Sun protection - covering up

Aim to cover up with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses

When 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.

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. Natural fibres such as linen and cotton are cooler, especially if they are loose-fitting.

Be aware that when clothing gets wet it stretches and allows more UV rays through to your skin. A wet t-shirt may only offer half the protection of a dry one.

Don't forget your hat and sunglasses

Hats are great for protecting the face, eyes and head (especially if you happen to be thin on top!). A wide-brimmed hat can reduce the UV radiation reaching your face and eyes by over 50 per cent. Long term exposure of eyes to the sun increases your risk of skin cancer of the eyelids and around the eyes.

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 they know all about sun safety.

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