[Permanent version] How to choose an arm cover that will never burn

October 12, 2023

“Can arm covers protect against sunburn?”

“How do I choose an arm cover that never burns?”

You don't want to end up with something like, "I accidentally burned my arm," right?

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that sunburn is our biggest enemy.

Therefore, in this article we will explain the following:

4 ways to choose an arm cover
How to care for the arm cover
Precautions for UV cut processing

If you read this article to the end, you will know how to choose an arm cover that will never burn, so please use it as a reference.

List of our UV arm covers here

4 ways to choose arm covers that will never burn

We will explain the following four ways to choose an arm cover that will never burn.

Choose something that doesn't expose your skin
Choose one that has UV protection
Choose a color with high UV protection effect
Choose materials with UV protection

To protect yourself from aging and disease, use arm covers to protect your arms from sunburn.

Choose something that doesn't expose your skin

Experiments have shown that just wearing a thin cloth can block UV rays, so it is even more effective to wear a UV-blocking arm cover to prevent your arms from getting burnt.

(Experiment results cited: Photoenvironmental Life Science Laboratory )

In the summer, there are many opportunities to wear short sleeves, but we recommend choosing an arm cover that covers your entire arm.

Also, if you are wearing long sleeves, it is recommended that you choose a short length type as only the backs of your hands may get burnt.

Protect your skin from UV rays while driving, shopping, doing laundry, etc.

Choose one that has UV protection

UV cut processing can significantly cut the ultraviolet rays that reach the skin, reducing the risk of skin dryness, age spots, freckles, and skin cancer caused by sunburn.

There are two methods for UV protection depending on the type of fiber:

Fabrics are made by kneading materials such as titanium oxide and special ceramics that absorb and reflect ultraviolet rays into fibers.
Sprinkle and coat the fabric with a chemical that blocks UV rays.

There are two ways to evaluate whether a fabric is effective in blocking UV rays: "UV shielding rate measurement" and "UPF evaluation".

(Reference: Boken Quality Evaluation Organization )

Products made from UV-blocking materials are definitely more effective at protecting against sunburn than untreated products, so be sure to check to see if they have been processed.

Choose a color with high UV protection effect

It is said that the most effective colors for UV protection are black > blue > brown > yellow > red > white.

This order applies when UV protection is "untreated", so it does not mean that you should not choose white.

There are slight changes in the UV protection effect depending on the color, but as long as it has UV protection, it will still be effective, so choose your favorite color and enjoy fashion.

Choose materials with UV protection

Materials with UV protection include polyester, nylon, cotton, and wool.

In particular, polyester has the property of blocking UV-B without UV-blocking treatment, but it is said to be less effective in blocking UV-A.

Also, even though they have UV protection effects, there may be disadvantages depending on the material, such as poor breathability.

We also recommend choosing a material that is UV-protected and comfortable to wear, and incorporating a comfortable arm cover.

How to care for the arm cover

When washing, we recommend using a laundry net to avoid putting stress on the fabric as much as possible.

It is said that fine fibers in the fabric are effective in blocking UV rays, but as the fibers become rougher and the stitches become wider with use, the UV blocking effect may diminish.

Additionally, if the fabric is coated with a chemical that blocks UV rays, it is said that the UV effect tends to fade with washing, so it is a good idea to use a detergent that has a UV coating.

Since arm covers are often used for sun protection, we recommend replacing them each season or keeping a stock of them.

Precautions for UV cut processing

The important thing to note about UV protection is that it does not completely block UV rays when worn.

Of course, it has the effect of blocking UV rays, but it is not "complete".

If you absolutely do not want to get sunburn, you should apply sunscreen before putting on the arm cover, and reapply it frequently if you are going to be outside for a long time.