Avoiding direct sunlight and wearing clothes which stop harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching the skin, rather than sunscreen, are the best ways of avoiding skin cancer and the aging effects of the sun, according to a new review to be published in an upcoming edition of the journal Lancet.

”Wearing sun protective clothes and a hat and reducing sun exposure to a minimum should be preferred to sunscreens,” Dr. Stephan Lautenschlager, a dermatologist at the Triemli Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and colleagues write.

The researchers found that certain characteristics of clothing can make all the difference in terms of sun protection factor. Tightly woven, thick garments made of denim, wool or polyester offer the best protection, while cotton, linen and acetate are much less effective.