[44] Light-weight, titanium-impregnated nylon and cotton fabrics will offer the greatest comfort and sun protection in hot and humid regions and can be layered in cooler and dryer regions. selleck inhibitor Washing clothing with photoprotective laundering agents, such as Rit Sun Guard, will offer photoprotection through one’s favorite clothes at low cost. Besides responsible selection of sun protective clothing, the consumer-traveler should be a responsible wearer of photoprotective clothing by avoiding wet and tightly fitted clothing and gaps of uncovered skin at the ankles, wrists, waist, and neck between the shirt collar

and hat. In addition to wide-brimmed hats and photoprotective clothing, sunglasses also provide photoprotection for the skin and, most importantly, the eyes and eyelids, by preventing the development of several ocular disorders including periorbital skin cancers, cataracts, pterygia, photokeratitis, snow blindness, and possibly retinal melanomas and age-related macular degeneration.[48, 49] There is no world standard UV protection rating system for sunglasses. The first national standard rating system for UV protection for sunglasses was introduced by Australia in 1971. The existing national standard UV protection rating systems for sunglasses are compared in Table 4. Travelers should choose the highest Alectinib solubility dmso UV protection-rated sunglasses as indicated on the required hangtags. Sunglass UV protection depends on several factors

including shape and fit, and lens color and UV-filtering and reflecting abilities.[48, Loperamide 49] Sunglass lenses should fit close to the face, not touch the eyelashes,

hug the temples, and merge into broad temple arms or straps. Darker lenses do not necessarily filter more UV light and can trigger pupillary dilation which allows unfiltered wavelengths of UV and visible-spectrum blue light (400–440 nm) to reach the retina.[50] Chronic retinal exposure to visible-spectrum blue light in the wavelength range of 400 to 440 nm is a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration.[50-53] The color of sunglass lenses can influence contrast, color vision, and depth and width perception.[50-53] Orange and yellow lenses provide the best protection from both UV and visible blue light, with blue and purple lenses providing insufficient protection.[50-53] The effects of sunglass lens colors on visual perception are compared in Table 5.[50-53] A variety of special use sunglasses are recommended for travelers engaging in active water sports, such as body-boarding, jet-skiing, kite-boarding, wake-boarding, wind sailing, and water skiing. Water sunglasses (goggles) have air vents to prevent fogging and increased buoyancy to prevent sinking if lost. Glacier sunglasses (goggles) provide more UV filtration and reflection and are recommended for travelers engaging in winter and high altitude sports, such as cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, glacier hiking, and mountain climbing.