We all know that every life form needs light and the biggest light source for our planet is the sun. However the rays of the sun can also harm humans and can also cause skin cancer. The two types of sunlight rays UVA and UVB can both cause damage to human beings. So the firs t thing everyone must do when they are going to go out in the sun is to use some form of sun protection. Also a lot would depend on how long one is going to be exposed to the sun. Like if one is going to the beach on a summer vacation or is planning to go on a boating trip one would need to use proper sun protection. Sun protection is also required in cold and dry weather and getting chapped lips and cheeks is more common in winters then in summers. Also how much sun and how strong are the sun's rays going to be would decide the kind of sun protection that one would need to use. The closer one is to the equator the more sun protection is required and the further north or south one goes the lesser sun protection is needed. However far north and far south are fairly cold and one needs sun protection there also but of a different type. Children love to spend a lot of time outdoors and during hot weather or when outdoors they need to wear proper sun protection clothing. If one uses a sunscreen on them and on the kids one should not forget to apply it to areas like at the back of the neck, behind the knees and at the back of the ears.

With depletion in the ozone layer and a lot of research conducted on sunlight the level of people's awareness to the harmful affects of sunlight has also been raised. Now sun protection clothing is freely available and it has been found that thicker woven clothes give more sun protection then lighter woven clothes. Also darker colored clothes absorb more sunlight then lighter colored clothes. Sun protection hats are also easy to get and there are clothing manufacturers that do display the sun protection factor on their garments. A baseball cap or any ordinary headgear has an SPF of 3 to 6. Sun protection hats have a higher SPF and also are wide brimmed to protect the ears, the forehead and the back of the neck. There are stores that sell sun protection clothes and sun protection hats, so if one is planning to spend a lot of time in the sun one would be well advised to get sun protection clothing from these stores. Sun protection swim wear is also now readily available and some people have taken a preference to using this swimwear instead of the conventional swimwear. One can get discount sun protection swimwear and sun protection products from stores that are located at tropical holiday resorts.

Babies, infants and toddlers require extra sun protection as their skin is delicate so getting baby sun protection clothing and sunscreens is important if one is taking a baby out for an extended period in the sun. Similarly toddler sun protection and infant sun protection suits can be bought from any store that sells sun protection clothing. Also the sunscreens and sun blocks are also available for babies, infants and toddlers. In fact if a grown up finds a sunscreen or a sun block that does not suit them it is recommended that they use a baby sunscreen as these don’t have any harsh chemicals in them.

Suffering from sunburns is not a nice experience and can be quite excruciating and one may even need medical attention. So using proper sun protection in terms of clothing, sun screens, sun blocks, eyewear, hats is important as no one wants to suffer from skin damage.