What Is UPF Swimwear and How Does It Work?

You must have adorable, fashionable swimwear for your lake swims, relaxing poolside days, and beach getaways. However, wearing swimwear with sun protection is just as crucial. You need swimwear that helps shield you from the sun's dangerous, damaging UV rays if you intend to spend a lot of time in the sun this summer. UPF swimsuit, please. Uncertain of what it is? We have your back. Everything you need to know about UPF swimwear and the benefits of including it in your summer swimwear collection is covered in this article.

UPF Swimwear: What Is It?

UV protection factor, also known as UPF, refers to a fabric's capacity to block out both UVB and UVA ultraviolet rays. UPF gear comes in a variety of styles, from helmets to long sleeve shirts to, yes, even bikinis! Therefore, a UPF swimsuit will provide much greater UV protection than a conventional swimsuit.

What Is Not UPF Swimwear?

UPF and SPF are not the same thing, despite the fact that many people mistakenly use them as synonyms. SPF stands for sun protection factor and solely pertains to sunscreen, not actual clothes, while UPF stands for UV protection factor. Additionally, unlike UPF apparel and swimwear, SPF only offers protection against UV B rays. What does this entail, then? You should use plenty of sunscreen when going to the beach, but for the best amount of protection against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B, you should also buy UPF swimwear.

Most individuals are unaware that they need to protect themselves from UV rays not just on their exposed skin in the sun but also underneath their garments and swimsuits. However, if you don't have a UPF swimsuit, damaging rays may penetrate the fabric and reach your skin.

How to Buy UPF Swimwear?

It's time to start incorporating a few stylish new (and protective) swimwear pieces into your wardrobe once you have a solid understanding of what UPF swimwear is and how it protects you! It also helps to have knowledge about how to pick the appropriate goods when you are doing that. When purchasing, consider a number of things, including coverage, UPF ratings, fit, weave tightness, and other practical advice to enhance protection.

Coverage

Even though a UPF tankini won't provide as much protection as a long-sleeve UPF shirt, many people still go to the beach in just their swimsuits and trunks. While it is true that sunscreen can cover any exposed skin that your swimsuit cannot, it is also true that the more coverage your UPF swimwear offers, the more protection you are assured of receiving. So a UPF tankini or swim dress offers a little bit more coverage than a traditional bikini, much like a rashguard offers more protection than a tankini. Of course, the buyer gets to choose the type of swimsuit they want, but keep in mind that the more material coverage there is (as long as it has UPF), the more protection from the sun is offered.

UPF Ratings

The lowest UPF rating that a swimsuit can have and yet offer sufficient sun protection is UPF 30. Finding solutions that offer a level of 50 or even 50+ is much preferable. The fabric's ability to block off dangerous UV radiation increases with the number.

Fit

Unbelievably, the amount of solar protection an article of clothing offers increases with its degree of looseness. This is due to the fact that a tighter material offers less sun protection when it is stretched out and made thinner. Since women's swimsuits tend to be more form-fitting than men's suits, it is preferable to look for alternatives with a high UPF rating. Consider donning a UPF swimsuit or another sort of cover-up whenever you aren't taking a dip in the water if you want to ensure you are receiving adequate sun protection.

Tightness of Weave

While choosing looser swimwear and other apparel, you should also search for a tight fabric weave. More harmful UV rays can be blocked out when the weave is tight. Try holding your swimsuit up to the sun to see if any sunlight comes through to determine how tight the weave is.

A Few More Practical Shopping Tricks

We've just covered a few of the most crucial factors to take into account while looking for UPF swimwear, and we'll wrap up with a few more. For instance, color is still another crucial consideration. Swimsuits of vivid and dark hues are better suited to absorb UV radiation, making it more difficult for it to reach your skin. Second, search for fabrics that are good at absorbing UV radiation, such as polyester and unbleached cotton.

It's time to get your first item of UPF swimwear now that you are familiar with the essentials and can enjoy your summer with enhanced protection!