Do you want to discover the sun blocking clothing hiding in your closet?
What is your normal day? The kind you enjoy, and that often goes almost before it starts? That is how my sun exposure days usually are.
I can go for a walk with my granddaughter and know that she is reasonably protected. I am glad I don’t worry about how much protection she is getting from her clothing for that fragile young child’s skin she has.
Learning more about the sun and how it protects us from the sun has put to rest the hesitation of enjoying being outdoors with the kids.
As the mother of a family with multiple episodes of skin cancer, I know the price we pay when we don’t protect our skin. Did I always have sun blocking clothing in my closet? Yes, I did. I just didn’t know we needed to worry about skin protection.
The world was just becoming aware of the need for sun protection when my kids were growing up. And UPF rates were not a part of our world. Nor anyone else’s either.
Have We Been Encouraged To Be Scared About To Sun Protection For Our Skin
Have we been urged to be aware of a problem that does not exist?
Those of us who have had first-hand experience with skin cancer know that there is a problem. We do need to protect our skin.
Learning to know when to wear sun blocking clothing and use umbrellas and sun hats. This is all so important to our skin safety.
You need to sort through the information and figure out what works for you. The UPF sun blocking clothing may work better for you, with some of the items in your closet already helping out.
What the UPF-rated fabric offers in styling and comfort we don’t always have in our regular clothing.
For instance, is the sun blocking shirt. Does the shirt you already have in your closet have vents under the arms to allow for air circulation? Are the shoulders reinforced with another layer of fabric as some “fishing shirts” are? The extra layer is great when you are expecting to be standing with the sun overhead for longer lengths of time.
The long sleeve shirts are made of fabric blends that dry quickly when sweated out. Or when you rinse them out in the sink to wear tomorrow while you are on vacation.
Yes, these garments are good to have, but don’t use the old “I don’t have anything to wear excuse.” Check and see what is in your closet and wear something.
Sun shining on your bare skin is a sure set-up for sunburn.
A Brief History Of Sun Blocking Clothing
According to Wikipedia, polyester was invented in 1921, and by the 1970’s a popular fabric that was inexpensive and looked new forever. Easy care as well made this the thing everyone was wanting.
However, its popularity was a bit short-lived as it was not a breathable fabric. You could get pretty funky smelling pretty quick.
By blending with other fabrics, cotton, silk, wool, and linen became easier to care for, and less expensive. This is where you find sun protection along with comfort in the heat. As a person who loves sewing and fabric, the ease in styling and caring for these new blends is great.
The fact that 100 % polyester does not breathe well is what makes it so effective as a sun blocking fabric. The long-wearing part makes fibers like cotton that fade and wear so quickly into a better sun blocking fabric when polyester is added.
The late 1990s and early 2000s are when Australian manufacturers began to work with their rating system for UPF-rated fabrics. They have been losing their ozone layer quicker than most of the US has. With their location on the globe and their fair skin immigrant history, they were searching for protection for their population.
So the whole industry of UPF Clothing is young. We will be seeing more and more industry developments presenting beautifully made clothing.
This is the marketing edge that UPF-rated clothing offers, lightweight fabrics that can breathe, wick moisture, and yet, protect you from the sun’s dangerous rays.
As our society evolves and more people are involved in outdoor activities being able to protect your skin will continue to be important. Then there are the higher-risk people who have super sensitive skin, and a higher risk for sunburn.
Add to that the ones who have a higher risk due to the medications they take. Yes, medications can make you at higher risk.
How To Discover Sun Blocking Clothing Hiding In Your Closet
The first thing for finding sun blocking clothing in your closet:
Read Labels. What is the fabric made of? Cotton? Linen? or a blend of these two or other fabrics. Polyester blend fabrics will up the ability of almost any fabric to protect you from the sun.
Can You See Through The Fabric? Hold the shirt up to the sun, can you see through it? If you can see through, the sun can too, and will get to your skin. A tight weave, think denim, blocks the sun.
Does The Shirt Have Long Sleeves? The more skin covered, the better you are protected.
