Sun Protection with HydroChic

UPF 50+ is the highest sun protection rating

UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) measures how much of the sun's UV radiation a fabric lets through. A UPF 50 fabric lets through only 1/50 of the UV rays, which means it blocks about 98%. HydroChic swimwear with UPF 50+ blocks at least 98% of UVA and UVB rays.

UPF vs. SPF

SPF is for sunscreen. It measures protection against UVB rays and wears off with water, sweat and toweling. UPF is for fabric. It measures protection against both UVA and UVB, and it doesn't rub off, sweat off or need reapplying. Sunscreen still matters for your face, neck and hands, and you only need it on the skin your swimwear does not cover.

Why sun protection matters

• At least one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70.
• About 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers and about 86% of melanomas are associated with UV radiation from the sun.
• In fair-skinned women, an estimated 80% of visible skin aging is caused by the sun.
• Sun damage adds up over a lifetime, so the protection you wear every day matters, not just on vacation.

Why a T-shirt isn't enough

A white T-shirt has a UPF of only about 7, and wet or stretched fabric lets even more UV through. Color, weave and fit all affect how much protection a fabric gives.

How HydroChic swimwear is protected

The UPF 50+ protection is built into the fabric itself, so it doesn't wash out. Our chlorine proof fabric also keeps its shape, so it doesn't thin out and lose coverage after a season in the pool.

Where UPF 50+ makes the biggest difference

Outdoor pools and water aerobics, beach days and cruises, kids' swim lessons and family days, sun-sensitive skin (long sleeves and full-length bottoms cover the most skin), and reef-friendly swimming, where less sunscreen goes into the water.

Common questions

Does UPF protection wash out?
Not when it is built into the fabric, as it is in our swimwear.

Do I still need sunscreen?
Yes, on any skin the fabric doesn't cover, like your face, neck, hands and feet.

Does it protect when wet?
Fabric designed for swimming is made to keep its protection in the water.

Read more

• UPF 50+ swimwear: the sun myths that catch swimmers, and more questions answered
• Shop UPF 50+ modest swimwear
• HydroChic Smart Swimwear Tech

Sources: Skin Cancer Foundation, Beyond Sunscreen: UPF Clothing Provides Excellent Sun Protection; Skin Cancer Foundation, Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics; American Academy of Dermatology and World Health Organization guidance.