Sunlight contains UV rays that can lead to skin burn, premature skin aging and cancer; clothing with a UPF rating helps shield our bodies against UV radiation.

Look for clothing with a high UPF rating and dense weave to protect yourself from UV rays from the sun. Dark colors absorb more UV radiation than lighter hues; also be mindful that UV rays can penetrate cloudy skies and harm your skin.

Swimwear

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage our skin in numerous ways, from sunburns and premature aging, to even some forms of skin cancer. UV protective clothing blocks these rays, providing a barrier between them and sunscreen that may protect from future skin damage.

While all fabrics can block some UV rays, fabrics tested by independent labs for their UPF rating offer optimal UVA/UVB protection. This rating measures how well fabrics shield against both sets of rays.

Darker fabrics with dense weaves generally offer better UV protection than their lighter counterparts with looser weaves, while some dyes can even absorb UV radiation and further help protect skin against harmful rays.

Elastane, for instance, is an extremely breathable material with superior UV protection that’s often found in swimwear due to its comfortable stretchiness. Elastane can even return back to its original shape after numerous washes or wears! It offers great UV protection with great elastic recovery so as not to distort its original form over time.

Shirts

Many outdoor clothing companies and brands sell sun-protective shirts rated UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). A UPF rating measures how much UV radiation passes through fabric; higher UPF ratings block more sunlight – for instance allowing only 1/50th of its UVR to reach your skin with 50 UPF rating fabrics [9, 10]

Fabric’s ability to block UV rays depends on its density and tightness of weave, with linen, cotton and wool typically having lower UPF ratings than tightly woven polyester fabrics such as those found in OR’s Echo Hoody and other apparel products. Polyesters such as those found in OR t-shirts feature excellent UPF ratings due to being tightly woven.

Color can also affect its UPF rating; darker colors absorb more UV rays than lighter tones. Some UPF shirts are treated with chemicals or dyes for additional sun protection. When choosing an UPF shirt, be mindful of how often and often it will be worn and washed; thin fabrics may lose their UPF rating over time.

Pants

Light from sunlight contains UV rays which can damage skin cells and cause sunburns, leading to premature skin aging and even some forms of cancer. While some sun exposure is essential for good skin health, it’s wise to protect yourself with UPF-rated clothing to stay safe in direct sunlight.

UPF ratings are laboratory-verified to establish how much UV protection a garment offers, with darker colors and tighter weaves typically providing more UV protection than lighter fabrics with looser weaves.

The amount of UV radiation reaching our skin depends on a number of factors, including time of day, season (spring and summer are typically sunnier than other times), location, altitude and stratospheric ozone levels. Wearing UPF-rated pants and long-sleeved shirts provides an extra barrier between sunrays and your skin – pair these pieces with sunscreen to enhance protection for hiking trips, golf outings or fishing expeditions – don’t forget reapply regularly!

Hats

Sun exposure can damage your skin, so hats with UV protection are an integral component of sun safety. Unfortunately, most regular hats don’t come equipped with specific features designed to shield the face and neck from UV rays.

The level of UV protection provided by hats varies based on various factors, including fabric type and quality, its color and the size and style of brim. Tightly woven fabrics typically provide better UV protection than open weaves while wide-brimmed hats will provide extra shade over your face, ears and neck to guard against sunburn and premature skin aging.

Opting for a dark colored hat will provide additional UV ray protection from the sun’s UV rays. Research shows that black absorbs twice as much heat than blue and three times more than green hats do, respectively. Furthermore, ensure your hat has an UPF rating on its tag; 50 or higher would be ideal.