Don’t put your kids (and yourself) at risk! - The Essentials on sun-protection

Why is sun protection so important?

In the past, sun exposure was seen as a healthy benefit of outdoor activities. In fact, even today people who show off a deep tan are still thought to be prettier, healthier, more active as palish folks. But actually our skin darkens, because it has been damaged! Our bodies do need a little bit of sunlight in order to produce the vitamins D1 and D2 (important for bone formation). But we’re talking very small doses here and not extensive sun exposure. Because our skin is not made to withstand the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by the sun long term. Modern scientific information has shown its many unhealthy and serious effects, such as early aging of the skin, skin cancer and eye-cataracts. Practicing sun safety and setting an example of sun protection habits is therefore an important measure to ensure your and your family’s well-being.

What is UV (ultraviolet) radiation and why is it dangerous?

Of the many types of radiation emitted by the sun, mainly visible (light) and infrared (heat) reach us on earth. But there is one type we cannot feel or see – the ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs much of the dangerous UVR before it reaches the ground. But it is still powerful and we can receive enough to get sunburn and suffer more serious health problems. The thinner our ozone layer gets, the more lethal the (long wave) UVA and (short wave) UVB radiation is becoming for human life all over the world. And not only in Australia and New Zealand, where - due to the ozone hole in the stratosphere - people already had to adjust their way of living outdoors drastically. Their long-term public health campaigns are setting a good example of how the subject should be approached also in Europe. Everybody should become aware of the risks UVR is posing to their health.

Solar UVA and UVB light enter the skin, damaging skin cells and causing visible (freckles, sunburn) and invisible injuries, which our bodies can only partly repair. Therefore some of the cell damage adds up year after year of our lives. It appears not only as wrinkles and age spots but potentially also as skin cancer. Even our immune system is weakened by too much exposure to the invisible UV radiation (e.g. herpes simplex infections are much more likely to occur during a beach holiday or in the mountains, where the UVR intensity is high).

What are the abbreviations SPF and UPF all about? And what on earth does AS/NZS 4399:1996 mean?

Sounds confusing (especially on top of those UVA and Bs) – but it’s actually quite straightforward. And it could change the way you choose sun protection for good!

The SPF, the Sun Protection Factor refers to sunscreens (lotions, sticks, gels etc.), indicating the length of time you can spend in the sun without the risk of burning. The test method used to rate sunscreens uses human volunteers, measuring the amount of transmitted UVR by their skin reactions (reddening of the skin – ouch!). The higher the SPF the stronger the protection. The European SPFs range from 2-60 – and it is important to know which skin-type you are in order to choose the product with the right factor. Scientists distinguish between 4 types of skin:

Type I – very fair skin / red hair / blue and green eyes – can stay 5-10 minutes in the midday sun without any protection before burning.

Type II – fair skin / blonde-brown hair / grey and brown eyes – 10-20 minutes midday sun-exposure (no protection applied) without sun-burn.

Type III – light brown skin / dark blonde, brown hair / grey, brown eyes – 20-30 minutes sun-exposure before sunburn.

Type IV – brown skin / dark-brown, black hair / brown eyes – 45 minutes before sunburn (when no protection applied)

Using a SPF 15 sunscreen for example, an average fair-skinned (Type II) person – who normally sunburns in 20 minutes of midday sun exposure – may tolerate 15 times 20 minutes (300 minutes). Dermatologists advise to use at least a SPF 15+ sunscreen – and it’s crucial that it’s reapplied every two hours, even on cloudy days. When you’re out for a swim or participating in intense physical activities (and sweating like crazy), you’ll have to slop it on more often!

Broad-spectrum sunscreen (covering the whole spectrum of long-wave UVA as well as the short-wave UVB) is good stuff. And absolutely essential for blocking radiation. But there’s more out there to help you protect yourself and your family.

And that’s where the UPF comes into play – the Ultraviolet Protection Factor is the equivalent to the SPF, only that you’ll find it exclusively on clothes labels. It shows how well a fabric protects your skin from solar UVR and lets you select sun protective clothing with confidence. A piece of clothing or swimwear is awarded a UPF rating based on a test that measures the amount of ultraviolet radiation passing through a fabric or clothing. There are 9 UPF ratings: 15 and 20 offer good UV-protection, blocking 93.3% -95.8% of UV.
25,30,35 provide very good protection, blocking 95.9%-97.4% of UV.
40,45,50 provide excellent protection, blocking more than 97.5% .
fabrics rated higher than 50 are labelled 50+, excellent protection is guaranteed (all Littleish products have been accredited UPF 50+)

The testing is performed in Australia, by the ARPANSA, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Agency. Well, there’s a long name for you. But those guys are working for the Federal Government in the land down under. And in the ARPANSA UV laboratory, they sure go through fabrics with a fine tooth-comb, meanwhile exposing them to UVR and measuring how much of the UVA and UVB rays are transmitted through the sample. It’s all about analyzing the fabric (composition of the yarns, tightness of the weave), stretching it, wetting it, wearing it out. And because their testing methods are merciless (as is exposure to midday sun) and trustworthy, they were adopted by the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 4399:1996. It was released in 1996 to introduce a standardized UPF testing method and is recognized world-wide.

