SunProtective Clothing

Facts You Need to be Aware of:

We now know that ultraviolet rays penetrate most of the lightweight apparel we wear. Time spent in the sun accumulating ultraviolet rays into the skin leads to problems later in life. It's those accumulated effects that damage the skin's DNA and cell function. In addition to skin cancer, excessive sun exposure also causes pre-malignant actinic keratoses, wrinkles, dark and unsightly blotches, leathery skin and immune system suppression.

Independent laboratory tests have shown that many typical cotton T-shirts and summerweight fabrics can allow 50% of harmful ultraviolet B rays through to your skin when dry and 10% to 20% more when wet. An open-mesh baseball cap or open weave straw hat can be just as bad or worse.

The sun is the main cause of skin cancer. Thanks to our love of a suntan and our outdoor-oriented lifestyles, skin cancer has become a significant and growing health problem. The incidence of melanoma is increasing more rapidly than any other cancer. Our children now face a 1 in 7 risk of getting skin cancer during their lifetime.

With the continued depletion of the ozone, doctors recommend a comprehensive program of sun protection which includes avoidance of unnecessary exposure and a combination of sun protective clothing and sunscreens.

With these facts and statistics in mind a sun protective fabric called solarweave® was created. Besides having a tight weave (with a high degree of breathability), solarweave® has a patent-pending non-irritating process that allows the maximum possible blockage of ultra violet rays in a lightweight fabric. This combination allows solarweave® to block 95% to 99% of harmful U.V.B.

This cottony-soft fabric still blocks 95% of U.V rays even after two years wear and tear, and after abrasion tests have worn away 50% of the fabric.

Skin Cancer Epidemic Preventable

More than 64,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in 1999, higher than the combined total for lung, breast and prostate cancer. Yet, unlike many types of cancer, almost all skin cancers are preventable. Although most people know that skin cancer is caused by too much sun over many years, one-in-seven children born today will develop this common disease during his or her lifetime. While most skin cancers are non life threatening, they can cause extensive disfigurement if left untreated. During the summer, limiting the length of time spent outdoors between 11am and 4pm, wearing wide-brimmed hats and clothing to shade the skin and applying an SPF 15 or higher, broad-spectrum sunscreen will go a long way in helping to prevent skin cancer.

Look for danger signs in pigmented lesions of the skin. Consult your physician immediately if any of your moles or pigmented spots exhibit any of these possible signs of melanoma.

	Normal Mole: Round or oval, and even colour. Many moles indicate an increased risk of melanoma skin cancer.
	Atypical mole: Mix of browns, smudged border, and is often bigger than 5mm. Increased risk of melanoma skin cancer.
	Melanoma: Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is also one of the fastest growing types of cancer in North-America, Many dermatologists believe there may be a link between childhood sunburns and malignant melanoma later in life. Melanoma cases in the U.S. have almost doubled in the past two decades, with at least 32,000 new cases and 6,900 deaths estimated for 1994 alone. The rise in melanoma cases and deaths in America is expected to continue.
	Cure Rate: Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body quickly, but when detected in its earliest stages it can be curable. If not caught early,melanoma is often fatal .
	What to watch for: Melanoma begins as an uncontrollable growth of pigment-producing cells in the skin. This growth leads to the formation of dark-pigmented malignant moles or tumors, called melanomas. Melanomas may suddenly appear without warning, but may also develop from or near a mole. For that reason it is important to know the location and appearance of moles. Be aware of any unusual skin condition, especially a change in the size or colour of a mole or other darkly or irregularly pigmented growth or spot; scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule; spread of pigment from the border into surrounding skin; and change in sensation including itchiness, tenderness, or pain.
	Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers Unlike melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers are rarely fatal. Nevertheless, they should not be taken lightly. Untreated, they can spread, causing more serious health problems. An estimated 900,000 Americans developed non-melanoma skin cancers in 1994, while 1,200 died from the disease. Basal Cell Carcinomas are tumors of the skin which usually appear as small, fleshy bumps or nodules on the head and neck, but can occur on other skin areas as well. It is the most common skin cancer found among fair-skinned people. Basal cell carcinoma does not grow quickly, and rarely spreads to other parts of the body. However it can penetrate below the skin to the bone and cause considerable local damage. Squamous Cell Carcinomas are tumors which may appear as nodules or as red, scaly patches. The second most common skin cancer found in fair-skinned people, squamous cell carcinoma is rarely found in darker skinned people. This cancer can develop into large masses, and unlike basal cell carcinoma, it can spread to other parts of the body. What to watch for: Basal cell carcinoma tumors usually appear as slowly growing, raised, translucent, pearly nodules which, if untreated, discharge pus, and sometimes bleed. Squamous cell carcinomas usually are raised, red or pink scaly nodules or wart-like growths that form pus in the center. They typically develop on the edge of the ears, the face, lips, mouth, hands and other exposed areas of the body.
	Actinic Keratoses: These sun-induced skin growths occur on body areas exposed to the sun. The face, hands, forearms, and the "V" of the neck are especially susceptible to this type of blemish. They are pre-malignant. Look for raised, reddish, rough textured growths. See a dermatologist promptly if you notice these growths.
Back to Top Mind Your ABCD´s

Asymmetry One half unlike the other half.		Border Scalloped or poorly circumscribed border	Colour From one area to another, shades of tan and brown; black; sometimes white, red or blue.	Diameter Larger than 6mm as a rule, or the size of a pencil eraser.