Did you know that one out of five people in the United States will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives? Skin cancer is actually one of the most common types of cancer in the world. After all, your skin acts as a barrier that separates the harsh outside world from the inside of your body.
Sun-protective clothing might not come to mind when thinking of how you can protect your skin from the sun. Instead, you might think of slathering on some sunscreen before going out to the beach or pool. However, sun-protective clothing is arguably as important, if not more so, as sunscreen.
But why? How does it work? Keep reading and learn more about protecting your skin with this special type of clothing.
Why Is It Important to Protect Yourself From the Sun?
You might be wondering why you should bother to protect yourself from the sun in the first place. After all, tanning has been a popular pastime for many years, so how bad can sitting out in the sun really be? As it turns out, it can be quite bad for a variety of reasons.
For one, excessive sun exposure can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. It is important to think of the sun's UV rays as a type of radiation because that is exactly what they are. When the sun's rays hit your skin, they will actually cause strands of your DNA to break apart and mutate.
When this happens, the broken strands of DNA will come back together in what is known as cyclobutane thymine dimers. These dimers are unique mutations in your strands of DNA that have a high chance of turning into skin cancer at a later point in your life. While sitting in the sun unprotected may feel nice on your skin and while it might give you a nice tan, in reality, your skin cells are being pulverized on a molecular level.
The Details
Besides that, if you get a sunburn, the consequences will be even worse. This is because your skin's ability to protect you will be weakened every time it gets burned. The more you get burned by the sun, the more likely it will be for you to develop skin cancer because your skin won't be as resistant as before.
This is not to mention that sunburns can be quite painful. Besides that, excessive sun exposure can be terrible for the aging process. The sun is one of the most important factors that contribute to accelerated aging.
The more time you spend out in the sun, the worse your skin will look as you age. The sun will cause premature wrinkles as well as sun spots. As you age, your skin will take on a dark, leathery texture and it will be virtually impossible to fix it.
You might start looking ten years older than you really are if you never protect yourself from the sun. Fortunately, you won't have to deal with any of these problems as long as you utilize some basic sun protection. But where should you start?
What You Need to Know About Sun-Protection Clothing
Many people know that it's important to put on sunscreen when spending a lot of time in the sun, but in reality, sunscreen alone often isn't enough to completely protect your skin from harmful UV rays and sun damage, especially if you have sensitive skin. Sun-protection clothing can give you the extra layer of protection that your skin really needs to stay healthy and safe.
In order for this kind of clothing to be effective at blocking out the sun's rays, it has to have at least an UPF rating (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 30 or higher. This is also true for sunscreen. Ideally, however, the UPF on an item of clothing should be 50 or higher.
That way, you'll know that you'll be almost completely protected from the sun's harmful rays. This is very important to keep in mind if the UV index for the day is quite high. The UV index (the amount of UV radiation you will be exposed to when going outside) changes from day to day.
What You Need to Know
Whenever the index is at 3 or higher, it is important to use some kind of sun protection whether it be clothing, sunscreen, or both. Keep in mind that regular clothes will not be able to protect you from the sun's UV rays. Only clothing that is specifically designed to block these rays can protect you.
This is because this type of clothing uses a very special fabric that is designed to block the sun's rays. There are many types of sun-protection clothing you can choose from. Some of the simplest options include shirts and pants.
These items of clothing are not only great for protecting your skin but they are also breathable and lightweight, so you won't have to worry about feeling weighed down or sweaty. This is not to mention that these clothes are easy to wash and are very durable.
Adding a hat or a sun-protected shawl over your clothes is another simple way to take the initiative against the sun's harmful rays.
All About Sun-Protective Clothing
Sun-protective clothing is very important if you care about the health of your skin, especially if you have very fair or sensitive skin. Excessive sun exposure can lead to skin cancer and early aging, but SPF clothing can prevent that.
To learn more about it, see what we have available here.