BRT Insights - WW Kayaking & Hiking: Sunscreen and Other Strategies for Protection Against UV During Outdoor Sports

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Sunscreen and Other Strategies for Protection Against UV During Outdoor Sports

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so its a good time to update our strategies for protection against sunburn and skin cancer caused by ultraviolet light exposure.

Sunscreen Safety & Effectiveness

Two nongovernment organizations that rate sunscreens have radically different conclusions about the safety of many popular brands of sunscreen. Consumer Reports sunscreen buying guide (test results available to subscribers only) gives good ratings to many popular sunscreens that are considered not so safe by the Environmental Working Group sunscreen guide. Here are some sunscreens that got good safety ratings from Environmental Working Group.

Be sure to buy a sunscreen that is effective for protection against both UVA and UVB. To get the best results from whatever brand of sunscreen you use it is helpful to apply the sunscreen a while before going out into the sun. Sunscreen should also be reapplied periodically throughout a long day of sun exposure, especially if you are swimming or perspiring heavily.

Clothing that Protects Against the Sun

Clothing provides good protection against the sun, in part because the whitening agents in our modern laundry detergents enable the clothing to reflect sunlight. RIT SunGuard laundry powder has a special whitening agent that enables clothing to reflect even more sunlight. Special SPF clothing designed for higher protection against sunlight is available from Coolibar, Snapper Rock and other manufacturers.