While covering new skin with bandages, gauze or regular clothing to avoid sun exposure may be helpful, most clothing and common materials only block a small portion of harmful UV rays for a short amount of time, which can lead to sunburn and skin damage. The only way to truly protect skin is with special protective clothing that will block out harmful UV radiation. All protective clothing items should fit the area properly, and sun exposure should still be limited to prevent irritation while new skin is forming.
Step 1
Locate a store or company that sells special protective clothing in your area. A variety of sporting goods stores, Army surplus stores and survival stores sell clothing made specifically to protect against harmful UV radiation exposure. If you cannot locate a store in your area, protective clothing can be ordered through numerous companies over the internet, such as Solartex.
Step 2
Determine your needs for protective clothing. If you are going to be spending long amounts of time in the water, playing golf or simply want to limit sun exposure during short walks, there are a variety of different types of protective clothing, and you need to research which ones will be appropriate for your needs.
Step 3
Check the SPF value of any protective clothing you are purchasing. Protective clothing comes in a wide variety of different SPF ratings. These often alter the weight and style of the clothing.
Step 4
Purchase protective clothing with an SPF rating of at least 15. Any protective clothing you purchase should block both UVA and UVB rays that are harmful to the skin.
Step 5
Make sure the protective clothing has the same rating in the water as when dry if you plan on swimming in the item. If you are planning on swimming in a pool with chlorine, find out if the item is chlorine-resistant.
Step 6
Apply a proper bandage to the area of new skin before putting on protective clothing to avoid irritation.
Step 7
Avoid or limit sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for best results.
Tips and Warnings
- Sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses should always be worn on any parts of the body not shielded by protective coverings. Sunglasses are particularly important, as they help to reduce the risk of cataracts, the most common cause of blindness, according to the Centers for Disease Control. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can reduce the risk of skin cancer by seeking shade under and umbrella when possible even if you are wearing protective clothing and sunscreen.
- Most manufacturers of protective clothing do not recommend spending extremely long periods of time in the sun, even if you are wearing protective clothing. For recommended times, contact the manufacturer of any protective clothing you plan on using.
Things You'll Need
- Protective clothing
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