How do I find out, if UV radiation is a real risk where my family lives, plays, goes on holiday?

It has become second nature for us, to check out the weather forecast in the daily newspaper, on the radio or on TV. But there’s a forecast you might not have known it even existed – yet it is very helpful for choosing the right sun protection. And it will tell you, where the heat is on from those harmful rays from above! It’s called UVI, the Global Solar UV index - a simple measure of the intensity of the UV radiation level at the Earth's surface that is relevant to effects on the human skin. It was developed in 1995 as a tool to inform and alert people on the importance of sun protection, by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz, BfS). Now, that’s a pretty impressive lot. And again highlights that the harmful effects of solar UV rays are of serious concern worldwide.

The values of the Index range from zero (at night) to 11+ (in the tropics and/or at high elevations under clear skies). The higher the UV Index, the greater the potential damage to skin and eyes. Thus the less time it takes to be harmed by those invisible UVAs and UVBs. While the levels of UV radiation vary during the day, outside the tropics they reach their peak around mid-day (solar noon=local noon-2 p.m.) in the summer months. The higher the sun in the sky, the higher the radiation level. In countries close to the equator, the UVI can even reach up to 20 (11+=”Extreme High Exposure”). Summer-time values in Northern regions like the UK or Germany rarely exceed a 7 (“High Exposure”) to 8 (8-10=”Very High Exposure), a UVI of 3-5 is normal. That’s “Moderate Exposure”, but no reason to relax: according to the WHO, this UVI-category definitely requires proper sun protection! And even under cloudy skies UV radiation levels can be surprisingly high. If you’re planning a summer holiday in the Mediterranean area (or are based there), you better keep in mind that indices of 9 and 10 are common – the second highest category of UV intensity!

In many countries, the UV index is reported by the media along with the weather forecast –mostly done in the summer months in newspapers, radio and TV. So check out the internet for your National Weather Services, they normally provide a UVI forecast of your area all year round.

Why are children especially at risk and how can I protect them best? You wouldn’t put your child in a car without strapping them in a car seat or seat belt, right? And it’s crucial to practice the same safety when letting them play in the sun! Because it’s estimated that we get 50-80 % of our total lifetime sun exposure in the first 18 years of our lives.
Because the skin of babies and small children (up to at least the age of six) is extremely sensitive and thin and hasn’t developed proper protective mechanisms against UV radiation; their bodies aren’t able to produce enough of the skin pigment melanin yet.
Because the skin of little ones can’t repair any UV-damages – and just one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person’s chances of developing skin cancer later in life.

It’s in your hands – regular sun protection throughout the early years can reduce that risk by 80 %! So here’s some sound advice.

First of all – keep infants under 6 months out of the sun completely! Cover the pram with a parasol (or check out our UPF 50+ “Littleish Wrap”) and put protective clothing on them. Sunscreen can be used on babies from 6 months onwards. But be sure to choose one with a high Sun Protection Factor (more than SPF 15+; 30+ is ideal). Apply it daily, liberally – and reapply regularly (every two hours at least), also after swimming, excessive sweating or towelling dry!

“Between eleven and three, under the tree!” – that’s what they say in Australia. And staying in the safe shade is a golden rule when talking sun protection for little ones (and for adults of course!). Avoid exposing babies and small children to the Midday sun. Plan activities and play around it whenever possible. The sun is highest in the sky during that time, UV rays reaching earth are at their strongest. And can get to those little ones in no time at all. Easy to remember (and great to teach kids) is the shadow rule: Watch your shadow – when it’s shorter than you are tall, seek shade!

Whenever children are running about in the summer sun, don’t undress them (even if it seems tempting because it’s hot!) but cover them up instead! Tightly woven, loose fitting and full length clothing is the best way to protect their skin from the sun’s UV rays. When you are at the beach with them, keep in mind that that sand reflects up to 25 % of the UVR, so it’s even more intense. And splashing in the water doesn’t mean they’re safer – at half a metre depth UVR is still 40 % as intense as on the surface! So sun protective swim clothing with a high UPF is absolutely essential when heading off to the sea (or the pool) with your “water babies” (Littleish offers a complete range of UV protective swimwear for babies and small children). Dress them for success - successful sun protection that is. And a proper (sun-) outfit is not complete without a hat of course – because the head is very sensitive to sun exposure; sun strokes are unfortunately not uncommon in little ones. Also eyes, ears, face and the back of the neck are no-go areas for the nasty UVR. To protect those delicate bits, choose wide-brimmed hats or peaked legionnaire caps that can be tied to the head (great for water-play, because they stay on – and yes, Littleish does those, too…). Sun-glasses for little ones also make sense, as the UV rays can cause long-term damage to eyes such as cataracts – only buy glasses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB radiation (check the label!). And make sure it’s a bright and fun design – they are more likely to wear them then (did we mention that Littleish swimwear designs are also fun and funky?).

