Covering up

Man covering up in the sunWhen there's no shade around, the best way to protect your skin from the sun is with loose clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and good quality sunglasses.

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What to look for

The more skin that is covered by your clothing, the better the protection. Look for materials with a close weave, as they will block out the most UV rays. Holding the material up to the light is a good way to see how much light and UV rays will get through.

Be aware that when some clothes get wet, they stretch and allow more UV rays through to your skin. This is particularly a problem for cotton clothes. A wet cotton t-shirt may only offer half the protection of a dry one.

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Don't forget your hat and sunglasses

Hats are great for protecting the face, eyes and head. Choose a wide-brimmed hat for the most protection.

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Choosing sunglasses

When choosing sunglasses look for one of the following:

  • the 'CE Mark' and British Standard (BS EN 1836:1997)
  • a UV 400 label
  • a statement that the sunglasses offer 100% UV protection

Also, make sure that the glasses offer protection at the side of the eye. The wraparound style of glasses are popular in Australia where sun safety is very important.

As well as damaging the skin, overexposure to UV rays can damage the eyes too. Too much UV can lead to cataracts as well as rare types of eye cancer. Wearing sunglasses in strong sunlight can help to protect the eyes from damage.

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