Face sunscreen? Check. Travel-size tube for on-the-go touch ups? Check. SPF for below the neck? Check, check, and check. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back, but know that sun safety doesn’t stop there. Lotions and potions are one thing, but going one step further with UV-protective clothing and accessories will take you from novice to expert in terms of safe sun. “UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing is specially designed to provide an extra layer of protection against the sun,” Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology, tells Refinery29. “It is woven tightly and often made from fabrics that offer a high UPF rating, such as polyester, nylon, and certain types of cotton.” Whereas sunscreens have an SPF rating, a number corresponding to the length of time where your skin is protected from UV rays, clothing has a UPF rating, which refers to the amount of UV exposure that can penetrate fabric and affect your skin.
