Obviously our clothing offers us sun protection more so than if we were stark naked out in the sun. Ever seen Naked and Afraid? Side note, yes mud can serve as sun protection too but clothing is better! Just wearing a white t-shirt offers you an SPF level of about 7. But what if you want to go the extra mile and add sun protective clothing to your protection regimen? This is a great complement to sunscreen and more reliable—you don’t need to reapply and the clothing lasts longer than the average 2 hours given to sunscreen when you’re outdoors.
Sun protective clothing uses UPF or ultraviolet protection factor, as a rating system of how sun protective it is. UPF is considered broad spectrum, meaning it measures protection against both UVA and UVB rays. UPFs range from 15 to 50. But what does the number actually mean? Well, remember fractions? The UPF number is the bottom part or denominator of a fraction. So if that rash guard you love has a UPF rating of 50+, that means only about 1/50th of the sun’s rays or 2% of the sun can pass through it. For those of you who hate math, another way to think about it is this–A UPF 50 fabric will block about 98% of UV rays, whereas a UPF 30 fabric will block out about 97%. Like sunscreen, the FDA was initially involved in the regulation of UPF clothing. Back in the 1990s, the FDA considered UPF clothing a medical device but later transitioned monitoring of UPF clothing to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Now the FTC’s role focuses on policing UPF marketing claims and making sure they are accurate. In the United States, the UPF clothing industry is more self-regulated and uses guidance from the American Association of Textile Chemists (AATCC) and Colorists and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Colors and fabric are at the foundation of how UPF clothing works. Darker colors typically have a higher UPF rating. You may have found yourself complaining that when you wear black, you feel hotter. This is because black absorbs the UV light and as a result, less of it reaches the skin. Natural fibers like cotton or hemp provide less protection than synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon. Chemical additives can also enhance protection and the tighter the weave, the more sunlight it blocks. It’s important to note that when clothes are wet, their UPF level decreases. For example, if that white t-shirt we talked about before gets wet, it drops to an SPF of about 3. Now UPF clothing typically has an advantage in that it is designed to get wet and maintain its ability to protect.
Typically UPF clothing lasts as long as the color is maintained and can vary. You can check on the label on your UPF clothing and typically it will tell you how many washes the UPF label is good for. However, you can bring UPF life back to your sun protective clothing or simply make one of your everyday pieces sun protective. But how you ask? By using a product called Sun Guard. Sun Guard is a laundry additive that adds a 30 UPF to your own clothes and lasts up to 20 washes. Rit Sun Guard, recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation, works by sticking to clothing fibers and absorbing the sun’s rays via its active ingredient, Tinosorb FD. Sun Guard gives you the ability to make any piece of clothing you own sun protective.
Now that you’re thinking about investing in sun protective clothing, do not make the mistake that there’s no need for sunscreen. You still want to apply your sunscreen to exposed areas. Think of UPF clothing as another tool to help you succeed at your sun protection routine. It’s hard to take breaks from our activities and reapply sunscreen religiously and wait about 25-30 minutes before going back out in the sun. UPF clothing gives you the extra help you might need to make your sun protection regimen less of a burden and easier to follow.
Trotter’s Take:UPF clothing is a great addition to your sun protection tool box and works hand in hand with sunscreen to help provide optimal sun protection.
Before you get dressed for that sunny day, you might also want to hear how sun protection might start in your kitchen on my latest podcast with Dr. Katie Varman.
