Sunscreen Fabric and ClothingWe all know the person who wears the white t-shirt into the pool as a sunscreen fabric to protect themselves from the sun. I have often wondered if that really works or if the t-shirt is doing absolutely nothing to help this poor sole stay sunburn free. Turns out a white t-shirt is basically no protection at all from the sun's rays. Much like sunscreen and sunblock use SPF to determine the level of protection, clothing also has a measure of protection called UPF or Ultraviolet Protection Factor. This indicates how much radiation from the sun is being absorbed by the fabric. A normal white t-shirt is about a UPF 7, while a dark, long-sleeved denim shirt is a UPF 1700 (or complete protection). Generally, if it is a light colored, loosely woven fabric, it is not protective. A good test is to hold a shirt up to the light. If you see light coming through, then it is has little to no protection at all. Also, remember that once fabric is wet or has been stretched-out, it also looses it's protectiveness to sunlight. Clothing can loose up to 50% of it's protection once it is wet.
High Tech SolutionsThere are companies out there making sunscreen fabric and clothing these days. The fabric is treated with what is called "colorless dyes". These dyes add an extra amount of sun protection to the fabric and can sometimes be even better at protecting the skin than sunscreen! There is even a laundry additive you can buy called SUNGUARD. You add it to your washing machine and it increases the UPF of your clothing to 30! Great for light colored t-shirts and tops that are worn all summer and provide very little protection from the sun! It lasts for 20 washings and only costs a couple of dollars a box. It can be ordered online at
sunguardsunprotection.com
Few Other Tips On Sunscreen Fabrics:1. Only clothing with a UPF of 15 to 50+ may be labeled as sun-protective 2. Look for items with the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal Of Recommendation. Manufacturers have specific guidelines they must meet in order to carry their seal, so you know you will be getting what you paid for!
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