You don’t have to sacrifice style for sun protection.
So how do you choose the best sun protection clothing?
We’ve got you totally covered.
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In fact, a study found that consistently UV-protection clothing provided better protection against UV radiation than any sunscreen.
What Does UPF Mean?
A piece of clothing with a UPF of 15 blocks 93.3 percent of the UV radiation.
“A UPF of 30 to 49 offers very good protection, while UPF 50+ is excellent.”
These are the factors that help determine your UPF clothing’s rating.
Synthetic materials are better for UV protection than natural ones, Nichols says.
How the fabric is woven and how thick it is also impacts its UPF rating.
Even clothing that isn’t labeled with a UPF may be sun protective.
Color
Thicker and darker fabrics are more protective than thin, light fabrics.
Opt for looser sun-protective clothes to ensure proper protection.
Certifications
Check the tags for mentions of certifications.
ASTM International has established criteria for assessing the UPFso look for clothing that says it meets their standards.
In addition, the Skin Cancer Foundation has created aSeal of Recommendation, Nichols says.
How Long Does the Sun Protection Last?
This all depends on how the sun protection was created.
The Skin Cancer Foundation offers its ownlisting of productsthat meet its guidelines.
Slip versus Slop: A Head-to-Head Comparison of UV-Protective Clothing to Sunscreen.Cancers14, no.
3 (January 2022): 542. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14030542.
