Slip slop slap seek and slide. A phrase Australians are very familiar with. And most of us are pretty good at following the rules behind the words; putting on sunscreen, wearing hats and seeking shade. But what about slip? Slipping on protective clothing to save our skin from the harsh sun is something we all need to be doing. So how can you utilize clothing to protect your skin in the best way possible? Cancer council gives us some very useful tips on how to best protect our skin, and look great doing it!
What to look for in clothing for sun protection:
- “Clothing that covers as much skin as possible”
This includes things like skirts and pants that are 3/4 length or longer, and shirts that have 3/4 length+ sleeves. Collars are always great too! If you imagine your clothing being like a barrier between your skin and UV rays, I’m sure you can imagine, the more area that barrier covers, the better!
- Look for the UPF!
“Some clothing carries a tag with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating for sun protection. The UPF rating refers to both the design of the garment (how much skin it covers) and fabric (how much UV it blocks).” Much like with SPF, the higher the rating, the better it is! You can use the following Cancer Council table for reference on the UPF:
| UPF rating | UPF Classification | % UV radiation blocked |
| 15 | Minimum protection | 93.35% |
| 30 | Good protection | 96.7% |
| 50, 50+ | Excellent protection | 98% |
- Certain fabrics
“The tighter the fabric structure, whether knitted or woven, the better the sun protection. As the fibres of tightly woven fabrics are closer together, less UV radiation is able to pass through to the skin.” Also, it is helpful to know that “If a fabric is stretched, it will be less protective”. Layering is another great way to be further protected.
- Colours?!
Believe it or not, colours of garments can make a difference! “Many dyes absorb UV radiation. Darker colours (black, navy and dark red) of the same fabric type will absorb more UV radiation than light pastel shades (white, sky blue and light green). Choose darker colours where possible. If you want to choose a light-coloured fabric, other choices such as fabric structure will become more important.”
Take care of your clothes and your skin
When you utilize clothing to protect your skin, you also should always take good care of your clothes. As well as being economical, taking care of what we own and wear means that it may offer more protection. “Washing new clothes can improve their sun protection, especially when made of natural fibres such as cotton, by shrinking gaps in the structure. However, old, threadbare or faded clothes may offer decreased protection over time.”
Along with this, always remember to use the other forms of sun protection. Slop, slap, seek and slide just as much as you slip on protective clothing! (see our article – Why Slide on Sunglasses for UV Protection?) In the meantime also get checked regularly by your skin check doctor for anything that may have gone unnoticed. Happy protecting!
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