What is the best color for sun protection? Which color will keep your skin safer from sunburn? What color is best for our family?
As we learn more about the importance of taking care of our skin and protecting ourselves from sunburn what do we need to do?
One thing that has become apparent is that we are human, and have questions, and don’t always follow through. For some reason, my self-confidence has wilted when making decisions about which to purchase.
All I have to do is look in the mirror and see my skin that has sun damage to know that I need to change. sun damage That change needs to come now in how I protect myself from the sun.
Is Black My Best Choice?
The basics of sunscreen and sunblocking clothes are just that, basics. We need to cover our skin, and wear sunscreen. In this part of the world, we have traditionally worn darker colors in the winter, to keep us warmer. The lighter colors come out as it gets warmer and we need to feel cooler.
However, black is the color that absorbs the most UV rays. We want to absorb those dangerous sun rays in the summer. Block them from our skin. Again, basic information, right?
White reflects more heat so making it cooler to wear in the warmer months. You want to be comfortable and protected. However, white will reflect the warmer Sun rays, but what about the UV rays that damage our skin?
White fabric can reflect the sun’s UV rays onto your skin. Even from a white shirt! If the weave of the fabric is tight enough, there can be effective protection from Direct Sun. Reflection causes another layer of skin damage and sunscreen can help with this.
So keeping these facts in mind, what is the best color for me for protection from the sun?
Looking At Other Colors
Testing brings out the results of another color that may offer the best of the color choices for summertime wear. Blue seems to be that color that is a middle of the road choice. When color is about the shade of denim it can be an excellent choice.
Have you paid attention to the weave of denim? It is a combination of darker blue and white thread woven very tightly. So you have the combination you need for warm and reflection both. However, the tightness of the weave stops air circulation when you have a denim shirt on.
In a hot dry climate like the desert west and during times when we are having low humidity, I will be comfortable in denim shirts to protect me from the UV rays and reduce sun damage.
However, again in the part of central Texas where I live, we are usually faced with more humid conditions. 60 and 70 % humidity makes denim shirts a sweatshirt even if temperatures are milder. When our temperature rises to the late spring and summer normals of 90* plus, you are not comfortable at all.
This kind of temperature is what makes us bare our skin to the dangers of sun exposure. Wearing a shirt that is going to make you sweat does not make getting out fun. So other colors are needed.
The Other Basics To Consider
When choosing colors for our sun protective clothing to help us stay safe in the sun, here are other basics to remember.
When you are wanting to block the sun rays from your skin, a darker color is always better. Deep orange is better than pale orange or yellow. Red will absorb more than pink.
Remember, absorbing UV rays is important as it leaves less to reflect. The other thing is that these deeper colors will be hotter to wear.
Testing done to figure out what is a reasonable color that can give you the best that can be done from color alone. That color? Blue! Denim Blue!
This will be an easy color for me to work with. But I want comfort as well as the best of protective qualities. I will need a specially treated fabric to be able to have lightweight and sun protection.
Knowing all the special finishes and weaves that are now available for us to choose from, I will keep this black white and blue information in mind when making choices for sun protection clothing.
My Defense
If I am caught wanting to be out in the bright direct sun before my special treated blue beach wrap gets in, I will have a long-sleeved denim shirt to protect me from the sun. Of course, my wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to add to the sunscreen I have learned to use.
My shirt may not have been treated specially for sun blocking protection but the color and tight weave will do the trick. The other trick this shirt will provide is heat! If it were less tailored, had flared sleeves there might be some airflow for hot weather.
My denim shirts are basic button-up shirts. They will be hot. The protection from the sun will help. The hot humid sunny day will drive me into the shade or house so I won’t be so hot.
The very factors I want in my shirts for cooler weather make them scooted to the back of the summertime closet.
However, I am encouraged to know that they will help protect my skin in the winter when we have very high UV days.
By adding my wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen I feel I an on the way to protecting myself from the dangers of sun damage.
My Take A Way
Realizing that for me and what I need to protect my skin, I will have a combination of items made of special finish fabrics. My overall aim is to protect my skin and slow the ageing that is occurring to my skin. How Is Your Sun Blocking IQ?
When considering my purchases, I will look for sun protection labels. Those labels will receive a careful reading so I understand how to care for the garment. Sun protection garments are more expensive. I need to pay attention to my purchases.
When that beautiful white shirt seems to be calling my name, I may need to ignore it and go for color with some hue to help absorb the UV rays.