Should I choose light or dark colored sun protection clothing?

Dr. Le Thai Van Thanh, Skin Care Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that dark-colored shirts absorb more heat but have better UV protection than light-colored shirts. Therefore, if you choose a dark-colored sun-protective shirt, you should choose satin or cotton to create a more pleasant and comfortable feeling when wearing it.

"People think that heat is caused by sunburn, but in fact the fabric is absorbing heat. It is not necessary to buy clothes that are advertised as UV protection, but you can choose fabrics with high coverage, tight, thick fibers and dark colors," said Dr. Thanh.

Besides color, material is also an important factor in choosing a good sun protection shirt. Shirts are made from jeans, cotton, ceramic, microfiber, high sun protection nano coating... to prevent UV rays from harming the skin.

Some professional sun protection clothing, microfibers are mixed with many compounds that have sun protection effects. The fabric fibers are added with skin-soothing active ingredients, helping to prevent skin irritation when exposed.

Dr. Thanh said that mechanical sun protection clothing must be clinically tested for effectiveness, based on three factors:

Coverage: The level of coverage depends on the distance between the fabric fibers. You can check this by holding the fabric up to the sun. If the sunlight passes through a lot and the fabric fibers are sparse, the level of sun protection will decrease.

Fabric density: A fabric has many microfibers packed tightly together. If the microfibers are loose, more light and UV rays will pass through, affecting the sun protection effect.

Thickness: If the fabric is tight and covers well but is too thin, the UV wavelengths that pass through the fabric will not be blocked and will directly harm the skin. The tighter the fabric fibers are arranged, the fewer gaps there are, and the thicker the fabric, the better the sun protection ability will be.

Dr. Thanh recommends that factors such as cosmetics and sweat cause the nature of the fabric to change and fail to achieve sun protection. Do not rely on clothing, but combine avoiding the sun during peak hours, applying sunscreen, and taking sunscreen pills if mechanical sun protection is not possible in the environment.