Sun-Protective Clothing

Peer Review Status: Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Information Service
First Published: June 2002
Last Revised: April 2003

1. sun-protective clothes have a tighter weave or knit than traditional fabrics
   
2. sun-protective clothes are usually a darker color
   
3. sun-protective clothes are labeled with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), or the level of protection the clothing provides from the sun's UV rays. Sun-protective clothes don't look any different than other fabrics, so look for the label.

The UPF rating indicates how much of the sun's UV radiation is absorbed by the fabric. A fabric with a UPF rating of 50 will only allow 1/50th of the sun's UV rays to pass through it. This means the fabric will reduce your skin's UV radiation exposure, allowing only 2% of the UV rays through the fabric.

According to U.S. guidelines, the classifications for sun-protective fabrics are:

• Good UV Protection (UPF 15 to 24)
• Very Good UV Protection (UPF 25 to 39)
• Excellent UV Protection (UPF 40 to 50+)

Only clothes with a UPF of 15-50+ can be labeled as sun-protective. Sun-protective clothing may lose its effectiveness if it is too tight or stretched out, damp or wet, or has been washed and worn repeatedly.

For summer clothing already in your closet, there are special laundry products that can be used to increase the UV protectiveness of your clothing. Check with the Skin Cancer Foundation at www.skincancer.org for recommendations of such products.