We all know that umbrellas are a great way to shield yourself from the rain and snow, but did you know that they can also be just as effective at protecting you from the harsh sun?
UV umbrellas are a type of umbrella designed to be used on sunny, cloudless days, and are intended to keep you safe from the ultraviolet rays produced by the sun.
This would make them an ideal way to protect your skin from the sun without having to rely on the harsh chemicals in most sunscreens.
But do UV umbrellas actually work?
In this article, we will take a look at how effective UV umbrellas actually are at shielding your body from UV rays so you know whether they are a handy investment or a waste of money.
We'll also compare UV umbrellas to regular umbrellas so you can see whether a UV umbrella is worth it.
So let's get started!
What Is A UV Umbrella?
A UV umbrella is essentially a regular umbrella with a special coating on its surface that allows it to block out ultraviolet light.
The coating is usually made up of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or other similar compounds.
These coatings are applied to the outside of the umbrella, making it possible for the umbrella to absorb the harmful rays of the sun.
UV umbrellas come in several different varieties.
The most common type is a black UV umbrella, which is covered in a special black coating that resists and absorbs ultraviolet rays as well as heat.
There are also silver umbrellas, which have a similar coating but are designed to reflect UV radiation instead of absorbing it.
You can also get UV umbrellas in many other colors, although these have varying degrees of effectiveness.
Some UV umbrellas are even completely transparent, with a different type of material that is just as effective at blocking UV light.
UV umbrellas are typically thinner and lighter than a normal umbrella due to their not needing to block out rain and heavy wind.
They're also more compact because they don't need to have a large canopy like a traditional umbrella does.
On top of that, the combination of a wide canopy that shades you from the sun and a special coating that absorbs UV rays means that a UV umbrella is capable of blocking out anywhere from 75%-99% of UV radiation.
But Do UV Umbrellas Work?
So now that we've taken a look at what a UV umbrella is, the real question is whether they actually work?
In short, yes, they do.
As mentioned before, UV umbrellas are coated with a special substance that blocks out both heat and UV rays.
When you use a UV umbrella, you can feel the difference immediately when it comes to protecting your skin against the sun.
It feels much cooler under a UV umbrella than it does under a regular one.
And since UV umbrellas are designed specifically to protect against the sun, you don't need to worry about any damage to your skin either.
Not every UV umbrella offers the same level of protection, however, and certain types are definitely better at blocking the sun's ultraviolet light than others.
For example, some UV umbrellas are only able to block around 50% of UV rays, while others can block up to 99%.
Black UV umbrellas offer more protection than other colors; additionally, some umbrellas can be customized to have a higher UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) than another identical UV umbrella.
So if you want to find the best UV umbrella for your needs, you should consider getting one that has a higher percentage of coverage.
This way, you won't be exposing yourself to nearly as much UV radiation as you would if you were using an umbrella that blocked less than half of the rays.
The other thing to keep in mind is that UV umbrellas aren't always perfect.
While they'll provide you with excellent protection against the sun, there will still be times when you'll need to shield yourself from the sun's rays through additional means such as sunscreen.
They might not always give full coverage either - for instance, a taller person might not be able to protect their whole body under the umbrella.
Are UV Umbrellas Worth It?
If you're looking for a simple and effective solution to shielding yourself from the harmful effects of the sun, then a UV umbrella could be ideal.
However, you might be wondering whether it's worth the extra price to get a UV umbrella instead of just a regular one.
Well, while normal umbrellas can give you a nice patch of shade on the go, they actually give you next to no protection against UV rays (which are able to penetrate through and be absorbed by your skin).
That's why a UV umbrella is so useful: its special coating is what sets it apart from a normal umbrella and offers the level of UV protection that your skin needs.
If you live in a colder or wetter climate and might not need to use a UV umbrella frequently, then your best bet is to look at a cheaper model.
Alternatively, if you know you won't be using it much at all, it might be a good idea to stick to other forms of UV protection such as sunscreen.
With that said, however, if you're looking for a stylish and effective way to shield yourself from ultraviolet light, then investing in a high-quality UV umbrella is a great way to keep your skin safe!
Final Thoughts
While a special umbrella for keeping you safe in the sun might seem like a silly idea at first, UV umbrellas are actually very effective at blocking the sun and keeping you safe from harmful ultraviolet rays.
These umbrellas are the perfect choice for anyone looking for an alternative to traditional forms of sun protection like sunscreen while still managing to look stylish as they do it.
So if you're looking for a way to protect your skin from the sun but you want to try something different, then a UV umbrella might be just what you need!
