Sun-blocking clothing must fit to protect you. This man has apparently decided his shirt did not fit, was not comfortable, and discarded it completely. Or is he inviting sunburn?
Let’s talk about unleashing the power of loose fit and color. Both are important for proper skin protection.
By figuring out how sun blocking clothing, color, and fit will work for you, you can enjoy sun-safe days and not have skin damage from too much sun exposure.
When it comes to protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, most people think of sunscreen as their first line of defense.
However, did you know that the clothes you wear can also play a significant role in shielding your skin from the sun’s damaging effects?
The secret to effective sun blocking clothing lies in both the fit and color of the garments you choose to wear.
Loose Fit Will Give You The Power Of Comfort
Comfort means you will wear the garment, and you will have the protection of the garment all day.
I did not consider fit when selecting sun blocking clothing. At least until wearing a shirt to work in the yard, that was way oversized. I ended up with a blistered strip around my neck, about 2 inches wide. I did apply sunscreen but not to the strip of skin that the oversized shirt exposed!
Choosing clothing that is loose and comfortable is how you can have effective sun protection. Otherwise, when your clothing is too tight, it can stretch and pull against your skin, making it easier for the sun’s rays to penetrate and cause damage.
When you wear loose-fitting clothing, it creates a barrier between your skin and the sun’s harmful rays.
This barrier helps to prevent the sun’s UV radiation from reaching your skin. Protecting your skin will reduce the risk of sunburn, skin damage, and even skin cancer.
Loose clothing also allows for better air circulation, which can help keep you cool and comfortable when the heat sets in. Even layering loosely fitting clothing, you will stay cooler.
Please remember that protecting your skin from the sun is easier when using all the tools available. You have the sun blocking clothing, the fit of the garments, the color, the kind of fabric plus sunscreen in your tool box.
All these resources are important for keeping your skin safe.
What Is Considered “Loose-Fitting Sun Blocking Clothing?”
Let’s talk about some examples of Loose-Fitting Sun-Blocking Clothing. Everyone has their own idea of what loose-fitting clothing is.
There are many different types of loose-fitting clothing that you can wear to protect yourself from the sun.
A wide-brimmed hat can provide shade to your face, neck, and shoulders. We all know that these are some of the most commonly sun-exposed areas.
A wide-brimmed hat needs to fit well enough to stay on but sits lightly on your head. A neck strap can be helpful for the unexpected breezes that might catch you unaware.
Women often resort to hat pins of one sort or another to hold the hat in place.
Long-sleeved shirts and pants are easy to wear and can cover your arms and legs, protecting them from the sun’s rays.
Loose-fitting maxi dresses can provide full coverage while still allowing for air circulation and comfort.
Lightweight kaftans usually offer both coverage and style. This makes them a perfect choice for beach days or outdoor events.
With a tightly woven fabric making your long-sleeve shirt will work better for keeping you safe in the sun, we need to remember the fit.
The fit needs to be loose but not oversized. The garment can allow air to circulate around your body and not be too big for you.
How Your Body Releases Heat
Remember the body releases the heat from your skin with a slight push. This will cause the heat to be replaced with a space of cooler air. When you place a hand or arm near a sunburned portion of someone’s body, you feel the heat before you touch the skin.
This is the body trying to cool the area by releasing and pushing the heat away from the body. This will create a slight movement that will allow cooler air to replace the hot air.
If clothing fits too tight, this cooling can’t happen. The heat becomes trapped against your body.
How Color Boosts The Power Of Protection
Along with the fit of your clothing, the color can also play a big role in protecting your skin from the sun.
Choosing the right color can help to absorb or reflect the sun’s rays, reducing the amount of UV radiation that reaches your skin.
The basics of light colors or dark colors are very simple.
When you are wearing sun-blocking clothing, lighter colors are generally considered to be more effective at keeping you cooler than darker colors. Here we are referring to how the sun is reflected off your skin and body that is covered in light colors.
Yes, light colors, such as white or pastels, reflect more of the sun’s rays. Reflected rays aren’t absorbed or held close to your body when you are wearing light colors.
