- With Mayo Clinic dermatologist
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
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Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Dr. Lawrence Gibson likens bad health information on the Internet to food poisoning.
Consumers, he said, need to be aware, and will find reliable information at MayoClinic.com.
Dr. Gibson, a Covington, Ky., native, has been with Mayo since 1986 and is board certified in dermatology, dermatopathology and immunodermatology. He is a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School and a consultant in the Department of Dermatology.
Dr. Gibson has been director of the Dermatopathology Laboratory since 1998 and chair of the Laboratory Division in the Department of Dermatology since 2000. He is especially interested in inflammatory disorders of the skin and lymphoma affecting the skin.
"Electronic information is becoming a staple in the diet of a health conscious society," he said. "It's important to avoid misinformation and provide a credible source for health information. Using this analogy, it's critical to avoid 'indigestion' or worse yet, 'food poisoning' by the ingestion of tainted information."
Physical health (14)
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- Sun-protective clothing: Worth the expense?
- see all in Physical health
Mental health (1)
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Question
Sun-protective clothing: Worth the expense?
I've seen ads for sun-protective clothing. Is it worth the expense?
Answer
from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Wearing sun-protective clothing is one of the most effective ways to guard your skin from the sun's harmful rays. When deciding whether to buy sun-protective clothing, consider personal factors — such as the amount of time you're planning to spend in the sun and the cost of the clothing.
Unlike typical summer fabrics, sun-protective clothing is tightly woven. Manufacturers also may add chemicals that absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation to the fabric. When buying sun-protective clothing, look on product labels for a high UV protection factor (UPF). Levels range from UPF 15 to 50+. A shirt labeled UPF 30 will allow only 1/30th of the sun's ultraviolet rays to reach your skin. Be aware, however, that a garment labeled UPF 50+ may not offer much more protection than does a UPF 50 garment. Sun-protective clothing also may lose its effectiveness to a varying degree if it's stretched, gets wet or is washed repeatedly. Buying clothing with a UPF of 40 or more may help guard against the effects of such natural wear and tear.
If you don't want to invest in sun-protective clothing, take other steps to protect your skin from the sun:
- Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
- Use generous amounts of sunscreen when you're in the sun.
- Wear tightly woven, loosefitting clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible. Opt for bright or dark colors, which reflect more ultraviolet radiation than pastels or bleached cotton. Repeatedly washing your clothing also may tighten the weave, providing better protection.
You might also use laundry additives, such as SunGuard, which contain UV-absorbing chemicals that boost a regular fabric's UPF.
Next questionDoes sunscreen expire?
- Morison WL. Photoprotection by clothing. Dermatologic Therapy. 2003;16:16.
- Sunscreens/sunblocks. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_sunscreens.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- UV information. The Skin Cancer Foundation. http://www.skincancer.org/understanding-uva-and-uvb.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Hatch KL, et al. Garments as solar ultraviolet radiation screening materials. Dermatologic Clinics. 2006;24:85.
- Sunscreens and sun-protective clothing. Federal Trade Commission. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/health/hea14.shtm. Accessed Feb. 16, 2009.
- Sun-protective clothing: Wear it well. Federal Trade Commission. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt094.shtm. Accessed Feb. 16, 2009.
- Prevention and early detection. The American Cancer Society. Accessed Feb. 16, 2009.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 16, 2009.
- Sun protection: As easy as getting dressed in the morning. The Skin Cancer Foundation. http://www.skincancer.org/sun-protection-as-easy-as-getting-dressed-in-the-morning.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
- Lautenschlager S, et al. Photoprotection. The Lancet. 2007;370:528.
