Archive for the ‘Facts & Information’ Category
August 27th, 2010 | 
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Always wear sun protection outdoors.
REI has a great article on in-depth sun protection. It covers many of the things that most articles or publications we have come across don’t answer. It answers some really good questions and is a great read if you may have some detailed questions about UV rays, what are the most vulnerable skin types, and how washing your UV protective clothing affects it’s lifespan:
“Three types of UV rays exist:
- UVA (320-400 nanometers, or one-billionth of an inch): Causes premature skin aging, wrinkling and potentially skin cancer. Penetrates skin more deeply than UVB rays. Can impact skin during any hour of daylight. Can penetrate clouds and untreated glass.
- UVB (290-320 nm): Causes sunburn; also contributes to premature skin aging and potentially to skin cancer. Causes most impact between 10am and 4pm. Can penetrate clouds, but not glass.
- UVC (200-290 nm): Deadly to humans. Fortunately, it is absorbed by atmospheric gases before it reaches the earth’s surface.
Excessive UV radiation weakens the body’s immune system in addition to causing cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States—an estimated 1 million nonmelanoma cases are diagnosed annually. The majority of skin cancer cases, up to 90%, are sun-related.
Many skin-care experts believe clothing shields skin more effectively from UV light than sunscreen. Key reasons: Many of us often apply sunscreen lotions too thinly, giving our skin less protection than the sunscreen’s available SPF rating, and we neglect to reapply it.
Q: How do I interpret UPF ratings?
A: UV-protection claims for clothing were first formalized in the 1990s in Australia, where skin cancer is a widespread concern. Researchers there developed the first fabric testing procedures for UV transmission and…”
Read the rest of the article here.
Source: REI.com
Posted in 
Drinking several of green tea a day can help your skin.
Expanding on last weeks article, there is more you can do with your diet than just eat chocolate…
“Several research studies demonstrate the role of antioxidant rich foods to increase the body’ s ability to protect itself from the sun. Ultraviolet rays from sun exposure produce free radicals in large quantities that cause photo aging and cell damage. Fortifying the body with antioxidant and nutrient rich foods internally is a great strategy to fight sun damage. Find out more about how to eat for internal sun protection here.
Read the rest of the article here.
Source: Arathi via eHow.com
Eating chocolate may help your skin in the sun
Interesting article! You can also help protect your skin by the foods you eat. The study tests to see if chocolate can help with our bodies natural sun protection.
“For most people, sunscreen is synonymous with sun protection. Although the importance of external sun protection through creams, lotions and sun protective clothing is indisputable, natural sun protection through consumption of antioxidant rich foods takes sun protection to an entirely new level. Excessive exposure to the sun can damage the skin and increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Several studies demonstrate that eating antioxidant dense foods internally fortify the skin and increase its ability to become more tolerant to ultraviolet (UV) exposure.
A 2006 German study published in The Journal of Nutrition concluded that a flavanol-rich cocoa drink increased the body’s ability to tolerate UV rays and improved skin health. The study recruited two groups of women who were randomly assigned to drink either a high flavanol or a low flavanol cocoa drink. After 12 weeks of use, the high…”
Read the rest of the article here.
Source: Arathi Srikantaiah via Suite101.com
We found a great way to test your knowledge about sun protection. This quiz is geared towards parents and grand parents and deals mostly with kids sun protection. There are 5 different levels of quiz you can take, each with more and progressively harder questions. This is a great way to make sure you remember all the essentials when taking your children out to the beach, park, or out at the lake.
Take the quiz here.
Source: About.com – Pediatrics
Our Convertible Cap
We always urge our customers to stay covered and stay safe from the sun using sun hats and sun protective clothing. One thing that gets asked quite often is, “What makes sun protective clothing.. well, sun protective?”. It’s a very good question and one that is answered in this article below:
“Clothes can protect your skin against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. But not all clothing is created equal. The tightness of the weave, the weight, type of fiber, color and amount of skin covered all affect the amount of protection they provide.
What a UPF Rating Really Means
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and indicates how much of the sun’s UV radiation is absorbed. A fabric with a rating of 50 will allow only 1/50th of the sun’s UV rays to pass through. This means the fabric will reduce your skin’s UV radiation exposure significantly, because only 2 percent of the UV rays will get through.
What’s the Difference between UPF and SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and is the rating you’re familiar with for sunscreens and other sun-protective products. It measures the amount of time it takes for sun-exposed skin to redden, while UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that penetrates a fabric and reaches the skin.
Which Fabrics are Best?
