Beyond causing painful sunburns, UV radiation can lead to skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the Untied States. For years, popular wisdom has held that using chemical sunscreen is the best way to protect from the sun. But is it? Clothing actually provides much greater levels of protection, does not leave greasy residue, does not add chemical burden to the body and does not need to be reapplied. Here are some additional facts to consider when deciding which protection to choose.
Benefits of Beach Cover Ups and Other Sun-Protective Clothing
Did you know that most chemical sun screens are now prohibited from use in Hawaii? This is because sun screen blocks sunlight from reaching living corals and prevents photosynthesis, thus killing them. Interestingly, this does demonstrate that sun screen is effective, but doesn’t change the fact that sun screen has to constantly be reapplied in order to be effective, and studies show that it is rare that people remember to do this. Particularly for parents who have to struggle to get the sun screen on their children, it is unlikely that they will be successful getting the second, much less the third or fourth application on. And in this world of toxic chemicals, why burden you body with even more chemical if you don’t have to? How many times have we been assured by industry that a chemical is harmless, only to have it revealed years later that “whoops, sorry that chemical is bad for you after all. Sorry about that!” Why risk it?
Now a note about 37.5 / Cocona Fabric. Woven directly into the fabric, the UV-reflecting elements won't wash out after repeated rounds in the washing machine or the ocean. This also means no frequent breaks to reapply chemical sun screen.
If you’re worried about having to replace your summer wardrobe, we have a solution. Sun sleeves can be worn with any short-sleeve outfit to protect your arms from shoulder to wrist, while a neck gaiter can keep your neck and face sun-free. Available in a range of colors and prints, you can choose protection without sacrificing style.
Deficiencies of Chemical Sunscreen
Although commonly used, sunscreen has several drawbacks:
- Most people don’t apply enough
- Washes off with water and sweat
- Some formulas have been found to contain potentially carcinogenic ingredients
It’s not just humans that are paying the price for the harmful chemicals in sunscreen – certain ingredients are toxic to coral reefs. So much so that Hawaii has banned two.
Even if you’re far from the Aloha State, it’s important to consider what harm your sunscreen may be doing to the environment. As thousands of people converge on coastlines, that’s a lot of chemicals that get washed off into the water, potentially affecting wildlife and ocean health.
Eclipse Sun is dedicated to providing a variety of sun-protective clothing to outdoor enthusiasts and sun-conscious individuals. Learn more about our mission or place an order by calling 303-257-3475 or visiting our contact page.