[pct-l] Cloth choice

[wpsnotebook at charter.net (Richard Woods)]

Something to think about is how much sun protection you're really  
getting. Sure, cotton and linen in the desert might help to keep you  
cool, but how about the UV protection factor?

The reason I comment is because I'm trying to get rid of some fairly  
widespread Actinic Keratosis - a precursor to skin cancer, and a  
direct result of too much fun in the sun in my younger days. Got my  
balding noggin fairly clear by now, next I have to start working on  
my shoulders and chest.

If you're fair-haired, have had some serious sunburns in the past,  
make sure whatever you choose to wear will protect you from UV as  
well as the other effects mentioned. And get checked for AK by a  
dermatologist who specializes in that kind of condition. This stuff  
can set in at an early age.

Rick

On Feb 23, 2006, at 4:30 PM, pct-l-request@mailman.backcountry.net  
wrote:

> Is Linen a non-starter?
>
>
> Think about all those mad colonial Englishmen in India, wearing  
> linen to
> keep cool.  Linen dries quickly.  However,  linen is a denser   
> fiber than cotton
> or the synthetics.  That means it's a heavier garment, if  you're  
> watching
> your gear weight.  Maybe slightly better than cotton for  abrasion  
> resistence.
> Washes easily.  AT