As summer approaches and outdoor activity levels increase, you should remind yourselves to take necessary precautions against overexposure to the sun and UV rays. Besides the shelves full of sun-block applications available at the stores, there is another product that is gaining popularity amongst health-conscious people, namely, sun protective clothing.

Sun protective clothing is made from materials that have a weave so tight that they prevent sunlight and UV rays from coming through.


Fabrics used in sun protective clothing consist of cotton and nylon, which typically offer SPF 30+ protection, and Dupont Lycra, which offers SPF/UPF 100+ protection, wet or dry. These ratings are government regulated and you can rely on these products to give the protection they indicate.

The sun protection factor, SPF, is a gauge of how much time a person can be exposed to the sun before getting burned. If you are a person that typically can get sun burned in 15 minutes, an application of SPF 30+ sun block would allow you 450 minutes in the sun before getting burned. Of course, you must also take into consideration absorption by clothes, perspiration, bathing and swimming, which can drastically shorten the effectiveness of any sun block.

For the ultimate defense against the sun, couple the use of sun block applications with sun protective clothing. There are styles to fit every member of the family, whether you're just hanging out at the beach or lake, or you're participating in more active outdoor recreation.

These clothes may cost more than regular outdoor gear, but they are also providing the advantage of sun protection. If you are concerned about exposure to the sun, it may be time to do a little shopping. Check out these Online Retailers of Sun Protective Clothing