Introduction to Color and Sun Blocking Clothing gives you insight into how they can work together to protect your skin from the sun.
Have you thought about brightening up your sun protection routine with color?
The shirts in this image are just some of the vibrant and colorful options available for your sun blocking clothing choices. Often just a bit of color is the thing that makes keeping your skin covered easier.
No, none of us really want to stay covered in the sun all the time. However, data is pointing to the fact that covering up is the best thing we can do to avoid too much sun.
The best thing to keep your skin looking younger is to protect it from the sun.
UV Rays, UVA Rays, UVB Rays, UVC Rays
What are the different types of ultraviolet rays?
The CDC has this to say about how UV radiation and how is labeled or classified for educating you and me about what to watch for.
UV Radiation has three primary kinds:
Ultraviolet A or (UVA) attacks your skin and causes early aging. The strongest and the ones that catch you unprotected most often.
Ultraviolet B or (UVB) causes sunburn and produces lots of heat.
And then there is Ultraviolet C or (UVC) and is usually dissipated in the Ozone, so we don’t, at this point pay attention to UVC.
UVA is the strongest and is responsible for most of the radiation that actually reaches the earth. That is why we often get overexposed without realizing it. That is why it is so important to use a wide spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 on your face, arms if not covered, and the backs of your hands.
Source: CDC
Is Your Closet Full Of Sun Blocking Clothing?
When checking out your closet for sun blocking clothing, Clothing is all about covering your skin. This is how you are protected and get less sun damage. So something is better than nothing on your skin, between you and the sun.
Your UV-blocking sunglasses, a sun blocking hat, and a long sleeve loose fitting shirt with a collar made of a tightly woven fabric is where sun blocking clothing starts.
Most of us have sun blocking clothing hanging in our closets already. Do you know which of your regular clothing will protect your skin from the sun? This post will give you a start on identifying the sun blocking garments already in your closet.
Finding the items you already own will help you be more prepared for duty when they are needed. Yes, your normal clothing can protect your skin from the sun.
If you live where there are milder summers, and the bright direct sun isn’t a part of your life because you stay indoors most of the time, you don’t need an extensive wardrobe for blocking the sun. But because you aren’t out very much, you tend to be more careless of skin protection.
Your problem is to be aware of the sun and protect your skin and your family’s skin.
If you are like me and live in the sunny part of the world, you will need more garments to make you able to protect your skin. The information in this post can help you with evaluating your present wardrobe for sun protection.
Best Sun Blocking Colors
Since covering your skin with clothing is crucial to your skin protection, covering your skin is important.
Color can play a part in your skin protection as well. The best colors are darker, or brighter colors. Color can be a part of your skin protection plan.
The deeper the color is the better protection you have.
NavyBlue, Black, Brown, Deep Green. Even the deeper shades of red and gold are excellent protection choices for your skin. Color is especially important when shopping in your closet with your normal clothing.
When shopping for SPF-rated clothing, the color becomes less important as the fabric is specially made to block the sun.
Darker colors absorb the sun’s energy as heat, making them warmer to wear. That is why you need a loose-fitting shirt. You need to have room for air circulation.
This is also a strong selling point for the more expensive specially manufactured fabric, it is usually cooler to wear and lighter weight. The UPF garments often have air vents and mesh inserts to allow your body to cool and the heat to escape.
These garments can also be sun blocking in lighter-weight fabric as well. This lets them use lighter colors, yellow, pale pink, and sky blue, even white, and still keep the sun out. Lighter colors reflect the light and don’t absorb the energy from the sun as the darker colors do.
So the UV rays will bounce back and some will hit your lower face and under your chin area, even while wearing a sun blocking hat. So when wearing lighter colors in the sun you will need to be extra careful to keep the sunscreen reapplied.
Sami’s Take On “5 Potential Dangers and Risks of Sun Exposure for Fair-Skinned Individuals”
For fair-skin individuals to have the best result when protecting their skin from the sun, making some good choices is important to prevent skin damage.
There is no free pass to exposing your skin to the sun for hours on end and not having damage. Even with UPF clothing and sunsreen, reckless sun exposure will result in damage.
Nothing can completely protect you when you choose to overdo the sun.
Wear your sunscreen, and your sun blocking shirt. As well, you need a wide-brim hat and sunglasses. Fair-skinned individuals should add a sun blocking shirt of a deep color and a proper loose fit.
Now you are on the way to a safer fun-in-the-sun day. Add avoiding the stronger sun ray time of day, and look for shade for you and your family to enjoy the time outside.
Prepare with keeping fluids available, and portable shade like umbrellas, pop-up tents, and shades. Keep younger and older members of your family in shaded areas when possible. It is possible that a good number of your family group is fair-skinned if you are. You are all at higher risk.
Here’s hoping to not see you in the dermatologist’s office. Hopefully, you are using safe-sun habits, keeping your skin free of skin cancer.
Thank you,
Sami
How will you use color to better protect your skin? Knowing how to use color to protect your skin can help you make better choices, from your closet as well as the selection of UPF clothing.
Let’s all have safer outdoor fun, and keep our skin protected. We don’t want any more visits to the dermatologist that we have to have. Are you living with skin that has been sunburned one time too many?
Using color to help protect our skin is another tool we have added to our sun protection toolbox.
Thank you,
Sami