Why is sunscreen protection important on cloudy days too?
Dr. Levenstein: UV rays scatter and reflect off of buildings, glass, sand and concrete, even on foggy days. Fog and clouds don’t block UV rays entirely, so we often see kids getting unexpected redness on overcast days. Examiner: How much does clothing and hats with SPF protection help? Dr. Levenstein: Studies have shown that subjects with better skin coverage (wearing SPF clothing vs. sunscreen and exposed skin) acquired fewer moles over time, theoretically placing them at less lifetime risk of skin cancer. As sunscreen is often sweated off or not applied in places where sun can do damage (eyelids, hair parts, tops of ears), a wide brimmed hat and wraparound shades, in addition to SPF clothing (such as Cabana Life), completes the package of smart sun protection. Examiner: Does regular fabric offer SPF protection too? Dr. Levenstein: Regular fabric does offer some SPF sun protection, though it’s a very small amount. The SPF value of an average T-shirt, for example, is 5. However, there
