I finally managed to buy a long sleeve Ultraviolet/UV hoodie. Not quite a sun shirt, which was what I was looking for as my outer layer sun protection. Strangely, most shops that sell sports and outdoor products don’t seem to stock them in sunny Malaysia. Anyways, my online search for sun shirts was a learning experience. I thought I knew enough about the sun, sun protection measures, and sun related diseases. Not really.

I’ve owned three sun shirts in my lifetime. Two pink, and one grey. Back then, I didn’t know about Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) and/or to check the respective brands’ UPF grading. UPF is similar to Sun Protection Factor or SPF rating in sunscreen products.

‘UPF clothes block both UVB and UVA rays, keeping skin safer and youthful looking. For example, a sun shirt with a UPF 50 blocks 98 percent of UV rays and allows two percent or 1/50th through.[1] Reducing the exposure risk significantly. Pretty good, yes.

‘UPF ratings can range from a low of about 25 to a high of 50+. An average t-shirt, especially those thin ones that are so comfortable to wear when it’s hot, only has a UPF rating of about 5, blocking about 80% of UV rays[2]. A rating of above UPF15 is required to provide good protection against UV radiation.

Point to note. The UPF rating is only correct when the shirt is new, not stretched tight, and used as advertised. Over time, the UV-blocking properties of sun shirts fade/diminish as they are used and washed many times. Hence, applying sunscreen underneath the sun shirt is recommended. My sun shirts are worn and tatty, and I still expect them to block the sun’s rays from reaching me. At least now, I know what to look for in a sun shirt. Full-cover and darker shades. Yes, darker is better. And one that protects the neck, ears, shoulders, arms, and fingers. Online, I’ve seen collared, hooded, longer sleeves and thumbhole varieties for maximum coverage.

And, if there is no sun shirt or hoodie to be found, the next best thing is to wear everyday clothes that offer better sun protection. How? First, hold up any shirt or dress against the light. The less light that passes through the clothes, the more protection offered. Choose fabric/clothes that have denser and closer weaves. Makes sense, right? Apparently, synthetic and/or mixed fabrics usually have a closer/tighter weave than natural fabrics. That said, natural fabrics like linen, cotton and hemp can also have tight weaves and still be lightweight and cooler to wear.

My clothes are mainly lightweight and light coloured t-shirts that I pair with shorts and skirts. Suitable and comfortable, I thought, as I live in a sun-drenched country. I tried the test on the t-shirt I had on. Hmm. So much light passed through the not so tightly weaved fabric. My other t-shirts have the same texture, and no UPF rating. So how? Time for sunscreen underneath the t-shirt? The mere thought of applying sunscreen under the t-shirt in sweltering temperatures requires conviction.

This is good advice. ‘Dark colours (such as navy, black and dark red) absorb UV rays, and prevent them from reaching the skin better than white and light colours. However, closeness of the weave is still more important than the colour of the fabric. Avoid light-coloured hat brims that bounce sunlight back onto the face[3].

Speaking of hats, I also want one with UPF rating. Wide-brimmed, bucket or legionnaire-style (the one with a flap that covers the neck) that will protect the face, neck, and ears. No baseball caps. I use this all the time even when I can feel the sun on my ears and the sides of my face. No raffia and straw hats that allow pinpricks of sunlight to pass through. The ones I have are like large-hole sieves or colanders. Hmm.

And, of course, sunglasses. A must-have to complete the sun protection wearables. I checked my sunglasses. It has a filter category 3 which means it blocks 82-92% of UV light. This is the most important feature to look for when choosing sunnies. Category 3 is also the most common, and most suitable for bright sunny days in cities, and for holidays by the sea or in the mountains.

‘Categories 0, 1 and 2 are for fashion purposes. Category 3 is ideal for standard bright sunlight conditions and Category 4 is for exceptionally bright settings. Also, 100% UV protection and polarisation are two different things. While UV protection sunglasses are designed to protect your eyes, polarised sunglasses are designed to reduce glare so you can see more clearly without squinting.[4]’

I’ve only just scratched the surface on sun protection. There’s a lot more useful information such as solar ultra-violet index. What’s that? Yes, what’s that?