Clothing is the more reliable way to protect your screen than sunscreen. However, the value of covering up depends on the weave, color and type of fabric. A typical white t-shirt has an SPF of only five and if it is wet considerably less. Not surprisingly, the looser the weave, the less protection, because sunlight gets through the holes. Dark colors are better than light ones because they absorb more sunlight. Polyester garments are usually more protective than cotton and linen, but it depends on the weight and the weave.
You can buy clothing that is marketed as sun protective. Sometimes it's made of fabrics that are specially treated or made of comfortable light weight nylon. Some sun-protective clothing companies use the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating system developed in Australia, which has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. The UPF rating indicated how much UV radiation in both UVA and UVB wavelengths absorbed by fabric. The Australians classify any clothing with the UPF rating of 15 or over as well.
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