There’s a lot to keep in mind when choosing sun protection for little ones. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has created a great and fun slogan to help remember all those “safe sun habits” – SLIP! SLOP! SLAP!

SLIP! on a T-shirt. Wear protective clothing out in the sun.
SLOP! on some sunscreen with SPF 15+.
SLAP! on a hat that shades the face, neck, ears and protects the head.

Build safe sun habits into your family’s daily summer-time routine – and lead by example. Children will respond much better to the Slip!Slop!Slap! when they see you protecting your skin the same way!

What type of clothing should I choose for best sun-protection? And is there a quality seal to look out for?

If you thought, all clothes generally stop those UV-rays, and any T-shirt, shorts or bathing suit will do for protecting your children - you might have to think again. Of course you don’t have to throw out your complete closet – but there are important facts on fabrics to keep in mind. A tightly woven or knitted fabric provides greater UV protection than loosely woven clothing. If you can see light through a fabric when you hold it up against the sun, it will let UV rays get through easily. Also, dry fabric is generally more protective than wet one. But this should be a real surprise to you: about 1/3 of all standard clothing provide a UPF that’s way under 30, some basic T-shirts even less than 10! Most people tend to choose cotton in the summer, because it’s a “natural” fabric. But in fact, pure cotton is not very suitable for blocking out UVR, it’s doesn’t absorb the harmful UVB rays well enough. Fabrics made out of artificial fibres such as polyester do the best job in blocking out ultraviolet radiation . That’s why our Littleish swimwear products are made out of a special polyester blend coming from the world-leading developers of sun-protective clothing. Because polyester has a “reputation” for being unkind to skin and making you sweat, this state-of-the art fabric not only ensures high sun-protection. But it’s also lightweight, comfortable to wear and protects against UVR exposure even when wet - important features for the sensitive skin of kids.

When choosing special sun-protective clothing, check the label for the UPF rating. The Ultraviolet Protection Factor is awarded by the ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Energy Agency) under the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 4399:1996. It indicates how much the material reduces UVR exposure. A factor as high as 40 and over for example guarantees “Excellent protection” (Littleish outfits are 50+) – you can be absolutely confident it will do the job of blocking solar UV rays. Sometimes sun-protective fabrics are treated with UVR absorbers to improve the UPF rate (usually done, if the base fabric has a low natural resistance to UVR, like cotton). With Littleish garments you don’t have to worry about harmful chemical substances hidden in the fabric (and thus spoiling the good intention of protecting your children). Not only are we using Polyester fibres, which have a great resistance against UVA and UVB rays to begin with. There is also the seal of approval of the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 [link with www.oeko-tex.com], which is a globally uniform certification system for textiles. The materials are tested on harmful substances, comprising those prohibited (such as carcinogenic dyes) or regulated by law (such as formaldehyde, softeners) and chemicals known to be harmful to health but not yet regulated or prohibited (such as pesticides). The testing also includes parameters such as colourfastness and skin-friendly pH-value, which are precautionary measures to safeguard health. No nasty substances in our Littleish fabrics, says Oeko-Tex Standard 100.

I’ve ploughed through your information, I’ve even bought a Littleish for my child –anything else?

Yes. Look after them, your little one AND the Littleish suit that is. Still protect your child’s skin with a high SPF sunscreen where the outfit doesn’t cover it, on face, calves, feet, even hands. But don’t put any sunscreen underneath the suit! It’s absolutely not necessary – and certain sun tan products could harm the material. If possible try to avoid getting sunscreen on the Littleish. We know that’s asked a lot – especially when trying to put cream on the uncovered bits of a fidgety baby or toddler. Try little but lots of small portions and a fun song, something like “Slip, Slop, Slap – the dog is taking a nap” (alright, there are better ones…). And maybe stay away from sun-sprays – they tend to be messy.

Treat the Littleish like your favourite cashmere sweater – use wool detergent and the gentle cycle of your washing machine. And don’t leave it wrapped in a dry towel – but line dry it right away. In the shade. Yes, we’re serious about this. And we told you – the shade is the best place to be. For kids. And our Littleish. If you stick to these basic care instructions, the Littleish will last, and last, and last. Checking it regularly for signs of wear can’t hurt – you never know what those little bottoms rubbing over the floor of swimming pools for example might do to it. But the Littleish is a survivor – and will be part of the family for a couple of seasons at least.