Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun, ensuring that every square inch of skin is plastered in sunscreen, and remembering to reapply sunscreen every two hours is a perfect way to protect oneself from harmful sun rays. However, for the majority of individuals, maintaining this in the actual world is practically impossible.
Even if you are fully covered from head to toe, you may not be adequately shielded from ultraviolet rays. The sun can easily penetrate certain fabrics. It is where the use of sun protective clothing comes in handy. When it comes to those hard-to-reach areas of your skin, nothing beats the comfort and convenience of sun protection shirts. Additionally, new brands and fabrics have made UPF clothing more comfortable and fashionable than ever before.
How Does Sun Protection Clothing Work?
As with sunscreen, sun protective clothing functions as a barrier to protect you from the sun rays. The Dermatologist and Skin Cancer Foundation spokesperson, Jeremy Brauer, M.D., adds, “There is a definite association between exposure to UV rays and acquiring skin cancer.” He says that clothing has some level of sun protection, but sun protective brands increase that dramatically. He also emphasises the importance of wearing hats and sunglasses.
Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Miami and member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, says it’s challenging to reapply sunscreen every two hours if you’re spending the day outside. Wearing sun protection shirts is a time saver. Another critical factor is coverage because if you don’t wear shirts that do not have enough coverage, you can overlook a small part of your skin and get burned.
Choosing The Right Sun Protection Clothing
Having enough coverage will save you from the harmful sun rays. To ensure enough protection from the sun, it is essential to learn how to choose the right clothes for you.
Determine how much protection you need
Some people prefer to wear sun protective apparel that covers every inch of their body, and for them, it is the best option available. However, Dr. Woolery-Lloyd advises that you choose something you’ll actually wear. It basically boils down to what’s most comfortable for you. Just be sure to apply sunscreen to any exposed skin. She recommends clothes that protect your shoulders, back, arms, especially neck and chest, which are two areas that people typically forget to apply sunscreen on.
Keep an eye out for the weaving
Dr. Brauer argues that tightly woven fabric, especially synthetic fibres with fewer micro spaces between threads, is excellent in blocking UV rays. In contrast, kinds of cotton that are more loosely woven are less effective at protecting the wearer.
Choosing the right colour and material can make a big difference
Dr. Brauer notes that some materials also protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. When it comes to absorbing damaging rays, unbleached cotton is the best, whereas flashy materials like polyester and silk reflect them. Also, darker colours absorb more of these rays than those that are lighter.
To Sum It Up
We face the sun’s rays each day, and it might cause harm to our skin, such as skin cancer. Everyone should take care of his or her skin to maintain it as healthy as possible, as it is a vital part of our body’s defense system. It is why it is essential for everyone to have basic knowledge of sun protection clothing.