Should I choose light or dark colored sun protection clothing?
Black and dark blue shirts... have the ability to convert UV light into heat, providing better sun protection than light colored shirts.
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 dark-colored sun-protective shirts, you should choose satin or cotton to create a more pleasant and comfortable feeling when wearing them.
"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.
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Shirts made from high coverage fabric, tight and thick fibers have better UV protection. Photo:Thanh Nguyen |
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 damaging 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. This can be checked by holding the fabric up to the sun. If the sunlight penetrates a lot and the distance between the fibers is sparse, the level of sun protection will be reduced.
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.
Dr. Thanh recommends that factors such as cosmetics and sweat cause the nature of fabric fibers to change and do not achieve sun protection. Do not rely on clothing but combine it with avoiding the sun during peak hours, applying sunscreen, and taking sunscreen pills if in an environment where mechanical sun protection methods are not feasible.