As a rule, light-colored, lightweight and loosely-woven fabrics do not offer much protection from the sun. That white T-shirt you slip on at the beach when you feel your skin burning provides only moderate protection from sunburn, with an average ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 7. At the other end of the spectrum, a long-sleeved dark denim shirt offers an estimated UPF of 1,700 – which amounts to a complete sun block. In general, clothing made of tightly-woven fabric best protects skin from the sun. The easiest way to test if a fabric can protect your skin is to hold it up to the light. If you can see through it, then UV radiation can penetrate it – and your skin.
The color of the fabric also plays a role. Darker-colored fabrics are more effective than lighter at blocking out the sun. For instance, the UPF of a green cotton T-shirt is 10 versus 7 for white cotton, and a thicker fabric such as velvet in black, blue or dark green has an approximate UPF of 50.
Fabric Content and the Wearer’s Activity Make a Difference
What the clothing is made of matters. Fabrics such as unbleached cotton contain special pigments called lignins that act as UV absorbers. High-luster polyesters and even thin, satiny silk can be highly protective because they reflect radiation.
Even if the piece of clothing has a good UPF, what you do while wearing it can make a difference. If the fabric gets stretched, it will lose some of its protective ability, because the fabric becomes thinner and more…”
Read the rest of the article here.
Source: SkinCancer.Org
It's important to teach your kids about sun protection at an early age.
We just read and interesting article that highlights some of the dangers for young adults and UV damage. There are some very important guidelines in the article and a good read if you have young children or teenagers. It’s a good idea to get them started early to help greatly reduce the chance of skin cancer.
It’s never too early to start protecting your children against sun damage, and if you are the parent of a young girl this message is especially important.
“Even one blistering sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer. As few as five sunburns can double your risk of skin cancer,” says Dr. Anjali Dahiya, a dermatologist at the Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Teenage girls and their parents should be particularly careful, since melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer, is the most common cancer in young women between the ages of 25 and 29. Much of the damage from the sun…
Read the rest of the article here.
Keep cool and stay safe this summer.
Summer is nearly upon us, and with that in mind we would like to remind everyone that while sunshine is a welcome relief for our long winter, it is still very important to practice sun safety throughout the entire summer. Here a Sunday Afternoons we recently happened upon and great list of “sun safety action steps” created by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) which lists a number of steps that you and your family can take to remain sun safe this year.
1. Do Not Burn
This one probably the most obvious and most important action step. Always avoid sunburns by either limiting sun exposure and or by smartly covering up. However, if you do start to burn cover up or get out of the sun immediately. Sunburns significantly increase the chances of getting skin cancer, not to mention the painful burn you will have to endure later.
2. Avoid Sun Tanning and Tanning Beds
UV light from tanning beds and the sun causes skin cancer, wrinkling, and pre-mature aging. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun or have a tan, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
3. Generously Apply Sunscreen
There is no such thing as too much sunscreen. When looking for sunscreens make sure that the SPF is at least 15. Ideally you want something that offers broad-spectrum coverage (meaning both UVA and UVB rays). Sunscreen frequently wears off from swimming, sweating, or toweling off so remember to reapply at least every two hours. UVA and UVB rays can also easily penetrate clouds so even if it’s cloudy you still need to wear sunscreen and remember to reapply.
4. Wear Protective Clothing
Good thing you’re reading this blog, head on over here and purchase some great looking sun protective gear! You want to make sure that you can cover as much of your body as possible. The EPA recommends long sleeved shirts, pants, wide brimmed hat, and sunglasses. We know that not everyone wants to wear that on a hot day, so make sure at the very least you have a sun protective shirt (like our Lightweave tees), and a nice wide brimmed hat (like our Adventure Hat).
5. Seek Shade
Look for shade when the UV rays are at their strongest (typically 10AM to 4PM). It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your shadow, remember if your shadow is short you need to seek shade.
6. Use Extra Caution Near Water, Snow and Sand
These surfaces will reflect sun and amplify rays. Take extra precaution when at the beach, lake, or even skiing on the mountain. Even though it may be cold, that doesn’t mean you won’t get sunburned.
7. Check the UV Index
The EPA has a great way to check your local UV index. Have a look here. This gives you a chance to see how strong the UV rays are that particular day and give you an idea of how protected you will need to be. All you need to do is enter your zip code, or city/state and you are given a number based on a scale of 1-15. Very useful indeed to avoid nasty sunburns.
8. Get Vitamin D Safely
Get vitamin D safely through a diet that includes vitamin supplements and foods fortified with Vitamin D. Don’t seek the sun for your Vitamin D source you will absorb plenty of Vitamin D from the sun without active seeking exposure.
Following these simple steps as if they were rules and you will ensure that you have a fun and safe summer. Enjoy your Summer! Don’t forget to check out some of our ultra protective sun hats and clothing.
