What’s the difference between SPF & UPF
When learning the best ways to dress your little ones for the summer months, it’s highly likely to come across the concept of UPF and SPF clothing. Heat exhaustion is no joke, and keeping our children safely shielded from the sun is crucial for ensuring our kids can enjoy their time spent outside. By knowing what the difference is between UPF and SPF you can make mindful decisions around curating your child’s summer wardrobe. By understanding UPF and SPF clothing you’ll be able to choose sun protective clothing that can regulate your child’s temperature and add a splash of style to their ensemble at the same time.
SPF and UPF are two different measures: one assessing the effectiveness of ultraviolet rays and the other against sun protection. Both are essential for staying safe and healthy while enjoying sunny days outside. In the article, we’ll explore the difference between SPF and UPF clothing as well as some of the best SPF clothing for babies and children available at Reima.
What is SPF?
SPF, or “Sun Protection Factor” is a measurement of the effectiveness of sunscreen. When learning about sun protection it’s hard to not come across this acronym at some point or another, but not many learn what it means. When skin is exposed to the sun, over time it will redden and SPF is a rating of the average amount of time it takes for this to occur. Sunburns can lead to many negative side effects, so choosing a high SPF for your child’s sunscreen is the safest choice during the hot weather months.
Outside of broad-spectrum sunscreens, SPF usually only accounts for UVB rays, and UPF relates to the protectiveness of fabrics chosen when safely spending time in the sun. When shopping for a child’s summertime wardrobe, it’s equally important to remind children of the importance of sunscreen to avoid sunburns and avoidable heat damage. Reima has a wide selection of UPF rated clothing perfect for helping protect against the sun’s powerful rays.
What is UPF?
UPF stands for “Ultraviolet Protection Factor” as it is a measurement of how much of the sun’s UV rays penetrate a garment’s fabric and makes contact with our skin. While SPF is commonly heard throughout the summer months, UPF comes up more often within the context of the textile industry. All fabrics have a designating UPF rating between 15-50 in regards to their level of sun protection. When looking at these ratings, it’s important to know that when looking at this rating, the higher the rating the better. For example, a rating of 50 would indicate that only 1/50th of the sun’s rays will penetrate the fabric and is much more protective than an item that has a UPF rating of 20.
UPF clothing with a high UPF rating allows children to fend off both UVA and UVB rays, which varies from SPF’s level of sun protection since SPF only defends against UVB rays. Many of Reima’s summer clothing collection is developed with high UPF ratings to ensure children can spend hours outside without the sun causing any issues down the line. When exploring UV sun protection clothing for babies and young ones, choose clothing with a UPF rating of at least 30 to 40, as this is the most optimal level of sun protection for children and adults alike.
When exploring the differences between UPF and SPF, there are benefits to utilizing both within any plan for spending time outdoors. UPF clothing allows kids to access more coverage as well as have fewer areas on the body to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours. Fabrics with high UPF ratings also do not require kids to worry about sweating away or washing off their sun protection. While SPF sunscreen is a crucial tool within any summer parent’s arsenal, choosing UPF clothing for children is a solid step toward keeping kids safe during hot weather conditions.
Explore UPF and SPF Protection with Reima
Reima seeks to create quality children’s apparel to keep them safe and comfortable while enjoying their fun in the sun. With an extensive selection of cooling clothing and protective gear, you can ensure your child has everything they need to fight off harmful sun damage. If you’re looking for the best SPF clothing for babies, toddlers, and young children, Reima has what you need. Explore some of our most popular apparel for those that want to keep their kids cool during warm weather conditions.
Reima is passionately committed to keeping children safe through our durable and breathable UPF-rated clothing. Reima’s Sunwear collections keep kids looking as stylish as they are comfortable all summer long.