UPF Clothing vs. Sunscreen: What's the Difference?

UPF clothing and sunscreen protect your skin in different ways: UPF clothing blocks UV radiation from reaching the skin underneath it, while sunscreen protects exposed skin. For comprehensive sun protection, dermatologists generally recommend using both rather than treating them as alternatives.

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and measures the amount of UV radiation transmitted through fabric. A UPF 50 fabric allows approximately 1/50th of UV radiation to pass through it. Research and textile standards use spectrophotometric measurements to determine this transmission.

Sunscreen works differently. A broad-spectrum sunscreen helps protect exposed skin from UVA and UVB radiation, while UPF clothing provides a physical barrier over the skin it covers.

Is UPF clothing better than sunscreen?

They're not really competing products. Clothing has the advantage of providing continuous protection to the skin it covers, while sunscreen is particularly useful for areas that remain exposed.

A review of photoprotective clothing concluded that combining protective clothing with sunscreen on uncovered areas is likely to provide the most comprehensive approach to sun protection.

Do you need sunscreen with UPF clothing?

Yes, for exposed skin. If you're wearing a UPF 50+ shirt, the fabric protects the covered areas, but your face, hands, and other uncovered areas remain exposed to UV radiation.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a combination of sun-protective clothing, shade, and broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30+ sunscreen.

Why choose UPF clothing?

One practical benefit is consistency. Once you're wearing a UPF garment, the covered skin doesn't require repeated sunscreen application throughout the day.

For someone who spends substantial time outdoors, UPF clothing can therefore make sun protection simpler while reducing the amount of skin that needs sunscreen.

The takeaway: UPF clothing protects the skin you cover; sunscreen protects the skin you don't. Using both provides more complete protection than relying on either one alone.

Sources:
American Academy of Dermatology, “Statement on the Importance of Sun Protection.”
Gambichler et al., Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology — “Defined UV protection by apparel textiles.”
Photoprotection by clothing: A review, Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine (2022).
“An Overview of Ultraviolet-Protective Clothing,” International Journal of Women's Dermatology.