Introduction
It is a question that is not regularly asked but can sunburn occurs through jeans? Denim jeans are among the most popular legwear around the globe. However, it may come as a shock to many that there are certain sunburn-related risks with assuming that no sunburn can occur through these beloved clothes.
This article will illustrate some of the essential considerations that any sensible person should be aware of when it comes to dealing with this uncommon but serious dilemma.
Can You Get Sunburned Through Jeans
Thickness of Material
Rain, wind, and shine, we humans are always wearing clothes to suit the occasion. However, it is significant to consider the variations of clothes that are most often worn as a means of preventing weather from getting the best of use.
For example, we have all been caught in a situation where we have a jacket that is not waterproof enough or a too-hot jumper. The same can be said for wearing jeans on a sunny day.
The effectiveness of our clothing is most often linked to its thickness. The same applies in this instance. If the sun is baking hot and is dense with UV (Ultra Violet) rays, then thin, poor-quality jeans are more susceptible compared to traditional varieties.
Compare this to conventional American or Japanese jeans, which pride themselves on think robust denim as they have for decades. These jeans are far more resistant to sun rays, particularly over extended periods. The additional material acts as a physical barrier that prevents penetration.
An excellent comparison is comparing the windbreak of a brick wall to canvas. The wall is thick enough to prevent any wind from you, but the canvas will provide some but not total protection. Therefore, the thicker and more robust the material, the greater the overall protection.
Not Just Sunburn
The clearest and most unfortunate result of sunrays penetrating our jeans is burnt skin. This is a very clear indication of a lack of protection. These burns vary in severity greatly from lightly blushing skin to bad blistering. However, it is not the only indication of sun exposure.
Beyond burnt skin, there are more insidious and deadly consequences to the experience of intense sun rays throughout jeans. Typically this comes in the form of skin damage and, in some cases, cancer. Australia has a prevalence of skin cancer and damage among its citizens.
They are very well versed and educated on the effects, which note some unusual findings. Essentially, they note that their citizens are still susceptible to skin cancer on parts of their bodies that are routinely covered with clothes.
In essence, ongoing evidence suggests that wearing your favorite pair of jeans under the scorching sun is not the most effective means of preventing sun-related issues like burning.
Moisture
It may come as a surprise that moisture can seriously impact the UV protection of our clothes. Jeans certainly provide, at minimum, some protection from the sun’s damaging rays. However, it is significant to consider the impact of other factors which can influence its protective potency.
Should jeans become damp or wet while they are exposed to powerful sun rays, then there will be a more severe impact over time. It may seem odd that jeans could get wet but consider wearing jeans in hot temperatures.
People will begin to sweat, quickly permeating the denim and dampening them for long periods. Moreover, on hot days people are far more inclined to pour water on themselves as a means of cooling down, contributing to the denim’s moisture retention.
It has been quoted as much as a 20% reduction in protection from UV rays when clothing material is wet. Therefore, it is crucial to not contribute to the lack of protection by keeping jeans as dry as possible when in sunny weather.
Intensity of Sunlight
As we are all well aware, temperatures vary around the world and from day to day. Therefore, the severity of the UV sun rays is a significant contributing factor when dealing with the potential of sunburn through jeans.
Direct sunlight does not expose people to the same degree of intensity. It can be sunny in Antarctica and still be below-freezing temperatures.
Moreover, the hight of summer in Spain will be a drastically different temperature compared to the hottest day in northern Finnland. Tempreture and UV level are a significant factors when dealing with sunburn through jeans.
There are no strict rules on intensity and capacity to be burned through jeans. However, there should be some common sense applied to each individual case. Essentially, if someone will not be burnt without sun protection on a particular day, they definitely will not be burnt through their jeans.
By extension, the opposite is also true. Should someone be in a position to be burnt without protection, then there is a far greater capacity for them to be badly sun burnt through their jeans too.
Conclusion
There are clearly several contributing factors that impact the effectiveness of jeans when exposed to high UV sun rays. Ultimately, jeans can offer at least some protection but should not be relied upon as a source of absolute protection.
This is particularly true in far hotter climates where UVs are typically very high. Additionally, it is imperative that jeans remain as dry as possible during exposure and maintain a level of common sense in every situation for the best results.
Although they cannot be relied upon for long periods of time, they are effective as a middle ground of protection for shorter periods of time in hot climates and reasonably effective in colder conditions.
