How Much Sun Protection Do You Really Need in Your Clothing?

There’s no chance you don’t know how important sun protection is because everybody’s talking about it. Every magazine, every influencer, every dermatologist, literally everyone is telling you you should never leave your house without sun protection factor (SPF) on your face, even if it’s the dead of winter. And as much as the world is annoyed with social media and influencers, the truth is, many people wear SPF because they’ve seen their favorite YouTuber talking about it, and that’s a very good thing.

But what about the rest of your body? You think that just because you slap SPF on your face (and neck if you’re really serious about it), you don’t need to think about anything else and you’re protected? That’s not the case, sadly. You don’t just have skin on your face, so that’s not the only place that needs protection. But how much of it do you need? 

Well, keep reading and we’ll tell you all about it. 

How Much Sun Protection Do You Need

Each person needs a different level of protection and it’s not just a matter of finding any random sun protection long sleeve shirts and then being done with it. Of course, quality clothing is a must, but there’s more to this than just that because there’s a few factors to consider.

Here they are:

1. Skin Type and Sensitivity

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If you haven’t heard of the Fitzpatrick scale, you’re about to. It’s a widely recognized classification system that categorizes skin into 6 types based on how it reacts when it gets exposed to the sun. 

Type I and II are more likely to burn in the sun and get damaged, so naturally, they’ll need more sun protection. On the other hand, types V and VI (which are darker skin tones) won’t burn as much, so they don’t need as much protection. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t need any. All skin types will burn after being exposed to the sun for too long without protection. 

Apart from skin types, there are also some conditions that can affect how sensitive your skin is. Albinism and lupus are good examples and if you suffer from either, you’ll need high-UPF clothing plus SPF to get enough protection. 

Previous exposure is something to think about, as well. If your skin is already damaged from the sun, exposing it to it will just make matters worse, so you absolutely must wear protective clothing. 

2. Consider Your Environment

Your environment is a big influence on how much sun protection you need. 

First off, the UV index. This measures how intense the radiation is in a given area at a specific time, and the higher the number, the stronger the radiation. For example, if it’s the middle of the summer and around 1 PM, UV levels are at their peak, so you need more protection. 

But UV index isn’t the only factor here. Geographical location matters, as well. If you’re near the equator, you’ll need a lot more protection than people who live next to Santa Claus. UV rays are far more intense near the equator and in tropical regions, so adjust your sun protection accordingly. 

There’s another thing to think about, though. Even in places with less sun, you still need UV protection. Reflective surfaces like water, snow, and sand can amplify UV exposure because they redirect sunlight toward the skin.

3. What Activities You’re Doing and Their Duration

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What you do outdoors is another factor. If you’re hiking, gardening, or you play water sports, you’re exposed to sunlight for longer periods of time, so protective clothing is a must. And just because you’re in the water doesn’t mean you’re protected because UV rays can penetrate water. 

Apart from what you’re doing, you also need to take into account how long you’ll be doing it. If you plan on being in the sun for a few hours, especially if the UV index is on the higher side, you have to wear protective clothing and take breaks in the shade. And don’t just wear any old thing you find in your closet; go for something that’s good quality. If you’re sweating, stretching, or doing anything remotely intense, low-quality fabric can fall apart. 

Conclusion

It almost seems like the sun is something evil that you need to run to the shade from, and while that’s not really the case, the fact is that sunlight isn’t healthy for your skin. You don’t need to slather SPF all over your body or wear a space suit every time you get outside to get your mail, but if you know you’ll be out for a long time, make sure to protect your skin. 

This will keep it younger, but more importantly, it will keep it healthier. The c-word is no joke and if you can prevent it with sun protection, why take the risk?