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By Kendra Brandes
| The bad news: It's summertime and we're headed outdoors,
despite increasing evidence that over-exposure to the sun's rays poses serious health
risks. The good news: New sun-protective fabrics and ready-to-wear can help keep you and
your family safe. Skeptical? We were, too. That's why we've compiled the following answers
to some of the most common questions regarding these space-age fabrics. |
| Sun-Protective Fabric Q&A What are sun-protective fabrics? The term "sun protective" describes fabrics specifically designed to protect the skin from UV radiation. While it makes sense that clothing protects skin from the sun, early research reveals that many summer fabrics offer too little protection. The two most important features of sun-protective fabric are tight construction and color. Openings between the yarns allow UV radiation to pass through the fabric and reach the skin, so tightly woven or knit fabrics provide the best coverage. Dark colors provide the highest protection levels. This sounds contradictory to the traditional advice that dictates wearing whites or light colors in warm weather. Heat and visible light are reflected from these light colored fabrics, but UV radiation passes through to the skin. Darker colors, such as navy, black, dark greens and reds, block more harmful UV rays. Some of the earliest and most effective fabrics on the market were simply made of tightly woven, lightweight nylon or polyester. There were no special chemical treatments. Synthetic fibers are non-absorbent, so they could be worn while participating in water sports without getting heavy and dry quickly with little or no wrinkling. More recently chemical sun blocks have been added to lightweight fabrics to offer a wider fabric range with good UV protection. These chemicals remain effective after many launderings. |
| Are sun-protective fabrics government-regulated like
chemical sunscreens? Some are. The FDA regulates any fabric or garment that makes specific claims of a medical nature. If the manufacturer claims the fabric prevents skin cancer or protects against other health risks, it must be able to prove the claims have been substantiated by rigorous testing. If a sun-protective garment simply carries a statement that it protects the skin from UV radiation or carries an SPF rating, it doesn't require FDA approval, but still must be able to prove any claims made. |
| Are special fabrics really necessary to protect the skin? This depends upon the level of protection required. The tightly constructed, darker garments hanging in your closet may provide adequate protection. For example, cotton denim blocks nearly all UV rays, but can be too heavy for summer comfort. There are so many variables in fabric construction that the only way to know how much protection is provided is to test each one individually. Currently, this isn't feasible, and for people with serious sun-related health problems (like lupus and skin cancer), it's necessary to know how much UV radiation the fabric blocks. FDA approved fabrics are guaranteed to reduce UV radiation by 97% or more. Most of us don't require anything that extreme, but with the rate of skin cancer on the rise, it's time to give more thought to protective clothing. |
| Are fabrics better than chemical sunscreens? In many cases, yes. While chemical sunscreens block most of the sun's harmful rays, the skin cancer rates have actually increased since people began using them regularly. The most likely reason is that sunscreens provide a false sense of security and people stay out in the sun longer than they normally would. In addition, most people use too little lotion to be effective. Geographic differences in UV levels, variations in individual body chemistry and different activity levels also reduce the effectiveness. On the other hand, sun-protective fabrics provide consistent protection in these variable situations. |
| Can fashion-sewers purchase sun-protective fabrics? Yes. While most companies offering sun-protective products only sell ready-made garments, the Solar Protective Factory (see "Sources") sells both woven and knit fabrics in several basic colors: SolarWeave®, a lightweight, woven, nylon fabric; SolarKnit®, a cotton jersey treated with UV block; and SolarTwill®, a heavier (six-ounce) fabric especially appropriate for headwear. All three fabrics are FDA approved. Other companies offer sun-protective fabrics that don't carry the FDA approval, but still offer an SPF rating (see "Sources"). An interesting note about SolarKnit®: It was selected by a team of scientists at NASA's Johnson Space Center to serve as the fabric for space/sun suits for two British boys with a rare disorder that requires complete protection from sunlight. Thoroughly covered and equipped with a special cooling system, the boys can play outside in the sunlight for the first time in their lives! |
| Do these fabrics require special sewing techniques? Because fabric content and construction vary, sewing techniques for them also vary. Audrey Szmyd of Rockywoods Outdoor Fabrics recommends using a thread with a like fiber content as the fabric to avoid differential shrinkage during laundering. When working with woven, nylon fabrics like SolarWeave, a sharp #9 or #11 needle is essential to avoid snagging the fabric yarns. For those living in humid climates, garment design also is critical for hot weather comfort. Sun-protective fabrics must cover all skin to be effective. To insure air circulation, use fabrics with open, mesh construction in side panels and in the sleeve underarms. Oversized garments also will aid airflow around the body. Szmyd explains that her customers use sun-protective fabrics for items other than standard clothing. A golf course owner in Hong Kong provides sun-protective sleeves for golfers wearing sleeveless tops. Another customer who suffers from lupus and whose career requires travel, travels only at night and carries panels of sun-protective fabric to put in hotel room windows. The panels let in light, but block the UV radiation. The fabrics also work for car window shades. With rising risks from UV radiation, wise use of protective clothing permits us to spend safe time in the sun. Selecting tightly constructed, dark fabrics for outdoor apparel greatly increases protection. But for predictable levels of UV protection, sun-protective fabrics are state of the art! |
| Resources For additional information on UV Protection, check out these Web sites: www.fda.gov/fdac/features/695_skincanc.html |
| Sources Care labels and hangs tags were supplied by Rockywoods Outdoor Fabrics. Rockywoods Outdoor Fabrics, (970) 663-6163, carries Solar Protective Factory Fabrics. The Rain Shed, (541) 753-8900, carries three sun-protective fabrics. Call to order swatches Not Fabrics (541) 924-1446. www.getcreativeshow.com/wnfabric.htm |
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