Hi,
Just wanted to add a bit more on the UV-clothing side, since a few people mentioned it. The rating to look for is UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) — it’s the clothing equivalent of SPF, and it tells you what fraction of UV rays get through the fabric. UPF 50 means only 1/50th of the UV gets through, which is over 98% blocked. A lot of “sun shirts” and swim cover-ups are rated UPF 50+.
I became interested in Rodasoleil swimsuits and A few things I learned when I started looking into this after my own diagnosis:
Fabric matters more than color or thickness alone. Tightly woven synthetics (polyester, nylon blends) tend to block more UV than loose cotton, even when the cotton feels “thicker.”
Wet fabric loses protection. A shirt that blocks UV well when dry can let a lot more through once it’s soaked — which is exactly why the specialized swim/rash-guard fabrics exist. They’re engineered to keep their UPF rating wet or dry, which regular cotton doesn’t.
It doesn’t wear off. Unlike sunscreen, UPF clothing doesn’t need reapplying every 2 hours, sweat off, or get missed in spots — which is nice for the areas we always forget (ears, part line, tops of feet).
Look for a UPF number on the tag, not just “SPF” printed on swimwear — some swim brands still just borrow the SPF language loosely, so the actual UPF rating (if listed) is the more reliable number.
None of this replaces shade-seeking, timing (avoiding peak midday sun), or sunscreen on the parts that are still exposed — it’s just one more layer in the toolkit people here have already mentioned. Everyone’s risk level and dermatologist’s advice is different, so definitely worth asking your derm specifically about UPF clothing for your situation.
Glad you’re finding ways to stay active — that lake trip sounds lovely.
