Sunscreen Clothing: Block Those UV Rays

Did you know you can find shirts, hats, pants, and even swim suits with an SPF value? Ordinary summer clothing made of thin fabric doesn't usually block all the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, but sunscreen clothing does.

Clothing designed to keep you protected from the sun is generally made of a specially woven material. If you wonder which type of common cloth best blocks the sun, it's not that simple. Most of the UV protection comes from the tightness of the weave and the darker color of the cloth. Khaki makes a great color for UV fabrics. Another good choice of cloth type is heavy muslin, or sailcloth. Its tight weave and tough fabric make it hard for the sun to penetrate to your skin. Besides blocking the sun from your skin, these materials are also designed to be cool, comfortable, and fashionable.

Washing, harsh chemicals, and chlorinated pool water can damage UV protective clothing. For this reason, fabrics desiring a SPF rating have to go through rigorous testing. Each fabric is washed forty times and exposed to the equivalent of two years of sunlight. Only at this point are the materials tested and ratings given.

UV sun protection clothing first gained popularity in Australia, where harsh sunlight was causing a sharp increase in skin cancer. Today, though, you can find this kind of clothing all over the world. It's a great option for those who burn through their clothes, and a good choice for others who spend hours in sunlight. With UV protective clothing, you can protect the parts of your body not covered in sunscreen.