While the importance of UV protective clothing is starting to reach the masses, it actually has been around for a couple of decades and has an interesting history. 

It is thought that UV protective clothing became popular in Australia due to their high number of sunshine days as well as their high incidences of skin cancer. Originally produced as an option to sunscreen, most people now use their protective clothing in addition to sunscreen on exposed areas of the skin.

Once UV protected fabrics started flooding the market in Australia, there was a need to regulate the actual protection the clothing was providing. In response, a lab testing procedure was developed and regulated by the Australia Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. This system sometimes referred to as the UPF rating system, was enhanced in 1998 by the American Standards and Testing Methods Committee once UV protective clothing became available in the United States. The goal of the enhancements was to qualify and standardize the sun protective clothing and textile industry.

Today, consumers are more educated on the importance of protecting skin from the dangers of the sun. Hopefully, as people become educated, they will understand the UPF rating on clothing. For example, if a person is wearing a garment with a UPF rating of 30, that means the garment will reduce the wearer’s solar UV radiation exposure to the skin underneath the garment by a factor of 30. In other words, fabric with a UPF rating of 30 will allow only 1/30 of the UV radiation to pass through!

With rates of skin cancer continuing to increase in the United States, it is vitally important that people take action to protect their skin. Here are easy tips you can incorporate everyday:

• Wear sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 whenever you are outside.
• Wear a wide brimmed hat that shades your face and covers your ears.
• Avoid being in direct sunlight during the peak hours of the sun.
• Choose shaded areas whenever possible.
• Wear UV protective clothing that covers your arms, legs and body.
• Wear sunglasses.
• Protect your lips with a SPF lip balm.

UV protective clothing is an excellent way to ensure every member of your family is well protected from UV radiation. If you are searching for fashionable and stylish clothing that you can feel good in, then be sure to check out Cabana Life. Cabana Life is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of sun protective clothing and accessories. Cabana Life’s comfortable and lightweight fabrics offer an ultraviolet protection fabric of 40 to 50+, the highest rating category given for sun protective clothing. Their fabrics are put through rigorous testing in accordance with the highest standards for UV fabric testing. 

If you are interested in protecting everyone in your family from the harmful effects of radiation, place your order for UV protective clothing from Cabana Life today!