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What Is UPF?

Whether you're out in the sun all day or only on occasion, protection from harmful UV rays is paramount. People are increasingly turning to ultraviolet protection factor clothing, as it helps prevent sunburns and the long-term effects of prolonged sun exposure, including sunspots, premature wrinkles and skin cancer.

In this guide, we'll discuss the definition of UPF and UPF clothing and examine how it compares to the better-known SPF standard. We'll also talk about the benefits of wearing one of the most popular UPF clothing items — hats.

Benefits of UPF

UPF is to clothing what sun protection factor is to sunscreen — it indicates the fraction of UV light that can penetrate a fabric. For instance, a 25 UPF rating means the fabric lets in 1/25, or 4%, of the UV radiation, and a garment with a UPF rating of 50 lets in 1/50, or 2%, of the UV radiation. 

The UPF clothing industry has seen remarkable growth in recent years, expanding from mainly practical items to a wider variety of attractive, everyday clothing styles. UPF clothing is now available in thousands of designs by dozens of companies, all of which use treated fabrics, tighter weaves or both to block UV rays more effectively. Some clothing manufacturers specialize in UPF apparel, including Coolibar, UV Skinz and Mott50. Other well-known brands, like Athleta and Uniqlo, also offer UPF items now. 

This surge in popularity is partly due to frustrations with sunscreen, which include its uncomfortable greasy feeling, the need to apply it frequently and the risk it may pose to aquatic life. Over recent decades, consumers have become more aware of the dangers of extended exposure to sunlight, which has also contributed to the growing popularity of SPF clothing. 

Testing 

UPF protective clothing, like sunscreen, undergoes testing at independent laboratories, but UPF testing is currently not a requirement. Generally, companies that manufacture and sell UPF items in the United States follow complementary standards established by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists and ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials. Clothing tags will often say the items have a UPF rating, but will not mention whether they have met those standards specifically.  

If the tag includes a Seal of Recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation, that shows compliance, but not all companies apply for the distinction. 

Laboratories use AATCC and ASTM protocols to gauge the percentage of UV radiation that penetrates a specific fabric. Some UV rays pass through to the skin directly via micro-spaces located between fibers, and the fibers will absorb or deflect other rays. Moisture can also affect a garment's UPF rating, with a dry fabric usually providing more protection than the same piece when it's wet.  

Recommended Ratings

Garments with UPF ratings below 15 are not sun-protective. To get the voluntary Seal of Recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation, the item must earn a 30 or higher rating from either the ASTM or AATCC. Any rating above 30 provides sufficient protection, though 50 is the best. While a UPF rating can technically be higher than 50, it won't offer significantly better protection, so garments with ratings above 50 will report it as "50+." 

UPF vs. SPF — What's the Difference?

UPF and SPF are both standards for measuring UV protection. Most everyone is familiar with SPF, which has measured sunscreen effectiveness for decades. In contrast, the UPF standard is relatively new and created specifically for rating UV protection offered by fabrics. Originally, sun-protective materials in the United States used SPF ratings, and the UPF standard didn't come into existence until later. Since applying for a UPF rating is not mandatory, many sun-protective clothing manufacturers continue to use the SPF standard.    

SPF Rating System 

Companies perform SPF testing on humans. SPF measures how long someone can stay under the sun before their skin starts to burn. For instance, if someone starts to get a sunburn after only 10 minutes, if they apply adequate sunscreen with an SPF 15 rating, the sunscreen should give them 150 minutes of sun protection. 

It's essential to note that, while sunblocks with the same SPF ratings will provide identical protection from UVB rays, no sunscreen protects you from all UVA rays. Even if a sunscreen claims to protect against UVA rays, the SPF standard currently doesn't measure protection from UVA rays. 

While researchers still believe UVB rays primarily cause sunlight-induced skin damage, particularly sunburn, many experts hypothesize UVA rays may be involved in other sun damage types, including wrinkles, aging and skin cancers. 

UPF Rating System 

Manufacturers of UPF fabrics don't test their effectiveness on human subjects. Instead, they usually use spectrophotometer tools. The UPF rating shows what percentage of UV radiation the clothing's fabric absorbs. 

For instance, a garment with a 50 UPF rating lets only 1/50th UV radiation from the sun go through it, meaning the garment will reduce your exposure to radiation by 98% in places the fabric protects. 

One advantage the UPF standard has over the SPF standard is that it measures protection against UVB and UVA rays.

Why Get a Hat With UPF Protection?

If you're only going to invest in one clothing item with UPF protection, a hat is perhaps the best choice. Benefits of UPF hats include the following.

• You can still be stylish: If you're new to UPF, you may not realize UPF hats come in a wide variety of styles, meaning you won't have trouble finding a hat design that suits your tastes. 
• It provides better protection: UPF hats aren't only an alternative to sunscreen on your face — they offer better protection than sunscreen, as they shield you from UVA and UVB rays. 
• There is no need to reapply: Put on your UPF hat and you're good to go — no need to reapply every few hours. 
• You won't have to apply sunscreen on your children: If you're the parent of young children, you know how much of a struggle it can be to put sunscreen on them. Having them wear UPF hats will protect their face, ears and neck from harmful sun rays. 
• There are no annoyances: By using a UPF hat instead of sunscreen, you don't have to deal with all the irritations associated with sunscreen — your skin won't feel greasy, you'll never have to experience the sting of getting sunscreen in your eyes and you won't have to worry about your protection washing off when you go in the water.   
• They're a great choice if you suffer from photosensitivity: Sun sensitivity can result from skin care products, medical conditions and some medications. If you struggle with this condition, consider getting a hat with UPF protection next time you go out in the sun.     
• They're more environmentally friendly: