Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Basics Of Sun Protection Sleeve

By Kimberly Long


In the recent years, studies show an increase in cases of skin cancer. The rise in this form of cancer has been linked to an increase in outdoor activities and recreational exposure. It is widely accepted that overexposure to sunlight is the underlying cause of several harmful effects on the body. These harmful effects affect eye, the immune system, and the skin. It is believed that for every five cancer cases, four of them can be prevented by avoiding UV light.

The need to start using clothing as a method of preventing the adverse effects of sunlight has started to become used in the textile industry. Sun protection sleeve are among the methods that have been devised to help with the problem. Sleeves are classified as sun protective clothing, and they are designed in a specific way to offer protective mechanism against sunlight. Rating is done to the fabric that is used before it can be used to making clothing meant for this purpose.

Most commonly, manufacturers rely on a novel weave structure and/or denier to achieve protective properties in the clothing. Besides using denier and novel weave structure, the textiles and fabrics used may be pre-treated with UV-inhibiting ingredients. The treatment is done during the product process to enhance the efficiency to protect against sunlight. Specific design parameters can also be employed to ensure that the body is protected to the maximum from the damage caused by sunlight.

The utilization of design parameters entails designing clothes to cover most parts of the body, especially the ones vulnerable to effects of UV. These include the head, neck areas, shoulders, hands, and legs. Clothes are designed in styles such as full-length skirts, dresses, and trousers, long sleeves, and full collars.

Many fabrics and textiles in current use for protecting the body against UV rays do not need any further UV-blocking improvement. This conclusion is reached based on the fiber structure, dye components, and density of the weave. Indigo dyes and darker colors in particular are more effective. Some examples of fabrics that are great for protecting against UV are polyester, nylon, denim, canvas, spandex, and polypropylene.

Fabrics that help to block UV also present one main problem. Heat retention is the main challenge in these fabrics because they are made heavier in weight and darker in color. This problem is combated in some products by designing them with moisture wicking properties, ventilated weaves, and antibacterial properties. The purpose of these properties is to enhance breathability and cooling.

The level of protection that fabric can provide against UV is determined by certain factors. These factors include wetness, stretch, weight, weave, and color. When the fabric is less open and more dense, it offers more and better protection. Some fabrics offer less protection when they are wet while others offer more.

So as to enhance the capability of fabric to absorb UV, some manufacturers add UV absorbers into fabrics. Research indicates that the use of certain detergents to wash clothes enhances their ability to protect the skin. The most effective detergents are those with fabric brighteners.




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