According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 1 million people will be diagnosed with cases of skin cancer this year in the United States. Applying sunscreen and limiting your sun exposure can reduce your risk for skin cancer. So can wearing sun-protective clothing.
It's important to understand the labeling information on sun protection products and shop carefully before heading to the beach, tennis court or park. The Federal Trade Commission carefully monitors advertising claims in this area and offers this information to help you make wise purchasing decisions.
Sun-protective fabrics differ from typical summer fabrics in several ways. Sun-protective fabrics typically have a tighter weave or knit and usually are darker in color. Garments made with these fabrics may have a label listing the garment's Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value, that is, the level of protection the garment provides from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The higher the UPF, the higher the UV protection.
The UPF rating indicates how much of the sun's UV radiation is absorbed by the fabric. For example, a fabric with a UPF rating of 20 allows 1/20th of the sun's UV radiation to pass through it. This means that the fabric would reduce your skin's UV radiation exposure by 20 times where it's protected by the fabric.
There are three categories of UPF protection:
Garments with a rating above UPF 50 may be labeled UPF 50+; however, they may not offer substantially more protection than those with a UPF of 50. Also, a garment shouldn't be labeled "sun-protective" or "UV-protective" if its UPF is less than 15. In addition, sun-protective clothing may lose its effectiveness if it's too tight or stretched out, damp or wet, and worn and washed repeatedly.
You may see labels on sun-protective garments stating that the garment meets standards developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM is just one organization that has developed a standard guide for the testing and labeling of UV protective fabrics. While manufacturers don't have to comply with the ASTM standard guide, those that say they do must label their garments with UPF values.
Here are some other ways to make working and playing outdoors sun-safe.
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.