4 Surprising Products to Protect you from the Sun | Glaze & Save
While global warming may seem like a cruel joke during the
average Scottish summer, it has certainly turned the world’s collective
attention to the dangers of the sun. And while we all should
know the basics of sun protection: large hats, tightly-woven
clothing in dark colours, arms and legs covered, and plenty
of sunscreen, in honour of Sun Awareness Week we thought we’d
look at four surprising products that protect you from the sun.
1. Sun protective clothing
While most dark coloured and tightly woven clothing carries natural sun protection, it doesn’t always add up to the type of garment that pairs well with a hot sunny day. And while the jury is still out on the effectiveness of the UV bikini some element of UV protective clothing have shown to work, especially when applied to more sensible apparel items such as lightweight long-sleeved shirts and shorts. Many sun-protective clothing manufacturers infuse their fabric with the same physical sun blockers that we expect from sunscreen, such as titanium dioxide. While the sun-protective additives in this clothing definitely does not mean you can bin the sunscreen , for those who enjoy outdoor sports, or just want an added layer of protection, it may be a worthy option.
2. Sun protective laundry additives
If you’d rather stick to your current fashion choices but still fancy adding a little extra protective punch to your current wardrobe, could sun-protective laundry additives be the answer? UV protective laundry detergents such as Rit Sun Guard work by adding tiny white crystals to your clothing after one wash. The thinking here is that the crystals decrease the amount of light that penetrates the fabric of your clothing, hitting your skin. The additive can boost the UPF protection of a white cotton T-shirt from UPF 5 to UPF 30, blocking up to 96% of the sun’s rays .
3. UVP Parasols
Long the preserve of Victorian ladies and goths, the parasol is a fairly common sun-protection product that has a long and varied tradition. However, this is 2018 so the humble parasol has been given a tech upgrade. Combining the parasol with a sun blocking protective layer makes parasols even more effective at keeping you free from the sun. However, health professionals have warned that parasols alone will not protect you from the sun, particularly if you are very light skinned or live in a sunny climate. Experimental research conducted in Spain involved placing a UV sensor beneath a large beach umbrella. Although the umbrella absorbed most of the direct UV radiation from the sun (only 4% passed through), about 34% of the ‘diffuse’ radiation (reflected off surfaces or scattered by air molecules) from around the umbrella reached the area beneath it.
4. Secondary Glazing
Windows can admit a large amount of UV rays , particular older single glazed windows and double glazing from pre-2003. The UV rays can cause fading and aging damage to furnishings, artworks and artifacts, but it can also cause damage to your skin. While many traditional glass secondary glazing options offer UV protection, this often comes at the expense of other features such as fire-proofing or additional thermal qualities. Glaze & Save’s InvisiTherm™ is a bespoke magnetic secondary glazing system fabricated from Grade 1 polycarbonate with a UV protective filter built in as standard. This ultraviolet filter blocks over 99.9% of the sun’s harmful rays, eradicating fading, and minimizing exposure to the potentially harmful effects of the sun. This UV protection comes in addition to exception thermal benefits, noise reduction and even solar gain reduction of 27%, making InvisiTherm™ a great product for any weather.
