Sun Safety

What are the risks involved with overexposure to UV radiation?

Most people like to get a little sun. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has some benefits:

it can be used to kill germs
it can treat some skin conditions
it helps form vitamin D in our bodies

But the benefits come with a dangerous tradeoff: there are risks involved with overexposure to UV radiation (rays). Being exposed to too many UV rays has been linked to these negative health effects.

Skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma)

Each year more than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the US, over 90 percent of which are caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays (UVR). One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. One American dies from skin cancer every hour.
Unprotected exposure to UV radiation is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer.

Risks for your child:

Premature aging of the skin and other skin problems
Cataracts and other eye damage
Immune system suppression

Understanding these risks and taking a few sensible precautions will help you enjoy the sun while lowering your chances of sun-related health problems.

Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is now one of the most common cancers among adolescents and young adults ages 15-29. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States

The UV Index forecasts the strength of the sun’s harmful rays. The higher the number, the greater the chance of sun damage.

counter-upf Source: http://www.epa.gov/

Why is UV swimwear better than a T-shirt?

You might get some UV protection from a regular piece of clothing, but the density of the fabric weave, color of the fabric and the conditions in which you are wearing it can also affect how much protection the garment may have. T-shirts are often very losely knitted and have a low UPF, which is further reduced when wet. You can still burn through a T-shirt! Our Elly la Fripouille UV swimwear still rates UPF 50+ when wet.

A basic cotton tee shirt provides only 9 UPF protection when dry, and besides being clingy and uncomfortable when wet, the protection decreases to only 5 UPF, leaving the wearer at increased risk for sunburn.

Cotton shirts usually rate less than SPF 10 dry. They are uncomfortable when wet and the protection decreases to only 5 UPF wet, leaving the wearer at increased risk for sunburn. T-shirts absorb water and stretch when damp, leaving exposed areas sensitive to burning.

5 UPF wet equates to virtually no protection!

With a UPF-rated garment, you know you are protected and safe. Our Elly la Fripouille UV swimwear maintains good shape when wet, preventing skin exposure to the sun. The first thing you'll do when coming out of the water wearing a wet T-shirt is take it off! Our UV swimwear dries fast in the sun so you can wear it all day, in and out of the water. Elly la Fripouille one piece UV swimsuits are a great alternative to ensure continued protection from the harmful rays of the sun.

Why Sunscreen is Not Enough?

Sunscreen is important, but it needs to be reapplied often to be effective. And even with sunscreen, medical professionals agree that sunscreen is not enough: your child needs physical protection. Sun lotion are often less effective for children as they spend their time in the sea and the sand.

To achieve the same result as an UV sun protective swimsuit, we should have to apply sun lotion 20 minutes before going in the sun, apply 2 mg / cm every two hours and after swimming (a consumption of two to three tubes per child in two weeks). We all know that children also hate to see apply sunscreen everywhere when they have only one desire: to play in the sand!

The UV swimwear Elly The Fripouille protects the most sensitive parts of the child's body, neck, shoulders, forearms, torso and thighs. Remember to apply sun lotion on uncovered parts of your body and the hat and glasses!

Thanks to the UV sun protective swimwear, you can also reduce the sun lotion consummation (an average of two tubes of cream used per family for two weeks of summer holidays)

What is UPF 50+ and why?

Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is a rating system used for apparel and indicates how effectively a fabric shields the skin from the sun's UV rays. The higher the UPF number, the greater level of UV protection it offers.

We carefully select the best swimwear fabric with rate UPF50+ according to International standards. A shirt with a UPF of 50 will let just 1/50th of the UV rays reach the skin. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a UPF of 30 or higher. All our swimwear are certified UPF 50+. Our swimwear are recommended by pediatricians and dermatologists.

Is the UV sun protective fabric suitable for childcare?

The most important thing for the babies is to use swimwear without any hash chemicals. As part of its commitment to skin friendly dyes, our swimwear meet the standards of Oeko-Tex,the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile Ecology, meaning it has passed the test for non-harmful substances in its products and in its production processes.

The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is an independent test and certification system for textile raw, intermediate and end products at all stages of processing.

Criteria:

The tests for harmful substances cover :

Legally banned and controlled substances
Chemicals known to be harmful to the health (but not yet legally controlled)
Parameters for health protection

Taken in their entirety, the requirements go far beyond existing national legislation. As a general rule, the greater skin coverage through uv protection swimwear, the less the area that needs to be protected by sunscreen that wears off and needs to be continually reapplied. UV protective swimwear that fully covers your shoulders and arms like swim shirts (and swim tights for legs) is the best choice for guaranteed all-day protection.

Why do your kids need sunglasses?

The Sun emits one of the greatest sources of harmful blue light. While parents seek products to protect their young kids’ skin, eyes protection can sometimes be overlooked. While wearing hats provides protections from above, it is not enough for the eyes as they are left exposed to reflected UV from water, sand or concrete that can do a lot of damage as well.

Children’s eyes are more vulnerable to sun damage than adults’ eyes because the cornea, lens and fluids are clearer, allowing more light to reach the retina. In general, kids receive 3 times more annual UV exposure than adults.

Choosing your kids’ sunglasses

Parents should by all means avoid toy sunglasses as these offer little UV protection. Caring for the well-being of your kids, always look for sunglasses labeled as “UV 400” which blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanomaters. This label indicates that the sunglasses can block 99 to 100 % of UVA and UVB rays, providing the best protection to your children’s eyes.