Protection from the sun

Wearing appropriate clothing and hats plays an important role in protecting your skin from the sun. The major cause of skin cancer is over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun over many years. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in New Zealand, yet it can be prevented in most cases.

About UV radiation

UV radiation cannot be seen or felt and the intensity of such radiation is not related to air temperature. People often get sunburned on a cooler day because they tend to stay outside longer, rather than seeking shade or covering up as on a hot day. Even if exposure does not cause obvious sunburn, damage still occurs and accumulates over the years.

Peak UV radiation times are between early October and late March, especially between 11am and 4pm.

The Ultraviolet Index (UVI)

The Ultraviolet Index (UVI) is an international, scientific measure of the level of UV radiation in the environment. The higher the number, the greater the risk of skin damage. The Cancer Society advises sun protection when the UVI is 3 or higher.

Cover up

Cover up with hats and clothing when UV radiation levels are high. Sunscreen should only be used on exposed skin and NOT as the sole or primary form of defence against the sun.

Before going out in the summer sun, make sure you are wearing clothing and a hat to protect your face, ears, nose, shoulders, trunk, arms and legs. Examples of sun-protective clothing include shirts with collars and long sleeves, and lightweight trousers or shorts with longer legs.

Effective UV protection clothing

Most fabrics will give some protection from the sun, but there are basic guidelines for choosing the best type of fabric.

• Weave - the weave is most important and tightly woven fabrics are better than loosely woven ones.
• Colour - darker fabrics give better protection than light coloured ones.
• Weight - weight is a less important factor, though heavier fabrics let less UV radiation through. But lightweight, tightly woven fabrics can provide good protection.
• Stretch - most woven fabrics do not stretch much, but ones which do stretch will offer less sun protection.
• Wetness - wet fabrics may only give half as much sun protection as dry fabrics.

Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF)

The Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) indicates how effective a fabric is at blocking out solar ultraviolet radiation. This testing is performed according to Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS4399.

UPF ratings range from 15 to 50, with higher ratings indicating more effective blocking and therefore better sun protection from the fabric.

• UPF15 to 24 offers good protection
• UPF25 to 39 offers very good protection
• UPF40 to 50+ offers excellent protection.

Why wear a hat?

Many people report getting burnt on the head, neck and face. These are also common sites for skin cancers (including melanoma) to occur, so it is important to cover up.

Choosing good hats

The following hats provide good shade to the face, back of the neck and ears when outdoors.

• Broad-brimmed hats should have a brim at least 7.5cm wide. A broad-brimmed hat that provides good shade can considerably reduce UV radiation exposure to the face.
• Bucket or surfie style hats must have a deep crown and sit low on the head. The angled brim should be at least 6cm to provide the face, neck and ears with plenty of protection from the sun. Please note that brims need to be measured from the rim on the inside of the hat.
• Legionnaire style hats should have a flap that covers the neck and meets the sides of the front peak to provide protection to the side of the face.

Baseball caps and sun visors are NOT recommended as they leave the ears and back of the neck exposed.

Related topics

Also see Sunscreens and Sun protection for babies and toddlers and Skin cancer

Original material provided by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, December 2007. Edited by everybody, July 2010.