Find out the SPF of swimwear.

Navigation




Website Resources

Feel free to contact us for more information or questions about this website.

Submit your site for possible inclusion in our directory.

If you find this site to be of interest, please link to us.

Visit our directory for related websites and services you may be interested in.

Browse our site map for related articles on tan through clothing.

Please read our privacy policy and terms of use.


 Home: SPF and swimwear

SPF and swimwear

Stay safe while playing in the sun

You slap on a high SPF sunscreen when going to the beach for a swim, but do you know that different fabrics and even different colors affect the SPF rating of clothing? Not all t-shirts are created equal, but it is easy to determine what has low sun protection and what has high. Before you put on that white cotton shirt to protect yourself while swimming, read below to find out why that’s a bad idea.

Thin, lightweight, white cottons offer the least protection from the sun. The thinner the material, the easier the UV rays will penetrate your skin. The weave is generally looser, allowing gaps in the fabric. An average white t-shirt has an SPF of 7. However, wet cotton offers even less protection, plunging to an SPF of 3.

The chemical composition of dyes offer more protection, so the darker the shirt the higher the protection. If you wear a t-shirt while swimming, wear one in a dark color.

Polyester, nylon and other synthetic fabric, due to their stronger fiber and tighter weave, offer much higher UV protection, in the neighborhood of SPF 20 and above.

So how does this work with swimwear? Suits need to be fast drying, light, durable and flexible. This means most beach wear is made of synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon and spandex, which all have high natural SPF ratings. Like regular cotton, the darker the dye in the suit, the greater the rating. Minimum SPF protection is around 20, meaning that all general synthetics offer adequate protection. Darker colors like blue, red and purple easy reach SPF 50, 100 and higher.

Similar to cotton, the stretching and dampness of the fabric decreases the SPF, though not by a large amount. As most synthetic material has a high SPF to begin with, the lower ratings still offer enough protection. Some materials, when wet, actually increase their protective properties.

For those who still love their tans, the synthetic micro-fibers or a special blend of Nylon and Spandex in tan through swimsuits allow the sun’s rays to penetrate the skin, but at a controlled rate. Porous material gives the user an even tan over the entire body, and is the equivalent of between SPF 6 and 10. Though the material is thin, it is not see-through. Of course, this means you will be at greater risk of getting a burn, so moderate exposure to the sun is always recommended.

Remember to take proper precautions when tanning. Accessories like hats, UV-protective sun glasses and sunscreen will mean the difference between a painful sunburn and a great day at the beach.