This means that lighter colors can help to keep you cooler and provide better protection against the sun’s damaging effects. However, it also means you must be more proactive in controlling the damage done by reflecting sun rays.
You must apply sunscreen to your face, and keep up with the reapplications in a timely manner to make sure you are protected. This is where the wide-brimmed sun hat helps in keeping more of the sun off your face.
Summertime can make for some tricky times in keeping safe in the sun. Be aware of how much sun you or members of your family are getting, and take appropriate actions
Avoiding The Hottest Time Of Day
Avoid the sun during the more direct time of day between 10 AM and 4 PM. Even with sun blocking clothing that is rated 50 UPF the sun is dangerous and nothing is made to protect you 100 % day after day, regardless of the color.
There will be some sun damage with ongoing repeated sun exposure. You will get some tan. It will be slower, but it will happen.
Darker colors, such as black or navy, will absorb more of the sun’s rays. They will keep your skin safe longer, but they will be hotter to wear as well, making it harder to stay covered up in the sun.
Do You Know The Best Sun Blocking Clothing Colors
Here are some suggestions for the best choices for the colors of your sun-blocking clothing wardrobe.
White is a favorite and this classic color reflects the sun’s rays and is perfect for hot summer days. It is perfect if the fabric is tightly woven and does not allow the sun to shine through to your skin.
A white wide-brimmed sun hat is dangerous if it isn’t very tightly woven. Otherwise, the sun will seep through all the weave holes and you will get a sunburn quickly.
Remember, it isn’t reflecting the UV rays, and what is reflected is bouncing back on you with a vengeance.
Pastels like pale pink, yellow, and blue offer variety and choice in what you are wearing to protect your skin. They are easy to wear, as they do have the help of some color to absorb the sun’s rays and keep them off your skin.
When wearing something from your closet that isn’t actually a rated garment, pastels can offer some protection for your skin. Again, The protection you get in your clothing will depend on the fabric and how tightly it is woven.
Don’t Forget Rit’s SunGuard
When it comes to sun protection, loose-fitting clothing, and the right color can make all the difference.
By choosing loose-fitting garments that create a barrier between your skin and the sun’s rays, you can do a better job of protecting your skin.
Select the right colors that reflect or absorb UV radiation, and you can significantly reduce your risk of sunburn, skin damage, and skin cancer.
You can use Rit SunGuard to treat your clothing in the Laundry and improve the protection from that old washed and work tee shirt. This treatment can also improve the protection of most garments you wear, as long as they are washable.
Next time you’re getting ready to head out into the sun, take a moment to consider your clothing choices.
Opt for loose-fitting garments that provide ample coverage and select light-colored clothing that can reflect the sun’s rays.
By doing so, you’ll not only look stylish and feel comfortable, but you’ll also be doing your skin a huge favor in the long run.
Sami’s Take On Sun Blocking Clothing Must Fit to Protect You
Are you tired of worrying about the harmful effects of the sun on your skin every time you step outside?
Sun Blocking Clothing can help. You probably even have some clothing in your closet that can protect your skin, now that you know which ones to choose.
Not only does sun-blocking clothing protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, but it can also be a fashionable addition to your wardrobe. The key to effective sun protection lies in three factors:
Loose Fit, Fabric Choice, and Color.
Remember the importance of a loose fit. When it comes to sun-blocking clothing, a loose fit is essential.
Clothing that fits too tightly can actually be counterproductive, as it can stretch and reduce the effectiveness of the fabric’s sun-blocking properties.
Clothing that is too loose can also be problematic, as it can expose areas of your skin to the sun’s harmful rays. Besides that, it isn’t comfortable. It’s important to find the right balance of fit.
When choosing the right color for your sun blocking clothing, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, darker colors tend to block more UV rays than lighter colors.
Black, navy blue and dark green are all excellent options for sun-blocking clothing. However, it’s important to note that darker colors hold the heat, and are warmer to wear. Maybe pastels and some white are better in the heat.
Avoiding the more direct rays of the sun and getting out earlier or later in the day is safer, and a more sensible solutions for all members of your family.
Thank you for reading,
Sami