How To Protect Your Neck From The Sun
Your neck is one of the most exposed parts of your skin, and therefore extremely vulnerable and susceptible to UV damage and sunburn. However, with the proper precautions and protection, you can protect your neck from the sun, even while outside all day. Continue reading to learn about the three most important steps for effective sun protection for your neck.
#1 - Apply Sunscreen to Your Neck
The first step in protecting your neck from the sun is to wear broad spectrum sunscreen. If you plan on spending even as little as 15 minutes out in the sun, then you need a broad spectrum sunscreen with a rating of at least SPF 30. However, don’t just apply your sunscreen and then leave it at home while you go out. Instead, take it with you because you’ll need to reapply every two hours in order to maintain its effectiveness. If the sunscreen reapplication part sounds like a hassle (and a mess), then consider our second measure for neck sun protection...
#2 - Guard Your Neck with a Sun Gaiter
Sun gaiters are essentially tube headwear that protect your neck and face from damaging UV rays. By placing one around your neck, you’ll have 360-degree UV protection for your neck. Moreover, you’ll have the option to pull the neck gaiter up over your face and ears for additional sun protection. And as we pointed out above, while sunscreen is essential, it can be difficult to properly apply to the parts of your body that you can’t see, such as your neck. At home, you’ll likely have the assistance of a mirror, but that probably won’t be the case outside.
Additionally, UPF neck gaiters utilize protective fabrics that block UV rays, and their effectiveness is instant and constant. That means you don’t have to wait 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun (as you should with sunscreen). Plus, if you’re using a UPF gaiter for neck sun protection, you also don’t have to worry about your UV protection running out after two hours (as you would with sunscreen, thus the frequent reapplications). Therefore, leave nothing to chance and wear a sun gaiter for your foolproof neck sun protection.*
#3 - Wear a Hooded UPF Shirt for Neck Sun Protection
A third way to protect your neck from the sun is to wear a UPF sun shirt with a hood. Of course, a hooded sun shirt is only protecting your neck if the hood is up, so put it up and use it! The hoods on our UPF shirts, such as our Sun Bound Hooded Long Sleeve Bamboo Shirt, are lightweight and an easy way to transform a shirt into something that also protects your neck from the sun. Our sun hoodies are even a great option during the summer!
By using at least one, but ideally all three, of the methods above, you’ll have the best sun protection for your neck. Together, these methods significantly reduce your neck’s exposure to UV rays by blocking the sun with the combined efforts of UPF fabrics and SPF lotions, a winning combination to defeat sunburn.
To get the best sun protection for your neck, shop Rayward Apparel’s UPF 50+ neck gaiters and UPF hooded shirts today!
Bonus: Interested in some of the science behind what causes sunburn? Check out the video below and you’ll understand why sun protection is so important for your neck:
* Rayward Apparel’s neck gaiters are not designed for preventing the spread of disease. Our UPF neck gaiters have been tested for UV protection, but have not been tested for their effectiveness at preventing the spread of disease, such as COVID19, and should therefore not be used as an alternative to any appropriately-rated face masks.
