Sun Protection Clothing
For The Ultimate Skin Protection
Sun protection clothing protects your skin better than normal clothing does. They also protect your skin better than sunscreen. Sun block though still plays important role in your overall sun protection and you should always use sunscreen on any exposed skin.
Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is the amount of ultraviolet radiation blocked by fabric (similar to SPF when buying sunscreen). Sun protective clothes should offer minimum rating of UPF 30 according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
There is increased range of fashionable sun protection clothes and accessories available. There is no reason why you cannot look good while providing your skin with the ultimate protection.
Important - sun damage accumulates so it is never too early, nor too late, to start wearing sun protection clothing.
Why Sun Protection Clothing?
Facts About Skin Cancer
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The figures are staggering... over 2 million people are diagnosed every year with skin cancer in the US, which is more than the combined cases of breast, lung, colon and prostate cancer.
Wearing sun protective clothing is the best way to protect your skin. It works better than cover your skin with normal clothes or covering your body with sunscreen.
Being sunburned is not only excruciating uncomfortable, it can also be extremely dangerous.
The main cause of skin cancer is over-exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays. In fact, suntan is not healthy - it is actually a sign of skin damage.
Wearing sun protection clothing can help to reduce your risk of getting skin cancer.
Why Not Just Cover Up
With Your Normal Clothes?
All clothes protect the skin they cover. Clothes in dark colors, tighter weaves and synthetic fabrics block more UV rays than lighter, loosely woven clothes of natural fibers.
However, the average T-shirt allows around 50% of the UV rays to penetrate the skin and many light summer clothes allow even more. This is why your normal clothes cannot protect you as well as sun protective clothes can.
How Do Sun Protection Clothing Work?
Sun protective clothes are made of tightly woven / knit fabric. Nylon is the most common material used but fibers from cotton to polyester can be used in sun protective fabric. Cotton is the least UV protective while Lycra is one of the best for UV protection.
Some fabric is chemically treated with UV inhibitors to give it better UPF rating. However, sun protective fabric with high fiber density and structure can give high UPF rating without being chemically treated.
What Is UPF?
Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is the amount of ultraviolet radiation blocked by fabric (similar to SPF when buying sunscreen). The sun protection factor should be of minimum rating of UPF 30 according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
UPF rating is determined by beaming light across the fabric and measure the amount of UV radiation that passes through the fabric. The sun protection factor numbers range from 15 to 50 plus. The higher the number, the better protected you are against the harmful UV rays.
Is Sun Protective Clothing
Better Than Sunscreen?
Sun protection clothes physically block the rays while the sunscreen is applied to the skin. Unfortunately, most people do not apply enough sunscreen lotion. Sunscreen also dilutes if you go swimming, or sweat heavily, and most people forget to re-apply, or at least not immediately.
Did You Know?
Sun damage accumulates so it is never too early, nor too late, to start wearing sun protection clothing.
Sun protective clothing does give you better protection than sunscreen but only on the skin they cover.
Your sun protective clothes will never cover you fully so it is still vital to use sunscreen on all skin exposed to the sun.
When wearing sun protection clothes apply sunscreen on all exposed skin, starting about an inch under the ends of your sleeves and trousers legs.
Can You Look Good
In Sun Protection Clothes?
As people have become more aware of the risks associated with over-exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays, demand for quality good-looking sun protective clothing has increased drastically.
More and more clothes manufactures are responding to this increased demand, resulting in better quality products. There are more colors and wider range of styles on offer. The fabric is lightweight, and some sun protection clothes are vented under the arms, making them light and comfortable to wear, even during the heats of summer.
Buying Sun Protection Clothing On-line
Amazon offers good range of quality good-looking sun protection clothing for both sexes, all made of sun protective fabric with UPF 30 rating or higher.
Many sun protection products are of high quality and many have more than one function. For example, Sun Protection Wrap not only products women from the sun, it can also be used to cover the head in countries where it is the custom for women to cover their head and upper body.
Many of their sun protection shirts are made from breathable, moisture wicking material, making them more comfortable in warm climate, or when undertaking strenuous activities.
Most of their products have wrinkle resistant finish, are quick drying, lightweight and easily packable, making them ideal for travelling.
Amazon offers large selection of Sun Protection Clothing that do not only shield you from the sun, many of them also protect you from the nasty insect bites.
Permethrin is a man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in certain chrysanthemum plants. Permethrin treated clothes are recommended by the US Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Family Physicians.