May 18, 2009, 8:31 pm
Although it’s been almost two decades since I last stepped foot in a classroom, as the days get longer and warmer I get distracted by thoughts of summer vacation. No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher's Dirty Looks…still resonates as much today as it did when I was 12, even if I’m not going to have a long, cool summer. I will, however, have more sunlight and longer days to spend time outside. More sun doesn’t necessarily mean more fun, especially if you don’t take precautions to protect yourself from its potentially harmful rays. The following items—hats, sunscreen and sunglasses—could be invaluable in protecting you from sunburn, heat rash, heat stroke, skin cancer and a myriad of other sun-related issues that will put a crimp in your summer vacation and your life.
Hats
While they say that you can judge a man by his shoes, I think it’s easier to judge someone by his (or her) hat. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status, denoted rank and regiment in the military, and were worn for religious reasons. In short, the type of hat we choose to wear defines who we are. Che wouldn’t have been Che without his cap. Neither would Sherlock Holmes. Neither would you.
While its important to define who we are, it’s more important to find a hat that protects us from the elements. Dermatologists recommend wearing a hat to prevent against skin cancer by keeping the sun's damaging rays away from the sensitive skin on your scalp, face, ears and neck. Of course, not all hats are designed for this purpose (a fez isn’t going to do the trick), and it’s important to know what to look for.
To provide adequate coverage for sun protection a hat should:
• Cover your entire head. The scalp, even if covered with hair, is still susceptible to sun damage, so a visor won’t help.
• Have a wide brim that encircles the circumference of the crown that shades your neck and ears. Baseball caps provide only limited protection.
• Be constructed of dark, tightly-woven fabrics, such as canvas or nylon, that provide the best sun protection for your scalp, face and neck. Hats with lots of holes—such as straw hats—allow too much sun to reach the skin an are a poor choice for sun protection.
Columbia Sportswear’s Omni-Shade™ Bora Bora™ Booney hat’s wide brim protects your head and neck from the sun. Made from quick-drying, lightweight nylon with a cooling mesh upper panel, the Bora Bora has a Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 50+ and offers excellent protection from the sun. When the sun is beating down, its Coolmax® polyester sweatband wicks moisture from your brow and its black underbrim absorbs light to reduce glare. At $25, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more stylish, functional way to protect yourself from skin cancer.
Sunglasses
Even though wearing a wide-brimmed hat will reduce glare, it will not protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunglasses are a must. Your eyes and the sensitive skin surrounding them are extremely susceptible to sun damage, so always wear sunglasses that block UV rays. The larger and longer the sunglasses, the more protection you’ll get. We suggest wraparound specs, which unlike most other types of sunglasses, offer all-around protection. The frames of these sunglasses extend all the way to the most outer part of the eye and protect peripheral vision as well. In addition to their extended protection, the arms of wraparound sunglasses are generally thicker than most other models to support their longer lenses. As a result, wraparound sunglasses last longer than any other type on the market. There are a few other things that you should consider:
• Price is not important! The most important thing is UV protection, so you should look for sunglasses that protect you from 99 to 100 % of both UVA and UVB light. This includes those labeled as "UV 400," which blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. (This covers all of UVA and UVB rays.) More expensive sunglasses may offer you more style, but not will offer any additional protection.
• Don’t purchase based on color or darkness of the lens, which don’t indicate the level of protection. The clear outer coating filters out the UV rays, not the color. Darker colored lenses may offer more comfort, but without UV coating, they may actually cause more damage because you’ll feel more comfortable keeping your eyes open and exposing them to harmful rays.
I’m partial to Native’s Hardtop sunglasses, which are polarized for sun and glare protection, and have two pairs of lenses and an interchangeable sports band. Extremely lightweight and snug, the hardtop’s Polarized Crystal Carbonate® lenses have the strongest hard coating available to protect against scratching. Fit is aided by the self-adjusting Cushinol™ nosepads and ear stems, which create a non-slip grip that keeps sunglasses in place and ensures a soft feel and custom fit, even if you are sweating heavily or moving quickly on your bike, surfboard or skis.
Whatever sunglasses you choose, remember to wear them even when its cloudy. Most people think that they're at risk only when they're outside on a sunny day, but even when it’s overcast UV light will penetrate through the clouds. The sun's rays are strongest between 10 am and 2 pm.
Sunscreen & Sunblock
The best protection is to shield against the sun with clothing made of tightly woven fabric that covers your arms and legs. Since this isn't always viable, you’ll need to have some sun protection lotion. To be effective, you’ll need to purchase stuff that works, have it on hand, and remember to apply it. Follow these simple rules for more fun in the sun:
• The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number refers to the multiple of time it will take for you to burn with the sunscreen than without. Therefore sunscreen with an SPF of 15 offers 15 times more protection. Technically, there is a difference between sunblock and sunscreen. The former has an SPF of 30 or more, latter as an SPF of 15 or less.
• Use a sunblock with SPF 30 or higher if you're fair-skinned, at high altitude, or outside on a hot, sunny day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Apply lotion to your kids first; most of the sun's damage to their skin will happen before they're 18. The fairer you are the more SPF you should use.
• Make sure you purchase “broad spectrum” to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Products with zinc oxide or titanium oxide are more effective for your ears, nose and lips if you're in the sun for prolonged periods daily, especially if you have sensitive skin.
• Look for PABA-free, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic sunscreen if you're allergic to certain skin products. Do a test patch on your skin to confirm whether a sunscreen is truly allergy-free.
• If you're prone to breaking out, select a sunscreen that is noncomedogenic, which means it won't block pores.
• Apply sunscreen early and often. Ideally, you should apply the first coat 30 minutes before you are outside. Most people need at least 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover their entire body (don’t forget the tops of your feet if you are wearing flip-flops). Reapply every two hours. If you plan to go swimming or sweat profusely, choose water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen.
KINeSYS was developed with runners, triathletes, adventure racers and other hardcore athletes in mind, but I find it works great for hikers, bikers and beach combers. The product’s fine mist applicator sprays evenly and dries quickly, with no greasy residue on hands, accessories or equipment. It’s ideal for kids who don’t or can’t sit still. Sand-, water- and sweat-resistant, KINeSYS will allow you to participate in water–based activities for 80 minutes or more without worrying. More importantly, its oil-, PABA-, preservative-, and alcohol-free hypoallergenic formula won't block pores, dry skin or run into your eyes. The principle ingredient, Dermatologist-recommended Parsol® 1789, offers the highest protection against damaging UVA rays; additional ingredients block UVB rays. In a recent independent study, KINeSYS was picked as the safest and most effective spray sunscreen during an investigation of nearly 1,000 brand-name sunscreen products. It may be more expensive then other brands, but you and your family are worth it.
Armed with a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, you're ready to fend off harmful UV rays and decrease your risk of skin cancer. Grab your favorite hat, spray on some sunscreen, and hit the beach, lake or mountains for safer fun in the sun this summer.
More sun doesn’t necessarily mean more fun—protect yourself with these hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Sand-, water- and sweat-resistant KINeSYS SPF 30+ performance sunscreen will allow you to participate in water–based activities for 80 minutes or more without worrying!
