Sunburn

Will wool provide protection against sunburn?

Yes. Wool was created by Nature to protect sheep, and it does absorb the ultraviolet radiation that burns human skin. And wool absorbs all the UV wavelengths. Synthetic fabrics tend not to absorb the wavelengths that are most dangerous, and so the makers of synthetics use more synthetic treatments to boost the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). Wool naturally has a UPF of 30 or higher. I am guessing our Fabrics have a higher UPF because WeatherWool is woven more tightly than most, but that is just a guess.

This is a complex subject, and it is important to remember that a high UPF does not necessarily confer the most important protection, because some UV wavelengths are more dangerous than others.

UPF is dependent upon a lot of things ... in particular how much of the fabric you are wearing, the color, whether the garments are dry or wet ...

This page needs a lot more work. But you can find plenty of info easily via web search, and probably it would be better to consult authoritative sources directly. This is a hugely serious subject. One of the people we love most lost her life to melanoma at age 29.

Our Related Information page has links to other sources.

 

10 November 2020 --- Ralph