Sun shirts and UV clothes are made out of a special material that blocks UV rays from accessing the skin. Here's how it works.
Over 3 million people are diagnosed with basal and squamous cell skin cancer every year. Another 100,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with the more dangerous melanoma skin cancer in 2021.
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer a person can get. But just because it's common and treatable does not mean you shouldn't take skin care and skin cancer prevention seriously.
The sun's UV rays are one of the main culprits in damaging the skin, laying the groundwork for skin cancers to emerge. By making even the smallest adjustments to your routine, like wearing sun shirts or UV clothing, you can lower your risk of getting skin cancer.
Here is everything you need to know about wearing protective clothing and how sun shirts and UV clothing protect your skin from UV rays.
Do Sun Protection Shirts Actually Work?
Yes, sun shirts actually work when protecting your skin against UV rays. However, not all sun shirts are made equal. Just because the tag on the shirt or the brand says their clothing offers sun protection does not mean it's true.
Sun shirts use specialized sun protection technology in their fabric to block sunlight and UV rays from penetrating through the fabric and being absorbed into your skin.
Some types of sun protection clothing are made specifically with UV blockers embedded into the fabric to add extra levels of protection for your skin.
What Should You Look For in a Sun Shirt?
Are you thinking about buying a new sun shirt? There are some things you should remember to look out for when shopping for UV clothing.
The more skin you cover, the more protection you have. Always look for long-sleeve shirts, dresses, or pants.
Sun shirts are perfect for outdoor activities, like golf, tennis, running, swimming, hiking, and other types of physical activity. Because of that, you want to look for UV clothing that is cooling, fast-drying, and that wicks away moisture so that the sweat does not become unbearable.
Look for something lightweight and antimicrobial for added comfort and protection.
Finally, you need to look at the level of sun protection the clothing promises to provide for you, as not all sun shirts provide the same levels of protection.
Why You Need to Look At the Ultraviolet Protection Factor
The Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is the level of protection that fabric and clothing provide you against UV rays. It should not be confused with SPF, the sun protection factor found in sunscreens.
UPF clothing has tighter fabric weaves than non-UPF clothing. In addition to the material UPF clothing is made out of, this tighter weave absorbs UV light and prevents them from being absorbed into your skin.
Clothing that claims to be "sun protection" clothing that does not list its UPF rating should not be trusted. Any reputable and effective sun shirt will clearly list what its UPF is. Avoid any clothing that does not list it.
In addition to the UPF, you should also look for the quality of the UPF clothing. Some companies use low-quality fabrics where the UPF gets weaker after a washing cycle.
Avoiding this is easy. Always choose high-quality UPF sun shirts that do not treat the clothing with UV chemicals. BloqUV fabrics are not treated with UV chemicals, so UV protection never washes out from our garments.
Some brands claim to have UPF, but they are not testing the fabric, or their garments have mesh. At BloqUV, we send all of our clothing to a UV testing laboratory to test our fabric by batch and color and when it is wet and dry. Our customers have peace of mind that no sun is going through their clothes.
Our customers only have to put sunscreen on exposed areas, the face and the neck. No need to lather the sunscreen on. This is a huge plus, especially for little ones.
Are Sun Shirts Really More Effective At Blocking UV Rays Than Sunscreen?
Both sun shirts and sunscreen are very effective tools for skin protection when you are going out in the sunshine, especially for long periods of time. However, sun shirts can be more effective than sunscreen simply because they can provide more even coverage than sunscreen can.
How often, after spending a lot of time outside, do you notice the spot you missed with your sunscreen? Any type of sunburn, no matter how small, can increase your risk of skin cancer.
With sun shirts, you can rest assured that you have more coverage than sunscreen.
Sun shirts are also an effective skin protection tool against the two main types of UV radiation.
UVA rays are one type. They are the main source of premature aging, wrinkles, and penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays do.
UVB rays are the second type. There are fewer UVB rays found in UV rays, but be careful. UVB rays are the rays that contribute the most to both sunburns and the formation of skin cancers.
Not all sunscreens protect against both types of these UV rays. However, you should always wear sunscreen on the exposed parts of your skin that your sun shirt or sun pants do not cover.
Get High-Quality Sun Shirts Before Your Next Outdoor Adventure
Skin cancer can affect anyone, young and old, at any point in their life. Even those people who do not spend a lot of time outside can discover that they can get skin cancer.
It is critical that no matter your lifestyle, you protect your healthy skin from harmful UV rays and prolonged sun exposure. The best way to do so is by wearing sun shirts and other sun-protective clothing, in addition to wearing sunscreen.
Here at BloqUV, we provide a variety of stylish yet highly effective sun protection clothing for men, women, and children. Our clothing has a minimum UPF 50 that effectively blocks 98% of UVA/UVB rays.
Start protecting your skin today when you shop our latest styles.
