A study shows that most types of skin cancer result from UV sun exposure. So, live, laugh, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
But, here’s the problem. Only some people know about sunscreen, leave alone how to wear it. So, it should be more like; live, laugh, and wear UV clothing!
Clothing is the easiest and surest way of blocking UV rays from reaching and harming the skin. Besides, clothing doesn’t need to be reapplied more than once a day.
However, outfits differ. So, how can clothes offer sun protection? And, how can you be sure your attire effectively blocks the UV rays?
There are many things to factor in when buying UPF clothing. But, color tops the list. Only a few chosen colors will keep your skin safe when you’re on the beach, hiking, or just taking a stroll on a sunny afternoon.
Learn more about the best clothing colors that protect skin from UV rays in this guide. Let’s get started!
What Is UPF Clothing?
Understanding the difference between Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) and ultraviolet (UV) ratings would be best. This makes it easy to know the amount of sun protection you require.
The UPF rating measures the amount of the sun’s ultraviolet rays your cloth absorbs instead of your skin. Typically, a higher UPF rating offers more protection. Even though a lower rating offers just a little protection, it’s better than nothing.
So, for instance, a garment with a UPF 20 rating will only allow 1/20th of the UV radiation to penetrate through the fabric. Consequently, your skin is 20 times protected from radiation exposure.
It is highly adviseable to go for the best sun safe UPF clothing to keep your skin safe. On top of sunscreen, wearing sun protection clothing allows the skin to remain healthy throughout, without UV rays damage.
Why Is The UPF Rating Essential?
Ultimately, a good UPF rating helps protect the skin. The best asset one can have is healthy skin. Your skin mirrors your overall health. That’s why it’s essential to uphold excellent skin protection.
Protecting your skin means taking any measures to guard against outside factors that cause damage. UV rays can cause a lot of skin damage. The sun exposure usually peaks between 10 AM and 4 PM daily. Extreme exposure to UV rays has adverse skin effects like;
- Premature aging
- Wrinkles,
- Eye problems
- Liver spots,
- Actinic keratosis
How Does Clothing Color Help In Sun Protection?
As per a study, about one-third of adults wear sunscreen when outdoors. But, that’s not enough. Choosing the right color for your attire goes a long way in blocking the sun from your skin. The color of UV sun protective clothing significantly affects how well it protects you from UV rays.
Check out how these popular cloth colors impact the level of sun protection you require;
- White
White is the ultimate heat-repelling color. But, there are better choices as well.
Usually, white does not absorb UV rays. Hence, the rays can reach the body, while black absorbs UV rays so, the rays can not reach the body. Thus, it’s very comfortable to wear UPF swimwear for hot days because it doesn’t absorb excess heat.
But, the sun’s UV rays can easily penetrate through white and other brightly-colored SPF shirts that have low UPF rating. For instance, a cotton shirt with a UPF rating as low as 5 implies that it enables 20% of UV rays through the clothing.
So, if this is the only option available, make sure you use good sunscreen along with your white-colored attire.
- Black
As observed, black color tends to absorb a lot of heat. But, it provides better sun protection. Consequently, wearing black sun protection clothing on sunny days would be perfect.
Nonetheless, since black gathers a lot of heat, the dark-colored UV clothing is only ideal on sunny days.
- Bright Color
How about a perfect balance? Go for bright color SPF shirts instead of black or white. This will provide you with minimal heat absorption.
But, the correct shade of color, preferably a darker one, will give excellent results. Fortunately, denim is primarily blue and highly rated for the best sun protection capacity.
How Does Fabric Affect Color for Sun Protection?
In case you didn’t know, color matters, but the type of fabric matters more. Thus, when picking the right colors for UV clothing, it helps to consider the fabric before the color. Here’s why.
Assuming that two black shirts have the same UPF ratings would be wrong. This is because the fabric structure impacts the level of blocked UV rays.
An unbleached cotton fabric consists of natural fibers, which block UV rays. Additionally, the UPF rating in a single-knit fabric is lower than in a double-knit. The same applies to a flat-knit design with a lower UPF rating than a raised one.
Fleece fabric, for example, contains double-knit fibers. These fibers are entwined hence blocking so much light from passing through. As a result, they have excellent UV protection.
There can be two black shirts, one with UPF 15 and the other with UPF 30. Under no circumstances should you assume!
Conversely, loose fabrics also provide UV protection, even if it’s little. This is because tight clothes expose holes that allow sun rays to penetrate the skin.
Final Remarks
The first step to excellent skin health is wearing UV clothing. Many clothes are made from materials that absorb a lot of sun rays. The effects of extreme UV rays on your skin can cause irreparable damage.
When choosing UV-protective clothing, color and type of fabric should be your topmost considerations. And, as always, wear your sunscreen!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What Color Is Highly UV Resistant?
Dark colors like black, blue, and maroon offer the most UV resistance. This is because they absorb the UV rays, hence blocking them from reaching the skin.
2. Which Is The Brightest Color In Sunlight?
The sun produces light in different colors. But, the brightest yellow is the most visible to the naked eye.
