Clothing − your first line of defence against skin cancer

Why cover up?

Over exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays may cause skin cancer. Unfortunately, South Africa has the second highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. Three main types of skin cancer are noted, namely basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The last two types are considered malignant and melanomas can and have caused many deaths. According to health experts, almost 90% of melanomas can be linked to sun exposure and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Covering up exposed skin is one way of limiting harmful sun exposure. Fortunately, sun and UV protective clothing can be bought at certain regular and speciality shops in South Africa. An example in case is Mr Price Sport’s new Trail Tech clothing range that meets the Cancer Association of South Africa’s (CANSA) SunSmart Choice Seal requirements. However, “wearing the Mr Price Sport Trail Tech range is not enough. Sunscreen must be applied regularly to all exposed skin, whilst UV protective hats and sunglasses should also be worn”, warns Sue Janse van Rensburg, CANSA CEO.

What is sun-protective clothing?

Sun-protective clothing is clothing specially designed for sun protection and is produced from fabric rated for its level of UV protection. An ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) 50 standard will, for example, provide the skin with 50 times the protection against solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) compared to unprotected skin. Manufacturers usually identify the UPF of their garments on a label sewn inside the garments. Some textiles and fabrics used for sun protective clothing may be pre-treated with UV-inhibiting ingredients during manufacture to enhance their effectiveness.

Best fabrics and colours

The following factors affect the level of sun protection provided by a fabric:

• • Weave

• • Colour

• • Weight

• • Stretch

• • Wetness.

 

The denser the fabric (weave, weight, stretch), the better the protection. Denim and wool that is tightly woven or closely knitted are excellent examples. Synthetic and semi-synthetic fibres such as polyester and rayon are also very good UV light absorbers. Getting a fabric wet reduces the protection by half except for silk and viscose which can become even more protective when wet.

A number of fabrics and textiles in common use today need no further UV-blocking enhancement due to their inherent fibre structure, density of weave and dye components. These fabrics usually contain full percentages or blends of heavy-weight natural fibres like cotton, linen and hemp or light-weight synthetics such as polyester, nylon, spandex and polypropylene. Other common examples include natural or synthetic indigo-dyed denim, twill weaves and canvas. A major disadvantage of these fabrics is their heat retention qualities. Some UV-blocking textiles and clothing may therefore be designed with ventilated weaves, moisture wicking and antibacterial properties to help solve this problem.

Darker-coloured fabrics offer more protection than lighter-coloured fabrics because they absorb more UVR, stopping the rays before they reach the skin. Bright colours such as red or black absorb more UVR than white or pastel shades. The more intense the hue, the better the UV defence. Some fabric brighteners added to detergents also help absorb UV light.

It has never been easier to dress sun-safe year round – please do!

 

Sources

All about sun protective clothing. Retrieved from: http://factory-shops-cape-town-south-africa.blaauwberg.net/
Be SunSmart with Mr Price Sport. Retrieved from: http://www.cansa.org.za/
Clothing: our first line of defence. Retrieved from: http://www.skincancer.org/
Top five skin cancer symptoms and four natural treatments. Retrieved from: http://draxe.com/
Wegner, C. Skin Cancer: a shocking truth about sun damage. Retrieved from: http://www.capechameleon.co.za/