Sun Protection Clothing - Sun Blocking Clothing

What Is “Sun Protection Clothing?”

Are you ready for the What is sun protection clothing question? Why not start this with the things we know as we think about what sun protection clothing can do for you?

It is a fact that anything between you and the sun will block some sun. An old white tee shirt can offer some sun blocking ability. How can we make sure we are getting enough sun protection? My Son Needs A Sun Blocking Shirt?

Staying out of direct sunlight, between 10 AM and 4 PM is the best way to protect your skin. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants during these times if you do have to be out.

Gloves, or sleeves that come down over the tops of your hands are important to keep these areas from too much sun. Sunglasses and hats with wide brims play an important part.

It really isn’t that difficult, so why are we not doing it? You can get plenty of sun before 10 AM and after 4 PM.

These are the most basic and best ways to take care of your families skin and help prevent skin cancer for them.

For Those Who Are Out In Direct Sun

Now, let us consider the actual numbers around protecting your skin from the sun. This way of thinking about your skin and sun protection will help you with your understanding more of the whys of protecting your skin.

This can give you a place to start building your knowledge about what sun blocking clothing is and how it provides much better protection for your skin.

The unit of measurement for clothing and how much protection it will provide for your skin is called “UPF.” (Units of Protection Factor.) Start with the highest sun block rating which is a 50% sun blocking power, or 50 UPF.

This is the highest level that is in use for an item of clothing. Using this UPF rating means that your item of clothing gives the most complete block from the sun that is possible.

You have the best you can get to block the sun’s rays at this point.
50 % UPF is as good as it can get.
The highest rating that can be achieved.

So anything over 50% is an overstatement, on a label or an advertisement. A SUF rating of 60% is not a useful guide for you as a consumer for rating clothing. It does not offer 10% more protection than a 50% rating. It is usually an advertising gimmick to get your attention. This number usually indicates that everything has been done that can be done to protect your skin.

Awareness Is A Start

Your old worn white tee shirt mentioned earlier in this article would produce about .05 %, a measurement that is considered not enough to rate on the scale of sun protection to be allowed on a label. A 15% UPF is the smallest amount that a garment can offer and be allowed a rating.

The amount of protection you get with a new, thick less worn tee shirt is more because the cloth itself is thicker. Usually, a cotton-polyester blend will offer more protection as the weaving is a tighter weave. It is just the nature of the way the fibres work together.

Which Fibres Do You Use For A 50% UPF?

Do you know the sun blocking rating of 50 UPF on your clothing can be affected by many factors? The raw material that made the yarn so it could be woven into a fabric makes a difference.

Look at the tightness of the weave. Consider the color, how dark or how light it is? Is it a deep blue or a lighter blue? Is it patterned with dark and light places on the surface of the fabric? The sun blocking ability factors in more where the darker places on the pattern are. So you will want a fabric with more darker color to make the design for sun blocking.

These are just a few things that go into making a fabric that can block the sun. Some manufacturers use dye to help with blocking out the sun.

Natural fibre like cotton and linen are good for producing a sun blocking fabric, if tightly woven and thick. Wool and silk offer protection as well, again as long as the weave is tight. 100% natural, or a blend of polyester or other synthetic man-made fibres are used successfully, as well.

You should aim for a rating of 50% UPF. At this point, only .05 of the sun’s UV rays are getting through. That is a tiny pinpoint of light where the fabric weave takes place.

With normal use, this would block the sun from causing a tan. However, under extreme use, from 10 AM to 4 PM, many hours worth of sun exposure, you will begin to have some slight tanning under your clothes.

Help Your Skin

Other facts that may be overlooked when thinking about clothing for skin protection and sun blocking clothing;

The stretch of a tight fit will change how your fabrics are able to protect your skin. A teeshirt that stretches on your body and is stretched tight will have larger holes where the weaving of the fabric happens.
How often has this garment been laundered? Is it getting thin? Is the garment dark or light-coloured?
How wet or dry is the sun blocking clothing?

Are you aware that the sun blocking rating on your clothing can also be affected by these conditions? The fit, amount of wear, is the garment wet?

We really must pay attention. Skin protection starts with awareness of the amount of sun we are exposing ourselves to. Awareness is key for helping ourselves be safer in the sun.

So I was serious when I asked you about your basic knowledge of protecting your families skin with sun block clothing.

You now know that only one sunburn can put you in line for skin cancer.

