Tips on How to Choose Sun Protective Clothing

Exposing yourself to too much ultraviolet (UV) can cause sunburn, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. Other than sunscreen, you can also wear sun-protective clothing to protect your skin. Sun-protective clothes can keep your skin protected as well as block out the UV rays.

Let’s check out what are the benefits of sun-protective clothing that you should know.

Effective – Sun-protective clothing can protect your body against the sun with no missing spots because they offer a wider coverage and consistent shield. So you don’t have to worry anymore about patchy sunburned spots. This clothing is very convenient and is the most effective form of sun protection. 

Offer all-day coverage – Sun protection clothing is something that you only have to put on once and then you can forget about it especially if you are not keen on reapplying sunscreen throughout the day.  These garments offer the same level of protection the whole day so there’s no need to apply sunscreen again after every two hours.

Cost effective – If you are always putting on sunscreen as much as you should, very likely that you’ll go through a bottle very quickly. Sun-protective clothing is also lasting so you get to save more even though it is expensive.

How Do You Choose Sun Protective Clothing?

• UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is used to indicate how much the sun’s UV rays are blocked by the clothing. Clothes with UPF 50 mean that 1/50th of the UV rays can penetrate through and so on.
• Choose thicker or more dense fabrics. How thick the clothing is also impacts the UPF rating. Tightly woven clothing with smaller holes between the thread like denim offers more protection than clothing with an open weave like a shawl.
• If you want more protection, wear darker UPF clothing to absorb more UV rays. A black shirt with UPF 50+ will block out more sun rays compared to a white shirt that has the same rating.
• Stretchable fabric that’s been stretched too far would leave gaps in the weave. This allows sunlight to penetrate through. For proper protection, it’s better to get sun-protective clothing with a loose fit.

Types of Sun Protective Clothing You Need To Know

You should shop for these sun-protective clothing and accessories to keep you protected

• Top –  Choose a synthetic, dark-colored T-shirt that can protect you from UV radiation. A long-sleeve top will offer a more complete protection.
• Shorts, leggings or trousers –  Long trousers offer the most protection.
• Socks and sneakers – Wearing a pair of moisture-wicking ankle socks and running shoes that fit well will keep you protected
• Hat – Don’t forget to protect your face, ears, upper back, and neck with a hat of at least 3 inches wide brim
• Sunglasses –  Look for a pair of sunglasses that is labeled UV 400 to get nearly complete protection from harmful rays.
• Swimming suits -Be prepared with a UPF-rated swimming suit if you plan to go for a swim or hang out by the pool.