Sensitivity to sun, previous damage due to sunburn, sun or sunscreen allergies, or general avoidance of excessive exposure to ultraviolet light and skin cancer are all reasons that many people wish to use clothing rather than frequent applications of sunscreen to avoid further sunburn damage. Fabric usually needs to be tightly woven or double thickness to block the harmful rays of the sun.

Children with special needs and their families who live and work in warm climates or who enjoy many outdoor activities are often challenged by reliance on sunscreen as their main sun block aid. Most children are especially uncomfortable and some become quite ill due to sunburn. Adult family members may assume that someone else has applied or reapplied the sunblock, a product with an insuffient UPF may have been applied, or it might have washed off sooner than expected.

Providing shade for children, and especially young babies, and having sun blocking clothing, are 'best practices' of good planning by families who seek to protect their children who have certain health conditions or are recovering from illness or surgery.

It's important to know which fabrics effectively block sunlight when making clothing for this purpose. Some families use a laundry additive that creates a sunblocking effect with washable clothing. Others search for clothing that is ready made and has a UHF score available. There are fabrics that are especially good if a child is spending time in the water.

We are so fortunate to live in a time when many options are available, and so much is known about the long term as well as immediate damage done by sun exposure.

Be aware that children can be allergic to ingredients in sunscreen lotions, laundry additives and certain fabrics, and some may have sensory sensitivities to texture and clothing that feels like a wrong fit.



Browse at your local bookstore, public library, retail stores or online retailers for information and products like these:

Sun Sense and Summer Fun
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/summer97/sunsense.html

Shady Lady Products
Links to clothes and products to avoid burns and for cancer survivors

Laundry additive for washable clothes designed to block ultraviolet rays:
Sunguard - Laundry Additive Sunblock

Clothing designed to block ultraviolet rays -

Solumbra

Sun Clothing

Solar Eclipse

Coolibar

Sun Grubbies

Sun Togs

Splash skins

Browse for Sun-blocking clothing, Rit Sunblock Laundry Rinse and Sunblock Products