The Right Hat Can Help Prevent Skin Cancer
Learn how to choose a hat that will provide the best sun protection.
Hats can be a stylish accessory to top off an outfit, or a convenient way to hide a multitude of sins… Bad hair day? Throw one on and you are out the door. But hats can do much more, namely, they can help prevent skin cancer, by keeping the sun's damaging rays away from the sensitive skin on your scalp, face, ears, and neck. Unfortunately, not all hats are created equal, so if you want a hat destined for sun protection, you need to know what to look for. .
Hats for Sun Protection
To begin, a hat must be able to provide adequate coverage for sun protection: It should cover the entire head. Choose "a hat that's not just a visor — look for a real hat, one that covers the top of your head," says Martin Weinstock, MD, PhD, chairman of the Skin Cancer Advisory Committee at the American Cancer Society and professor of dermatology and community health at Brown University in Providence, R.I. The scalp, even if covered with hair, is still susceptible to damage from the sun.
The second hat essential: a broad brim that goes all the way around, says Dr. Weinstock. You should also choose a hat that shades more of the skin and covers your ears, "as opposed to a baseball cap that's only a bill in the front. Baseball caps provide some protection, but it's limited," he says. Baseball caps don’t cover the ears, which are sensitive and can burn easily. So if you do go outdoors in a baseball hat, cover up exposed areas with sunscreen for better sun protection. Apply plenty of sunscreen to the tops and insides of your ears, and the front and back of your neck as well.
Good Fabrics, Good Sun Protection
The third thing the right sun protective hat should have: the proper fabric. Tightly woven fabrics provide the best sun protection for your scalp, face, and neck. Dense fabrics such as canvas are a good choice for protective hats. Straw hats with lots of holes allow too much opportunity for the sun to reach the skin, so they make a poor choice for sun protection.
Although a hat’s color is not the most important protective factor, a darker shade may offer better sun protection than a lighter one.
Don’t Forget Your Sunglasses
Even though a wide-brimmed hat can help shield your eyes from the sun, don’t forget to wear sunglasses that offer ultraviolet (UV) ray protection. Your eyes and the sensitive skin around them are susceptible to sun damage as well, so always wear sunglasses that block UV rays; wraparound glasses are your best bet.
Armed with a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and clothing made of tightly woven fabric that covers your arms and legs, you're ready to fend off harmful UV rays and decrease your risk of skin cancer. So pick out a trendy hat, slap on some sunscreen, and head outside for safe fun in the sun.
Learn how to choose a hat that will provide the best sun protection.
Hats can be a stylish accessory to top off an outfit, or a convenient way to hide a multitude of sins… Bad hair day? Throw one on and you are out the door. But hats can do much more, namely, they can help prevent skin cancer, by keeping the sun's damaging rays away from the sensitive skin on your scalp, face, ears, and neck. Unfortunately, not all hats are created equal, so if you want a hat destined for sun protection, you need to know what to look for. .
Hats for Sun Protection
To begin, a hat must be able to provide adequate coverage for sun protection: It should cover the entire head. Choose "a hat that's not just a visor — look for a real hat, one that covers the top of your head," says Martin Weinstock, MD, PhD, chairman of the Skin Cancer Advisory Committee at the American Cancer Society and professor of dermatology and community health at Brown University in Providence, R.I. The scalp, even if covered with hair, is still susceptible to damage from the sun.
The second hat essential: a broad brim that goes all the way around, says Dr. Weinstock. You should also choose a hat that shades more of the skin and covers your ears, "as opposed to a baseball cap that's only a bill in the front. Baseball caps provide some protection, but it's limited," he says. Baseball caps don’t cover the ears, which are sensitive and can burn easily. So if you do go outdoors in a baseball hat, cover up exposed areas with sunscreen for better sun protection. Apply plenty of sunscreen to the tops and insides of your ears, and the front and back of your neck as well.
Good Fabrics, Good Sun Protection
The third thing the right sun protective hat should have: the proper fabric. Tightly woven fabrics provide the best sun protection for your scalp, face, and neck. Dense fabrics such as canvas are a good choice for protective hats. Straw hats with lots of holes allow too much opportunity for the sun to reach the skin, so they make a poor choice for sun protection.
Although a hat’s color is not the most important protective factor, a darker shade may offer better sun protection than a lighter one.
Don’t Forget Your Sunglasses
Even though a wide-brimmed hat can help shield your eyes from the sun, don’t forget to wear sunglasses that offer ultraviolet (UV) ray protection. Your eyes and the sensitive skin around them are susceptible to sun damage as well, so always wear sunglasses that block UV rays; wraparound glasses are your best bet.
Armed with a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and clothing made of tightly woven fabric that covers your arms and legs, you're ready to fend off harmful UV rays and decrease your risk of skin cancer. So pick out a trendy hat, slap on some sunscreen, and head outside for safe fun in the sun.
