If you are an athlete, a casual beachgoer, a water-baby, or a surfer, you might have complained about applying and reapplying sunscreen to your skin whenever you are in the sun. Generally, it is recommendable to reapply the sunscreen after two hours, especially if you are often toweling off, swimming, or sweating.
However, most people forget to reapply the sunscreen, thus exposing their skins to harmful sun rays. With sun protection clothing, you can avoid any sun health-related effects on your skin. The following article will help you understand how sun protection clothing works.
Defining UPF
Generally, you might be conversant with the term SPF (Sun Protection Factor) present on most sunscreen packaging. SPF shows the protection level of any sunscreen in protecting your skin from the UV rays effects. On the other hand, UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is a term used for women’s sun protection shirts as well as other UV clothing.
Typically, sun protection clothing protects you in three ways: reflecting, absorbing, and blocking the UV radiations. The clothing fabric help block the UV radiation; your color reflects it while the chemical treatment helps in absorbing it. Most sun-protective clothing has a UPF number denoting the amount of UV radiation its material absorbs.
How Sun Protection Clothing Work
Generally, most regular clothes allow sun rays to your skin as they have a loose weave with a UPF of five. However, UV or UPF protective wears have a tighter weave and are manufactured with special fabric to keep the harmful sun rays from your skin.
With sun protection clothing, most of the UV rays are blocked, thus offering more sun protection. If your protective clothing denotes a 50 UPF, it means that it allows 1/50th of harmful sun rays to reach your skin. As a result, the clothing will be blocking about 98 percent of UV radiation before it gets to your skin.
Most sun protection clothing feels and looks like activewear or athleisure, made into shirts, leggings, and hats. Additionally, the higher thread count and tighter weave with the sun protective clothing usually feel comfier than the regular clothing. Typically, for clothing to be thought of as sun-protective, it must contain a 15-50+ UPF.
Why Choose sun Protection Clothing
While you can get sun protection from other tight woven materials with UPF of 1,700, it would mean spending your day in denim. Most of these clothes might be comfortable, thus offering you no protection as you might need to take them off at some point.
However, sun protection clothes are comfortable, breathable, and lightweight, and they offer adequate protection to your skin on sunny days. For this reason, it would be wise to choose suitable sun protection clothing instead of other uncomfortable wear.
Who Benefits from Sun Protection Clothing
Generally, anybody could benefit from sun protection clothing to prevent their skin from sun-related health risks. Conversely, some situations and some individuals might need different types of protection from UV radiation. Such people and conditions include:
- If you live in an area where sun intensity is great such as equatorial regions, elevated areas, water, or snow regions
- Kids with sensitive skin as sun damage could increase the risk of severe health issues in the future
- People with fair skin and easily experience sunburn
- If you use certain medications such as acne treatments, some herbal supplements, antibiotics, antihistamines, and the like, that could increase sun sensitivity
Conclusion
Although sun protection clothing does not mean you get rid of other protection measures like sunscreen, it offers you a lasting solution. Additionally, you can wear a sun protection cloth as you start your day and keep it for the rest of the day.
Surfing, swimming, or sweating usually causes sunscreen to lose its effectiveness. Additionally, regular clothing might feel great for hiking. However, it will lose its protection as the sun gets hotter. Also, as mentioned above, regular clothing is usually uncomfortable during sunny seasons.
A sun protection cloth not only helps you protect your skin but also wicks moisture and is breathable, offering a comfy feel. Typically basking out in the sun is one of the most delightful things during a sunny day. Wearing a sun-protective cloth will help you keep your skin from harmful sun UV rays while enjoying your day out.
Author name– Zoya Maryam