UV Protective Clothing: Can Clothes Prevent Skin Cancer?

If you are unaware, your skin is the largest organ in your body. Just like any other organ, you must protect it from any disease. One of the diseases of the skin is skin cancer. Skin cancer is brought about by prolonged exposure to UV rays emitted by the sun. 

To protect your skin from skin cancer, you must be aware of the products you can use to protect your skin. One of the common sun-protective products you may have heard of is sunscreen. There are other ways to protect your skin, and we will introduce you to one of them in this article.

How Is Skin Cancer Caused?

Skin cancer is caused by overexposure to UV rays brought by sunlight. You know that you are exposed to sunlight when sunburn and blisters begin forming in skin areas. 

Skin cancer is formed when the sunlight damages your DNA cells. The damage in your DNA cells can cause abnormal cells to form, and these abnormal cells multiply rapidly and become cancer cells. 

If you think that sunlight is the only cause of skin cancer, it can also be caused by exposure or contact with chemicals such as tar and coal. You better watch out for these chemicals.

What Are UV Protective Clothing?

Aside from sunscreen, you can also protect yourself and prevent skin cancer by using UV clothing. Whenever you expect to be exposed to sunlight for a long time, such as going to the beach for a family vacation, you can use sun safe products.  

In simple terms, Clothing that has a UPF factor in them can protect you from the sun’s harmful rays, one of the causes of skin cancer. 

The type of apparel that has UPF factor is actually wide. UV Skinz offers sun safe clothing such as shirts, shorts, jackets, pants, and even caps that can protect your skin from skin cancer. With these variety of choices, you can spend your summer protected and with style.

What Should I Look For in UV Clothing?

If you want to buy sun protection clothing, there are certain factors that you should consider before you make a purchase. It is your skin, health, and protection we are talking about, so it is only natural that we are picky with the sun protection products we buy. 

The Protection It Provides – This is the first that you should look for in UV clothing. The apparel you want to buy should have a UPF of 30-49, considered very good sun protection, and a UPF of 50+ is considered excellent. 

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If you are unfamiliar with the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), it differs from the Sun Protection Factor (SPF). SPF measures how long before your skin reddens on sun exposure, while UPF measures the number of UV rays that can penetrate your clothing. 

If you are wearing clothing with a UPF of 50, it only means blocking up to 98% of UV ray penetration on your clothing. Additionally, if your clothing has the seal of recommendation from the skin cancer foundation, it means they have at least a UPF of 30.

1. Colour – Choose apparel that is dark or bright in colour. The reason is that these colours keep UV rays from reaching your skin because it absorbs them. It is preferred that you buy dark dolors rather than light-coloured ones because of the protection it provides. 
2. The fit – it is better to opt for a loose fit. This is because tight clothing can allow more UV rays to penetrate your skin. On the other hand, looser fits will allow more UV rays to pass through. 
3. The fibre used – some of the materials you can look for in apparel are the following:
4. Unbleached cotton  – this type of fibre has natural lignins that can help absorb UV rays 
5. Polyester – shiny polyester can also be considered because it can reflect radiation that can protect your skin
6. High-Tech Fabrics – once high-tech fabrics are treated with chemical UV absorbers or dye. They can be of great material to protect their user from the sun. 

Can I Not Use Sunscreen When I’m Wearing UV Clothing?

The answer to that question will depend on the article of clothing you are wearing. For long sleeves with UPF rating that have the seal of recommendation, you can choose not to wear sunscreen. But, it is recommended that you still apply sunscreen for added and maximum protection. 

You can also choose to wear sunscreen for UV clothing that is short-sleeved. Generally, if you are not wearing UV clothing, you must wear and apply sunscreen. 

Conclusion 

Caring for your skin is as important as caring for the other organs of your body. Skin cancer is a skin disease you get when exposed to the sun for a prolonged period without the proper protection. 

Aside from sunscreen, you can protect your skin from skin cancer by wearing UV-protective clothing. Uv protecting clothing is clothing that has a UPF rating of 30-49 or even higher. They can help absorb UV rays and protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun, which is the cause of skin cancer. 

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