SPF of 50.

"An easy way to test the amount of sun protection in an article of clothing is to hold it up to a light or window and see how much light passes through the fabric," said Dr. Weinkle. "If a lot of light passes through, it will not provide adequate sun protection and you should opt for a more opaque fabric."

Treating fabrics with UV-absorbers such as resins is another common way for clothing manufacturers to increase the SPF of clothing. Recently, specialized laundry detergents that contain sun-protective additives have been introduced to give consumers a temporary way to increase the SPF of clothing between washes.

Dr. Weinkle added that two other factors that can alter the SPF of clothing are whether the material is stretched or worn wet. "Any article of clothing that is stretched in certain areas loses some level of UV protection, because the fabric becomes thinner and more transparent to light," explained Dr. Weinkle. "Wet clothing also poses a problem, with some fabrics -- such as cotton -- losing up to 50 percent of their SPF. In Florida, for example, it's common practice for parents to put a white T-shirt on their children to protect them from the sun while swimming. What parents don't realize is when this T-shirt gets wet, it actually provides very little sun protection."

A 2005 Academy survey of 1,013 adults age 18 and older found that most people (62 percent) report that they always or often wear protective clothing when they are going to be outdoors for a long period of time, an encouraging sign that points to an increased awareness of the dangers of sun exposure.

"Clearly, people are hearing our message that a tan is the skin's response to injury and are using clothing as a means to protect themselves," said Dr. Weinkle.

Long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses are all part of a comprehensive sun-protective wardrobe. In addition to wearing sun-protective clothing, the Academy recommends that everyone follow these sun protection guidelines:

• Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply every two hours for maximum effectiveness;
• Seek shade whenever possible;
• Avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun's rays are the strongest;
• Follow the "Shadow Rule" -- if your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun's damaging rays are at their strongest and you are likely to sunburn; and
• Avoid tanning beds.

For more information about skin cancer, visit the Academy's patient education Web site at http://www.skincarephysicians.com and select "SkinCancerNet."

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 14,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or http://www.aad.org.

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