Sun Protective Clothing- Clothing With A Purpose

Sun is scorching outside and you have to step outrestricted to some specific design parameters like
for one reason or the other. Will you stop movinglong sleeves, full collar, full-length trousers and
out? The answer is of course NO.skirt. Sun protective clothing is usually worn in a
Although sunshine is essential for your health, butwarm and humid temperature. Clothes with a UPF
excessive exposure to it can definitely cause(Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 15 to 50+ are
hazard or danger to your skin. It’s just notmeant to be sun-protective. The higher the UPF,
over blaming the Sun. Your lightweight andthe longer a person can tolerate the sun.
loose-woven clothes are not enough to protectSun protective clothing with a UPF is more
you from sizzling heat of the sun. It’s time toeffective as compared to sunscreens. Sunscreens
look for a better alternative, the sun protectivewith a high SPF cannot endure that much UV rays
clothing.as a UPF protected clothing. Unlike SPF, that
Sun damage of the skin can be either acute ormeasures only UVB, sun protection clothes with
chronic, but the main reason or factor is theUPF measures both UVA and UVB. Most of the
ultra-violet radiation that causes aging of the skin.apparels tagged with sun protection usually have
It is seen that skin cancer is mainly due to overUPF 50+.
exposure to sun as the ultra violet rays come inSun protective clothing was initially popularized in
direct contact with the skin DNA and cellAustralia as an alternative to sunscreens and sun
functioning that effects the skin system. Otherblock creams. They follow a standard lab testing
common problems involved with sun exposureprocedure that was developed in 1996 by
are wrinkles, leathery skin, pre-malignant actinicAustralian swimwear companies. In America, the
keratoses and the immune system. Hence theUPF rating system was standardized by American
need of sun protective clothing becomesStandards and Testing Methods (ASTM). The
important.standards have been adopted by fabric
Sun protective clothing is specially designed formanufacturers to harmonize consumer awareness
protection from sun and is made from a fabricand safety at large.
graded for its level of UV protection. LaboratoryWith the increasing demand in sun protection
tests have shown that cotton fabric allows 50%clothing, many textile manufacturers have
of harmful UV rays penetrate to your skin whendeveloped sun proof fashion statements; wherein
dry and 10 to 20 % more when your skin is wet.the market is flooded with a variety of swim
Tightly woven fabrics are considered more usefulsuits, sun hats, sun proof T-shirts, shorts, pants
for protecting your skin from the sun’setc.
harmful UV rays. These UV protective clothes are