Do your part to help save our environment
Today, April 2nd through Thursday April 22nd; Sunday Afternoons will donate 10% of all sales from the Sport Hat and Kids’ Fun Bucket Hat to environmental organizations which help to protect our oceans, rivers, deserts, and forests throughout the Pacific Northwest and World. Outfit the entire family this year while helping to preserve our planet’s natural resources! See below for the list of organizations donations will be made to.
KSwild: An advocate for the forests, wildlife and waters of the Rogue and Klamath Basins who works to protect and restore the extraordinary biological diversity of the Klamath-Siskiyou region of southwest Oregon and northwest California. http://kswild.org/
The Surfrider Foundation: dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. http://www.surfrider.org/
ONDA: A 1,200-member, grassroots organization committed to protecting, defending, and restoring the health of Oregon’s native deserts for present and future generations. http://onda.org/
If you would like to make additional or more direct donations to any of these organizations please do so by visiting their individual websites.
You can also make a difference during Earth Day by helping out with environmental projects around your own community, cleaning up your local parks or trails, planting a tree, or even by just using less water at home. The opportunities reduce your carbon footprint or make a positive environmental change before, during, or after Earth Day are endless. And if you end up working outside, make sure to apply sunscreen, wear a sun hat (preferably a UPF 50+ Sunday Afternoons hat), a sun protective shirt, and of course have fun.
It's good for your skin to be exposed to sunlight
At Sunday Afternoons we strongly believe in sun protection, however it’s important to remember that sun plays an important role in human health. Using the sun’s ultra-violet B rays, our skin can create Vitamin D which is extremely important as it can lower the risk of heart attacks, heart disable, risk of certain cancers, depression, insomnia, and overactive immune system.
When you’re outside there are certain factors that affect the amount of Vitamin D your skin creates. A few of these factors are: geographic latitude, time of day, season, smog, cloud cover, and sunscreen. All of these factors can block amounts of UV rays that your skin uses to naturally create Vitamin D.
It’s important for people who don’t have a lot of exposure to the sun to include good sources of Vitamin D in their diets. Vitamin D is extremely important for calcium absorption, bone growth and bone remodeling. Your best bet for is eating salmon or tuna as these foods are among the best sources for Vitamin D.
It is noted by a few Vitamin D researchers that approximately 5-30 minutes of being out in the sun between 10 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon at least twice a week to the arms, face, back and legs without sunscreen is usually enough sunlight for your body to product sufficient amounts of Vitamin D.
Keep these things in mind next time you’re out in the sun and remember you only need a minimal amount of sunlight to produce Vitamin D, otherwise remember to keep the sunscreen on. Have fun!
- Tropical vacations are great in the winter, just remember to stay protected.
Everyone loves taking a tropical vacation in the middle of winter. It warms your cold bones, breaks up dreary gray winters, and gives us a delicious taste of sunshine. Specializing in sun protection, we certainly recommend you protect yourself. However, we believe its also important to get some sunshine (in moderation of course). The sun brightens our moods, makes us feel good, and gives us nice dose of Vitamin D. Furthermore, Why would you ever go to the tropics if you had to stay out of the sun the entire time?
When you arrive to wherever you are going, we recommend that start protecting yourself right off the bat. With tropical destinations comes a tropical sun and a higher UV index. Apply a heavy dose of SPF 30+ sunscreen before your first excursion. Wear a hat and a shirt (even if its not UPF rated). Rest assured, you’ll get that tan you are after before the end of your trip just don’t try to rush it. Beginning your vacation with a nasty sunburn is both painful and dangerous.
A mistake that many travelers make before a vacation is going to the tanning salon to get a “base tan”. Building a “base tan” for sun protection before a vacation is a common mis-conception. You are just as likely to get a sunburn from a tanning bed as you are from your destination. Also a good tan will only provide your skin with an additional 4 to 5 UPF protection. Therefore, a smarter option is to just practice sun protection once you arrive.
Since sun protection tips are usually pretty similar I am just going to focus an activity that usually has the highest UV ray risk. The Beach and Swimming
If you are planning on spending a day at the beach come prepared. Pack a bag with Sunscreen, water, sunglasses, a long-sleeve cover up, and snack (you should already be wearing a protective hat). When you get there rent and umbrella (or bring one). Giving yourself some umbrella shade will decrease your sun exposure as well as preserve more energy for your evening and night. Wear your sun protective hat, UV protective sunglasses, and long-sleeve cover up as needed or if you are planning on being to more than 10 minutes of direct sunlight. If you swim, generously apply water-resistant sunscreen of at list SPF 30+ to all exposed skin, especially places that are more likely to get a lot sun (upper back, and shoulders). Re-apply apply often and remember that water is a reflective surface and amplifies UV rays so you’ll. Also, remember to drink lots of water throughout the day. Finally, just enjoy yourself.
These tips should be able to be applied to most other topical activities. Enjoy your winter travels and don’t forget to practice sun protection.
Thanks.