Sun protection clothing blocks harmful UV rays from reaching the skin, with a UPF rating indicating the amount of rays that can pass through. Light fabrics offer less protection than heavy, tightly woven clothing, but can be uncomfortable. Sun protection clothing should be used alongside sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses for optimal protection.
Sun protection clothing is specially formulated clothing designed to block harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from reaching a person’s skin. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can be harmful to your skin, causing painful sunburns, premature wrinkles and potentially leading to skin cancer. Sunscreen clothing is made with a chemical UV absorber or sunscreen added during the manufacturing process. Clothing with artificially enhanced sun protection adds a valuable barrier between the body and harmful ultraviolet rays, providing the wearer with significant benefits to the overall health of her skin. Sun protective clothing is widely available for purchase online and may also be found in local consumer stores.
The amount of ultraviolet rays that can be blocked by using a fabric is calculated in the United States with a measure known as the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF). The UPF of a garment indicates the amount of ultraviolet rays that are able to pass through the clothing to the body. UV protective clothing with a UPF of 50, for example, allows 1/50th of the ultraviolet rays to travel through the fabric and be absorbed by the skin. This equates to about two percent of total UV rays and is considered the ultimate in sun protection. The higher the UPF number, the less harmful rays can penetrate the fabric and reach the skin.
All fabrics offer some level of sun barrier, whether or not they are treated with a chemical UV absorber. In general, light, loose-knit fabrics keep you cool and comfortable, but don’t offer a high amount of sun protection. Heavy, dark colored, tightly woven clothing can form a much greater barrier between an individual and the sun, however, these types of clothing are usually hot and uncomfortable to wear during hot weather. Sun protection clothing can provide a person with the high level of sun protection often found in heavy fabric types, without the added bulk and discomfort.
Sun protection clothing should be used in conjunction with other methods of sun protection, rather than replacing them. Wearing sunscreen, especially on your face, ears and neck, is an important way to protect your body from harmful UV rays. Wearing a hat and protective sunglasses is also recommended, as well as limiting sun exposure during the central hours of the day when the sun is highest in the sky. Sunscreen clothing complements these traditional safety measures, especially in situations where sunscreen may not be applied correctly or midday sun exposure is unavoidable.
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