How to Choose Sun-Protective Clothing

What is the appropriate clothing to protect from the sun's rays?

Sunscreen products are not the only way to protect yourself from the sun's rays. Clothing is the first barrier, and one of the most effective, to protect it from dangerous ultraviolet rays.

According to the World Health Organization, the majority of cases of problems with the skin structure and skin cancer are caused precisely by the ultraviolet rays that the sun emits.

In this article, we at Sun Like have prepared for you some of the most effective steps you can take to protect yourself from UV rays.

What is the correct clothing choice?

Experts recommend wearing clothing that covers all skin when outdoors. Dark colors provide more protection. Tightly woven fabric also does a better job of protecting than thin fabric - plain weave or loose weave. For example, we may take the clothing of people in hotter countries and deserts.

When you're at the beach, keep in mind that dry clothing is much more protective than wet clothing. Therefore, we at Sunlike advise you to change your clothes after leaving the sea or pool. It should be noted that clothing does not completely block all UV rays. If you can see light through the fabric, then UV rays can also penetrate through it.

Nowadays, you can find many textile companies that produce clothes with UV protection. They usually have a label that states the UV protection factor on a scale of 15 to 50+. The higher the UVF value, the higher the protection it provides. For the beach, you can bet on a swimsuit with UV protection, as well as a model that covers a larger part of your body. As much as we love a nice summer tan, we must always keep in mind how dangerous it actually is for our skin.

Wearing clothes that protect you from the sun should be a daily routine all year round. However, at certain times or seasons, precautions should be greater.

Suitable fabrics for sun protection

There are a number of factors that affect the protection a fabric provides against UV rays:

– Weaving of fabrics

Very tight threads, which leave very few holes between them, are more protective than those with more open wefts. Thus, very dense fabrics such as denim are more protective than sheer fabrics such as chiffon or tulle.

– Fabric thickness and density

Heavier, thicker fabrics let in less UV rays than lighter, thinner fabrics.

– Fiber type

Due to their molecular structure, synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon generally have a higher level of protection than natural fibers such as cotton or linen (wool is an exception to this).

- Color

Dark colors - black, dark blue and green, or very bright colors absorb or block more UV penetration than light colors. In polyester fabrics that already have high protection against the sun, dark colors do not lead to a significant increase in UV absorption.

Likewise, shiny fabrics such as satin reflect more UV rays than matte fabrics, and are therefore more protective.

– Fabric bleaching

There are numerous studies that prove that bleaching fabrics reduces their sun protection. Natural fibers contain UV-absorbing substances that are lost when bleached.

– Use of fabric

When fabrics are stretched or wet, they let more UV rays through. Likewise, as they deteriorate or age, their protective effect against UV radiation diminishes.

– Chemical treatment

The fabric fibers can be treated with chemicals or pigments such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that absorb the radiation. On the other hand, this process is generally not very environmentally friendly, except that the chemicals are lost in the wash.

However, dyeing natural fiber fabrics such as cotton with natural dyes has also been found to increase their protection against UV radiation.

Wear a hat

A hat is definitely one of the must-have items to include in your daily routine when the sun is out. The face and neck remain most vulnerable to the sun's influence and most vulnerable to the two most common forms of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Use sunglasses with UV protection

Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays is just as important as other precautions. Over time, ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause or contribute to the development of certain diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, eye melanomas, and other types of skin cancer. In fact, 5-10% of all skin cancers occur on the eyelids. Opt for sunglasses that cover the eyes, eyelids, and as much of the skin around the eyes as possible.

If it doesn't say anything on the label, the sunglasses don't offer UV protection. Always look for the ANSI mark. Polarized glasses reduce glare, but not radiation.

One of the keys to protecting against UV rays

Spend your time in the shade. This simple measure is the best way to limit UV rays. This is especially important between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., since radiation is most intense during these hours of the day.

To check the intensity, you can do the shadow test. If your shadow is smaller than you - UV rays are very intense and it is important to protect yourself. You have to remember that clouds do not block UV rays. That's why you should still be careful even when it's cloudy.

The beach and snowy areas increase the amount of UV radiation because they reflect sunlight. The sun's rays can even reflect off the water and are stronger in the spring and summer months. In mountainous areas, solar radiation is much stronger.

Applying sunscreen is a must and you should fit it into your routine. You should apply it on your face, ears, hands, neck and any other parts of your body that are not covered by clothes.

 We at Sun Like recommend that you apply sunscreen every two hours if you are directly exposed to the sun. Or apply sunscreen immediately after exercising, swimming, showering, or when heading outside after spending time indoors.