Adding more protection with sun blocking clothing is worth considering. You need to know a little bit about your sunblocking clothing. Becoming aware of the UPF ratings is a good starting place.

The Numbers In A Different Way

Another way to think about this protection from the sun is:

50% UPF rating, the garment should be blocking 98% of the sun from the skin that the garment covers. (If all your body isn’t covered, you are not all protected.)
25% UPF rating, will allow 56% of the sun through.

Sun Protection Clothing and Sunscreen

Sun blocking clothing is worth considering, just for the convenience factor. As long as you will leave the garment on, this will reduce the need for reapplication of sunscreen to the covered areas. Remember, to protect yourself, you put on sunscreen 15 minutes before getting out in the sun. Then you should reapply after swimming or sweating profusely, or after 2 hours have passed.

Besides being inconvenient this is just plain aggravating to do. Then, of course, there are risks with some products. The information here for consideration as well.

Changes For My Family

We now live in Central Texas with many hours of hot direct sun. My children are old enough and have experience living in other hot and dry areas that time is catching up. Our skin has been exposed too often to think that future exposures would be less than disastrous.

I know that the wrinkles or brown spots on my skin are here to stay. Our family carries the results of too much fun in the sun. The proof of too much sun remains.

We have already been through having a good portion of an ear removed and a new one made through cosmetic surgery. There have been many precancer lesions on our arms and hands and legs and back. Fortunately, only a few were already cancers and they could be removed without major surgery. Only the ear reconstruction required actual surgery. Faces and necks have also seen some attention.

What We Are Doing As We Move Forward

So we have several lightweight, dark-colored shirts. Some have an SPF rating for sun blocking, and some not. However, they are tightly woven with protection from the sun in mind. My straw garden hats are within easy reach. I am watching for a sun visor or cap. So while I am still shopping they are not in my possession yet.

I make a point to wear my leather gloves when working in the yard or garden. A pair for reflecting the sun other times, like while driving, would be a good investment. That is also on the list. Shopping for a sun blocking swimsuit is not in my plan, but I am not out in the sun in a swimsuit. When I’m out of the water a coverup- a long cover-up.

We are also adding to the information about preventative clothing, and the desire to have better skin without the cost of something like DNA sunscreen. DNA repairing Sunscreen is an example of what you can expect for the cost of working on our skin that is overexposed to the sun.

It Is Never Too Late

I am a bit late to consider using gloves to drive in, I am sorry to say. While it won’t undo the damage already done, this will prevent more from happening. So at this point, my list :

Sun hat with a 3-inch wide brim
Driving gloves
Lightweight shawl to throw over arms while riding in the car
New sunglasses
Loose fitting shirt with long sleeves that will allow air circulation while protecting my arms when in the sun during the more dangerous times of the day.

I may consider some of the sun guard sleeves to protect my arms, and be able to work outside in short sleeve shirts. I see bicycle riders with these sleeves protecting their arms.

For pants, denim jeans are my favorite and are thickly woven. The more I think about my needs and the times I like to be out in the sun, there may be some changes in the list.

Consider Safe UPF Numbers

Next, we will look for fabrics that are at least 30% UPF which is what the National Cancer Foundation states are the lowest rating of protection to consider. With no national regularity body to help maintain the standard, the amount of sun protection is decided by the material manufacturers.

While I may get as good protection from little-known brand names, think I will stick to the better-known brands. There is more for them to lose if discovered using lesser quality fabrics than for the little guy. At least until I have more with this kind of fabric myself.

I am just vain enough to know that I will be happier with a pretty shirt or two. Don’t you love the gauzy white ones for summer? These are not usually heavy enough. So they will not be on the list.

However, I do know that for the sun protective shirts and coverups to work, they must be on your body. And you will be happier with a more attractive choice. The utility ones in my closet will work and will see use. So it will be a work in progress, getting a sun blocking wardrobe in place.

Your Turn

What will your sun blocking clothing look like? Do you need to start from scratch? Or do you have a few items to build with?

Awareness is the first step. You must be aware of why to protect your skin. Know that this is the first step in preventing skin cancer.

Learning how to use this information will take some time. You will have to think about how you live. What will be the best way to protect yourself and your family?

Is canoeing or kayaking your favorite fun time? Are you a tennis player? A golfer? A gardener? Do you have little ones who are learning about sports? There are many reasons to be outside. Reasons we will be exposed to the sun. Build your awareness into your life to prevent exposure to skin cancer.