Sun Protection
Taking the right steps to limit your sun exposure is one of the most effective ways to protect your skin and lower your lifetime risk of developing skin cancer. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause serious long-term damage, but with a few simple precautions, you can safely enjoy time outdoors.
When to Be Most Cautious
The sun’s rays are strongest between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, when UV radiation reaches its peak. During this time, it's best to:
- Limit your time outdoors
- Plan indoor activities, or
- Stay in shaded areas when possible
For children, exposure should be especially minimized between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM, as their skin is more sensitive to UV damage.
Shade Is Your Friend
Planning outdoor activities in the shade is a simple and effective way to reduce your UV exposure. Look for tree cover, awnings, or use a wide-brimmed hat or umbrella when natural shade isn’t available.
Even on cloudy days, up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate clouds, so don’t skip your protection.
Understanding the UV Index
The UV Index, developed by Environment Canada, measures the strength of the sun’s UV radiation on a scale from 1 to 11+:
- 1–2: Low risk
- 3–5: Moderate risk – protection recommended
- 6–7: High risk – reduce time in the sun
- 8–10: Very high risk – extra precautions needed
- 11+: Extreme risk – unprotected exposure can result in skin damage in minutes
The daily UV Index reflects the maximum expected UV intensity for that day, usually peaking around midday. You can check it in your weather app or online to plan your activities accordingly.
Your Skin, Your Responsibility
Limiting UV exposure now helps prevent premature aging, sunburns, and skin cancer down the road.
Think of sun safety as a daily habit—like brushing your teeth or wearing your seatbelt.
When we don't protect ourselves, we increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Learn more about skin cancer and what to watch for.
UPF Clothing
What Is UPF Clothing?
Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) clothing is specially designed to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. More and more mainstream and outdoor clothing brands are offering UPF-rated options—making sun-safe fashion easier and more stylish than ever. Lululemon, Tilley, Amazon, Patagonia, and North Face are just a few of these brands. You can find anything from shirts to shorts to swimsuits with UPF ratings. Click on any of the above brands to take you to their UPF clothing site.
How Does UPF Clothing Work?
UPF clothing is made using tightly woven fabrics that block UV radiation from penetrating through to your skin. There are two main ways this protection is achieved:
- Fabric structure: Tightly woven materials with a high thread count and strong denier (thickness of the fibers) offer better natural protection.
- UV treatment: Some fabrics are pre-treated with UV-blocking agents during manufacturing to further enhance their protective properties.
Understanding the UPF Rating
The UPF rating system measures how effectively a fabric blocks ultraviolet radiation. Here's how it works:
- UPF 30 means that for every 30 units of UV radiation that hit the fabric, only 1 unit passes through to reach your skin.
- In other words, UPF 30 blocks 96.7% of UV rays.
- The higher the UPF rating, the greater the protection. For example:
- UPF 15–24: Good
- UPF 25–39: Very Good
- UPF 40–50+: Excellent
Why Choose UPF Clothing?
UPF clothing provides:
- Reliable, all-day protection, especially for areas often missed by sunscreen (like shoulders and upper back)
- No need to reapply, unlike sunscreen
- Lightweight and breathable designs now available for all seasons and styles
UPF clothing is a great addition to your sun safety routine, especially when combined with sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses. Look for the UPF label when shopping—your skin will thank you.