Is The Fit Lose? Loosely fitting clothing allows the air to reach your skin and cool you, as well as dry moisture on your skin.
Is The Shirt Dark Or Brightly Colored? Dark blue, black, deep red, or green? Deep brown is better than tan, deep gold is better than pale yellow. The more color in your shirt, the more of the sun’s rays it will absorb and keep off your skin. However, it will be warmer, and therefore the looser fit to allow for some air to reach your skin.
Find out how your normal clothes protect you from the sun. Discover the sun blocking clothing hiding in your closet and protect your skin from the sun.
UPF A Brief Review
UPF refers to the system developed to rate how much sun is coming through the fabric to our skin.
It is simple: anything under 15 percent isn’t considered enough protection to be considered extra protection. However, here is how I realized it works.
A UPF rating of 50 = 98% of the sun’s UV rays are blocked. All but 2%.
A UPF rating of 05 = 80% of the sun’s UV rays are blocked. All but 20%.
Will I get a sunburn with only 20% of the sun’s rays hitting my skin? Yes, I will, but it will take a while. With bare skin getting 100% of the rays? I will turn pink in about 20 minutes. With a shirt on, I should be good for 3 hours.
So with a loosely fitting long sleeve tightly woven shirt of poly and cotton blend, I can handle a ball game without getting sunburned.
Of course, I will need my sun blocking hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen on my face and the backs of my hands. This shirt in my closet is a deep red and white check print, so does a great job of protecting my skin.
I need a sun blocking toolbox with some tools. Wearing UPF clothing is only part of the deal when protecting your skin from the sun. Everything needs protection. Your shirt won’t help me much on my head and face unless it is a hoodie. Even then having sunglasses and a sun hat are important.
Sunscreen is also important. You can’t expect one item to do all that needs to happen to keep you safe in the bright strong UV rays of the sun med day, summer or winter.
What color is your shirt? What is in your toolbox?
Sami’s Take On 7 Risks Kids Face from the Sun “Just Because They Are Kids.”
There is one more risk, that parents need to keep in mind that can make their kids at higher risk for sun damage. Medication
Check the labels of the medications your kids need. Make sure they are not on the list to raise your kid’s risks.
List of drugs for young kids’ parents:
- Antihistamines: These are medicines that help with allergies and allergic reactions.
- Coal Tar and Derivatives: These are medicines that treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
- Contraceptives, Oral, and Estrogens: Medicines used to prevent pregnancy and treat certain medical conditions.
- Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: These are medicines used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but should only be given under the supervision of a doctor.
- Phenothiazines: These are medicines used to treat mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.
- Psoralens: These are medicines used to treat skin conditions such as vitiligo.
- Sulfonamides: These are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections.
- Sulfonylureas: These are medicines used to treat diabetes.
- Thiazide Diuretics: These are medicines used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.
- Tetracyclines: These are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants: These are medicines used to treat depression, but should only be given under the supervision of a doctor.
It’s important to always consult with a healthcare professional before giving any medication to your child, as they can advise you on the proper dosage and potential side effects.
Thank you,
Sami
Sami’s Take On Discover The Sun Blocking Clothing In Your Closet
As you are learning more about the dangers of skin cancer to yourself and your family’s skin, have you considered sun blocking clothing? The word is out about how much it protects you from sunburn.
First, there is nothing that will protect you from sun damage if you are out in the sun for work, or play for many hours many days a week. You can protect and keep from serious damage using sun blocking tools from your toolbox.
However, you will still tan, you will still have early aging with wrinkles and sagging skin early in your life. That is a given. You can become aware of how the sun damages your skin and work with better habits to protect as much as possible.
Sun blocking clothing is better than sunscreen because it does not need to be reapplied every 90 minutes to 2 hours. You do have to wear the clothing to get any protection at all. Using sun blocking clothing with sunscreen and sun hat and sunglasses will give you a better chance of skin protection.
Looking old before you should is not desirable, but pales when you consider skin cancer.
Thank you,
Sami