UV Radiation Transmittance: Regular Clothing Versus Sun-Protective Clothing
There are many clothing options available for patients who are interested in limiting their exposure to UV radiation; however, these options can be confusing for patients. For dermatologists, there is limited clinical data regarding the advantages, if any, of sun-protective clothing. In this study, we examined the UV radiation transmittance of regular clothing versus sun-protective clothing. We found that regular clothing may match or even exceed sun-protective clothing in blocking the transmittance of UV radiation. These data will help dermatologists better counsel their patients on clothing options for sun protection.
- Dermatologists routinely advise patients that clothing is a method of UVA/UVB protection.
- Regular clothing items provide similar, if not superior, UVA/UVB protection compared to sun-protective clothing.
- Physicians may confidently inform patients that regular clothing items will provide adequate UVA/UVB protection.
Patients may be assured of a sufficient amount of UVA/UVB blocking with sun-protective clothing. However, our study indicated that the regular clothing articles we tested provided similar, if not better, protection against UV radiation compared with the sun-protective clothing articles.
Conclusion
Based on the data, we would advise patients that they do not need to buy special sun-protective clothing that claims to block UV radiation, as regular clothing will provide equivalent protection against UVA/UVB radiation. However, these findings do not suggest that the claims for sun-protective clothing are inaccurate. Nevertheless, similar UVA/UVB blocking may be achieved with clothing already owned by patients.
