SPF Clothing: Protect Your Skin On and Off the Fireground

Note: This article is part of the Firehouse 2024 Cancer Awareness and Prevention Supplement. To read the entire supplement, click here.

Firefighters are exposed to various dangers while they are on the job. Smoke, fire, hazardous chemicals and extreme heat are part of the daily risks, and structural firefighting PPE is designed to protect against these hazards.

Exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation often is overlooked, particularly when firefighters work and play outdoors for extended periods. Whether during wildland firefighting operations, training, community events, or a day off at the beach or mowing the lawn, the danger of sun exposure is real and significant. Wearing sun-protective clothing that has a high sun protection factor (SPF) is a simple measure that firefighters can take to protect themselves to ensure skin safety and long-term health.

How does SPF clothing work to protect a person from UV radiation? How do you understand and select the proper clothing to protect yourself from the harmful rays that the sun generates? How is the SPF number for clothing determined? Read on.

Dangers of sun exposure
Firefighters regularly face heightened exposure to UV radiation. They tend to spend long hours outdoors, both at work and on their days off. This can result in cumulative damage to their skin, which increases the risk of skin cancer and premature aging.

Two types of UV radiation are concerning. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin and contribute to skin aging and wrinkling. UVB rays cause sunburn and can damage the DNA in skin cells directly, leading to skin cancer over time.

Even on cloudy days or during cooler weather, UV rays can penetrate the skin and cause harm. Studies show that overexposure to UV radiation is a leading cause of melanoma and other skin cancers. Firefighters who spend a lot of time outdoors—particularly during the midday, when the sun’s rays are most intense—are at a high risk.

Wearing sunscreen helps, but it sometimes is challenging to reapply regularly or is forgotten. This can be particularly true while operating at an incident or during a day of outdoor training, when we least think about sun protection. That’s when SPF clothing can become an additional layer of protection. SPF clothing engineers out of the equation the action of reapplying sunscreen and, as a result, provides continual protection for areas of the body on which it’s worn.

How SPF clothing works
SPF clothing is designed to block or absorb UV radiation to prevent it from reaching the skin. These garments are made from tightly woven fabrics that physically block UV rays. The design, weave and type of fabric all play a role in a garment’s effectiveness.

• Tightly woven fabric. The closer the weave of the fabric, the less UV radiation that can penetrate it. Loosely woven fabrics allow UV rays to pass through more easily, exposing the skin to potential harm.
• Material composition. Certain fabrics, such as polyester, nylon and specially treated cotton, are particularly effective at blocking UV rays. Darker colors and synthetic fibers generally offer better UV protection than do lighter colors and natural fibers, such as untreated cotton. This means that a black or navy blue shirt generally offers better UV protection than a white one.
• Chemical treatment. Some SPF garments are treated with UV-blocking chemicals that enhance the garment fabric’s capability to reflect or absorb harmful rays. This boosts the clothing’s SPF rating, much like how sunscreen works on your skin. That said the chemicals can degrade over time, and the protection diminishes.

The result of the use of tightly woven fabrics, darker colors and chemical treatment in the fabrication of clothing is a shield against UVA and UVB rays that can provide all-day protection without the need for constant reapplication of sunscreen. Unlike sunscreen, SPF clothing doesn’t lose its effectiveness as a result of sweat nor does it wash off.

SPF number for clothing
As is the case with sunscreen, clothing can have an SPF rating. The number indicates how effectively the garment blocks UV radiation from reaching your skin. The higher the SPF number, the greater the protection.

The SPF rating for clothing officially is called the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), and it’s similar to SPF in sunscreens, though with some key differences. The UPF number indicates what fraction of UV rays can penetrate the fabric. For example, a UPF 50 garment allows only 1/50th (2 percent) of UV radiation to pass through. A garment that has a UPF 30 rating allows 1/30th (3.3 percent) of UV radiation to pass through.

Dense weaves, such as those that are found in the construction of synthetic fabrics, including polyester and nylon, tend to offer higher UPF ratings.

Heavier fabrics that have more thickness in their construction provide more protection than lighter fabrics do. Fabric that stretches tightly across the skin can reduce the UPF rating, because the weave opens up slightly when it’s stretched, which allows more UV rays to pass through.

Wet clothing typically offers less UV protection than dry clothing. Additionally, worn or stretched-out fabrics might lose some of their protective qualities.

Why SPF clothing is essential
SPF clothing is more than just a precaution. It’s an investment in one’s long-term health. Here are four reasons why SPF clothing should be a standard part of every firefighter’s wardrobe:

• Continuous protection: SPF clothing provides constant UV protection, unlike sunscreen as it fades and must be reapplied. When operating at the command post, directing traffic at an extended operation, engaged in an all-day training exercise or on a day off at the baseball game, SPF clothing ensures that a member is protected all day.
• Prevents skin cancer: Firefighters already face increased risks of cancer because of exposure to toxins and carcinogens. Reducing the risk of skin cancer through UV protection is another way to safeguard one’s health.
• Protects against sunburn: Not only are sunburns painful, but they can lead to more severe conditions, such as dehydration and heat exhaustion, which already are risks that firefighters face.
• Minimizes aging and skin damage: Prolonged UV exposure can age the skin prematurely, which causes wrinkles, sunspots and other damage. Wearing SPF clothing can keep skin healthier and more resilient for the long haul.

Choosing the right clothing
When selecting SPF clothing, there are several things to consider:

• Look for high UPF ratings: Aim for clothing that has a UPF rating of 40 or more, particularly for those times when extended periods are spent outdoors.
• Breathability and comfort: Choose clothing that combines UV protection with breathability, moisture-wicking and lightweight properties as a means to help to avoid overheating.
• Full coverage: Protect as much skin as possible by choosing shirts that have long sleeves, pants (rather than shorts), hats and neck gaiters. Sunglasses that block UV rays are essential for eye protection.
• Durability: Look for clothing that’s made of fabrics that have a high-quality, durable feel, to increase the chances that the garment will maintain its UPF rating even after repeated washings and exposure to sweat and wear.

Part of daily gear
Firefighters wear specialized PPE and SCBA to protect themselves on scene from the immediate dangers of fire and other hazardous conditions. However, UV radiation is an invisible threat that can have lasting effects on one’s health, and that can contribute to skin cancer and premature aging.

By incorporating SPF clothing into their wardrobe, firefighters can provide their skin with continuous protection against harmful UV rays. Of course, sunscreen still must be used to protect areas of the body that aren’t covered by clothing.

Understanding UPF ratings and choosing the right clothing helps you to stay safe under the sun, to ensure that you’re protected today and in the future. Your future self will thank you. Finally, protect your loved ones, too.