Sun Umbrellas Explained: A Comprehensive Overview for Buyers and Users
As one of the hard sun protection methods, sun umbrella are frequently used products. However, there are still many pitfalls that need to be paid attention to when choosing and using sun umbrella. Otherwise, the sun protection effect will be greatly reduced.
Choice of sun protection umbrella
Price
As long as it is not an ordinary umbrella, contains sun protection coating, and has the UPF50+ mark, the protection is sufficient. The difference between affordable and expensive products in terms of sun protection is not big, but the use experience will be different.
Shape
The larger the surface area and curvature of the sun protection umbrella, the better. Because the larger the umbrella surface, the more shadows there are under the umbrella, the more skin can be covered, and the more area can be effectively protected from the sun.
Choice of sun-blocking coating
Generally, sun-blocking umbrellas come in two types: PC fabric and coating. PC fabric sun-blocking umbrellas are more expensive than coated sun-blocking umbrellas. Umbrellas with sun-blocking coatings have a much better sun-blocking effect than umbrellas with only one layer. In other words, don’t use ordinary umbrellas for sun protection!
There are three common sun-blocking coatings. Generally speaking, the sun-blocking effect is ranked as follows: black glue coating > color glue coating > silver glue coating.
Umbrellas with sun-blocking coatings should not be used as rain umbrellas, otherwise the sun-blocking coating will easily fall off.
Color
The darker the color of the umbrella, the better the sun protection effect.
Different colors have different degrees of blocking ultraviolet rays. If you choose a light-colored umbrella for sun protection, it is best not to buy one with only one layer of fabric. Choose a two-layer light-colored sun protection umbrella, which will be better than a one-layer light-colored sun protection umbrella.
Use of sun umbrellas
We must first understand the effective area of sun umbrellas. As shown in the figure below, the best sun protection area for sun umbrellas is above the chest, and the head, neck, hands holding the umbrella, shoulders, etc. can basically be effectively protected. However, the sun protection effect of hanging hands and parts below the waist is only average even if there is no direct sunlight.
The umbrella must be lowered as much as possible to completely cover the face, and it should not be too close to the edge of the umbrella, otherwise the sun protection effect will be reduced.
Do not use the same umbrella with two people, as neither of them will be well protected. Of course, if the umbrella is large enough, two people can use it together.
Ultraviolet rays do not only come directly from the sun above the head, but also from buildings on the ground, etc., which will reflect ultraviolet rays to the body, so you can’t use sunscreen without using an umbrella. You must combine the two to achieve the best protection effect.
