A few years ago I came across a catalog called Sun Precautions, a line of clothing that protects from the harmful rays of the sun. While I absolutely believe that we all need a certain amount of sunshine to promote the manufacture of Vitamin D in our bodies, I also believe that the hot rays of the midday and afternoon sun are too strong for my skin. So in the early morning or late in the day, I do not worry about the sun as much as I do during the heat of the day. Thus, clothing that blocks the harmful “day rays” seem to make sense for my body.

First, let’s define our terms. Since most people confuse the terms sunscreen and sunblock, I Googled the topic and found definitions on www.pediatrics.about.com. According to Vincent Ianelli, M.D., sunscreens absorb the ultraviolet light so it does not reach your skin, while sunblock physically blocks the sun’s UV rays. And sunblock has the added benefit compared with sunscreen of blocking UVA and UVB rays. Also, sunblock ingredients include (protective) titanium oxide and zinc oxide.

I also Googled the different ultraviolet rays, A, B, & C and found this on www.911skin.com: (Excerpted)

“UVA was touted in the 1980s as the safe ray and sun beds were the rage. Some dermatologist backed this idea as a safe and healthy way to look your best. Since then science has found this ray actually does more damage to the body than UVB. UVB rays only have the strength to penetrate the very top layer of your body called the epidermis, which has the same thickness as a silk scarf. No blood vessels or nerve endings are present. UVC, shortest from the sun, usually does not reach the earth’s surface, being absorbed by the ozone layer above the earth. Occasionally, articles are written on the ozone depletion and the possible exposure to UVC, where only a brief exposure can cause light sunburn. Prolonged exposure to UVC is considered fatal.”

Since finding that first catalog, I have found two other companies. Below are the websites and a photo of one of their items, in case you want to check out their clothing. The clothing is pricey, but you don’t need a whole wardrobe, just a few items, like a shirt or lightweight jacket, a hat, and a pair of every day pants. I am gradually building a “sun wardrobe ” which I will take that on a trip that promises lots of sunshine.

The first company I used was Sun Precautions, as noted above. You can click on the link to their website: www.sunprecautions.org to check out their online catalog.  According to the catalog, “Sun Precautions was the innovator, with its Solumbra line, which blocks more than 97% of UVAs & UVBs.”  Here are two of their jackets:

I found out about the second company, Coolibar, from my neighbor Harriet, who joins me in our condo’s pool every morning. She wears her Coolibar shirt in the pool for protection. Here’s a quote from their website: www.coolibar.com: “Our name is taken from the famous eucalyptus tree found in the harsh Australian outback. Like it, we promise welcome relief and reliable protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Sun protective clothing has been popular for over a decade in Australia, where it gets very hot and many of its citizens are fair-skinned. In fact, Aussies now prefer UV sun-wear to sunscreen alone! Using expertise developed down-under, and elsewhere around the globe, Coolibar’s high quality fabrics are guaranteed to be the most dependable on the market

Note: The three sun protective clothing companies are the ones with which I am familiar, but if you Google sun protective clothing, you will find more choices to investigate. ellensue ♥

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