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"  We&amp;#039;re all familiar with SPF ratings for sunscreen, but did you know apparel has a sun protection rating too? UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) refers to the amount of ultraviolet radiation that is absorbed by the fabric before it hits your skin. In the August issue of Good Housekeeping, you may have noticed sun protective clothing in our Breezy Summer Styles fashion feature. Here are the details behind the clothing that not only looks good, but helps protect your skin against the sun&amp;#039;s damaging rays. What the ratings mean UPF ratings translate to the percent of UV rays that are able to pass through the fabric. UPF 50 means that 1/50th (or 2%) of the UV rays will pass through the fabric, while UPF 20 means 1/20th (or 5%) will pass through. So how do you know which rating to look for? While not all clothing is labeled with a UPF rating, most sun protective collections will have it. Here&amp;#039;s a general guideline: a UPF rating of 15-24 is good protection, 24-39 is very good protection, and above 40 is excellent. Several clothing brands (Coolibar, Columbia, and Mott 50 to name a few) offer collections of UPF 50, which is the highest rating allowed to be labeled. How it works All clothes have some level of UV protection, even if it&amp;#039;s minimal. For instance, a plain white t-shirt can have a UPF rating of about 5-8. A tight woven or knit structure and darker colors will increase the UPF rating, while worn-out or wet clothing will decrease the rating. Manufacturers of sun protective apparel can create higher UPF ratings either through the structure or with a finish in the fabric (such as zinc oxide) that will help absorb the UV rays. Keep in mind Just like sunscreen, sun protective clothing will only protect the covered areas of your skin. Don&amp;#039;t want to buy a whole new wardrobe of UPF-rated clothing? You can give your garments a rating of UPF 30 by using SunGuard. It washes in during a load of laundry is effective for up to 20 washings. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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