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| 01 June 2009
UV Clothing
Summertime means longer days, sticky hands stained with Popsicle juice, and endless hours at our favorite Central Coast beaches. It also means sun protection. We are all well aware of the dangers of harmful UV rays and how burying our heads in the sand doesn’t qualify as protection.
These days we have some new options rather then the sticky sprays that seem to go off in your purse before you reach the pool, or the child it was intended for, or the “old school” lotion that is so thick it needs to be spackled on with a putty knife,
The newest and hippest trend for keeping those with sun sensitivities protected from the sun is: Clothing! What a novel approach right? But not just any old yellow polka dotted bikini will do, and wool tends to chafe in the sand.
There are quite a few companies offering UV protective clothing options to protect your delicate skin from the UVB rays which penetrate through your regular suit. UV clothing is correctly called UPF clothing for Ultraviolet Protection Factor; it is rated for performance in its ability to successfully block out the UVB rays and UVA. UVA and UVB are the invisible ultraviolet rays that cause skin cancer, sunburn and premature aging. They carry a rating system similar to a sunscreen (50+ being the absolute best performance) and quite a few companies are actually given the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Approval.
In fact, our own Cal Poly was directly responsible for developing the testing and rating for UPF clothing. Leslie Labhard, of the Cal Poly Textile Research and Testing Lab has been noted in Medical Schools for her contributions to the testing. Fabrics are tested after being exposed to UV rays, washed numerous times, and retested to check for performance over time. In addition to blocking rays, clothing also can protect by reflecting the rays with color, and some clothing actually absorbs the UV rays into the fabric so it allows for minimal penetration into our skin.
If you are interested in sporting a stylish solar staving suit, or keeping the kiddos cool, you can find many great stores online under UV clothing or UPF clothing. From Children’s clothing to Sports wear, and even bathing suits, UPF clothing is a new trend that’s making waves.