Yes, though most studies have looked at their ability to prevent sunburn, rather than skin cancers, which can take years to develop.
Even regular clothing can keep some ultraviolet (UV) light from reaching the skin. A normal, white cotton T-shirt, for instance, provides the equivalent of a sun protection factor (SPF) of 7, though this drops to 3 when it gets wet, said Dr. Susan Weinkle , an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of South Florida in Tampa. A dark, long-sleeved denim shirt, which among other things is more tightly woven, offers great protection — an SPF of 1,700 — though obviously such garments are also hotter.
The ability of clothing to protect against the sun’s rays depends on fabric construction, fiber content and weave, fabric color, finishing processes and the presence of additives that absorb UV light, said Weinkle, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology.
Sun protective clothing can be pricey — $50 for a shirt — and is sold by companies with names like Sun Precautions, Inc. of Seattle, WA, and Coolibar, Inc. of Minneapolis. You can boost the UV protectiveness of regular clothing with photoprotective laundry additives such as Rit Sun Guard,cq which carries a “seal of recommendation” from the Skin Cancer Foundation, a private, nonprofit group in New York.
So, what do the experts say?
“If you are extremely sensitive to the sun, sun protective clothing makes sense,” said Dr. Bernard Cohen , interim chairman of dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
And from Dr. Terry Hadley , a dermatologist at Mount Auburn Hospital: “I think they’re a great addition.”