Slip on sun protective clothing!
Tips for choosing and using clothing well
One of the best barriers between your skin and the sun is clothing, so try to cover as much skin as possible.
Not all clothing fabric is equal. Look for a swing tag with a high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating to be sure.
When choosing clothing for sun protection, remember:
- long pants and shirts with a collar and long sleeves are best
- light weight, closely woven material with a UPF of 50+ provides more protection
- dark colours of the same material absorb more UV and are therefore more protective
- loose fitting clothing will be cooler in the heat.
Download Sun protective clothing [pdf 237K] for more information about using clothing to protect your skin from UV exposure and damage.
Also refer to:
- Australian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) for information about the UPF rating system and what affects the UPF of a fabric
- ARPANSA also provide information about UPF testing
- Visit the Cancer Council Victoria online shop for sun protective clothing
