August 4, 2016
1436
Q: I’m worried about the chemicals contained within sunscreens. Is there another way to protect myself and my kids from the damaging effects of Ultraviolet (UV) sun rays?
A: Other than staying out of the sun completely, the best way to protect yourself and your family from the burning/aging/cancer-causing effects of the sun, is through the use of clothing.
In fact, some skin experts prefer this method to the use of sunscreens. This is not because of some perceived risk from the chemicals used in sunscreens (more on this in a moment) but due to the undeniable fact that the vast majority of people fail to use adequate amounts of sunscreen or to reapply as frequently as is necessary (every few hours) to gain the full benefits.
As to the safety concerns regarding the chemicals used in sunscreens, experts consistently agree that there is no proof these are harmful even after many years of widespread use (there are a few studies in animals that have raised possible concerns over the years). However, we definitively know that sun exposure will lead to another 80,000 Canadians being diagnosed with some form of skin cancer of which 6,000-7,000 will be of the potentially-lethal melanoma variant.
Getting back to our garments, all clothing to some degree impacts the transmission of UV radiation. The amount of protection is measured by an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating (sunscreens use SPF ratings).
UPF measures blockage of both UVA and UVB rays; whereas, an SPF only indicates the degree of protection from UVB rays. The higher the number, the greater the reflective qualities and the safer you will be. A UPF of 50 allows only two per cent of the sun’s rays to pass through. while a UPF of 25 would block all but four per cent (and the number also serves as an indication of how many times longer you can be exposed to the sun before it starts to damage the skin cells underneath it).
When fabrics and ultraviolet radiation meet, the energy from the UV rays is changed. The radiation is converted to heat, a conversion that renders most of the rays harmless. Clothing must have a UPF of at least 15 to be marketed as UV- protective.
To put that in perspective, a white cotton T-shirt would have a UPF of between five and eight. Interestingly, laundering a shirt repeatedly can increase its protective factor since most detergents use optical brightening ingredients (these are the chemicals that allow Tide, etc., to make your whites “whiter than white”). These ingredients boost the disruption of ultraviolet rays when they strike your garment.
There are a variety of factors that make some garments more effective at changing these rays than others. These include the manufacturing (the denser and tighter the weave and thicker the fabric, the higher the UPF), the dye used (it is the specific type of dye and the concentration used, not necessarily the colour, that impacts a fabric’s UPF), the “treatments” added, if any, (chemicals added during manufacturing that further disrupt UV radiation), the stretch (if a garment is stretched beyond 10 per cent, it loses much of its protection), the fibre type (polyester and nylon are excellent), whether it’s wet (damp clothing is less effective), and its overall condition (worn or faded clothing is less effective).
The use of UVF clothing seems to be far less controversial for those concerned about the chemicals used in sunscreens, but there are still some who express concerns about the chemicals that are added by some manufacturers. For those people, companies such as SunBusters and grUVywear guarantee that they achieve their respective UPF ratings without the added use of chemicals.
In summary, UVF clothing is not a must-do, but given that much of it is lightweight, breathable and fashionable, it makes a nice alternative for those who would prefer to protect their arms and legs in the hot summer by a more natural means.
For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination. Also check the website at /www.gordon-pharmasave.com/ and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GordonPharmasave/?fref=ts
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