How to best protect yourself from the sun?
You are no doubt aware that the sun can have harmful effects on your health: sunburn, sunstroke, accelerated skin aging, melasma, skin cancer, and so on… The list goes on. That's why, despite the fact that many people enjoy basking in the sun, it's still essential to remain vigilant and protect yourself from the ultraviolet rays present in sunlight.
Choose a parasol with optimal protection
At Belveo, we manufacture wind-resistant parasols designed to last, but of course, these parasols are first and foremost created to protect you from the sun during a meal on the terrace or a nap on a deckchair by the pool.
To be effective against UV rays, a parasol's fabric must be of good quality . If the weave is too loose, the rays will pass through and the protection will be less effective.
The UPF index
To determine the level of protection offered by a fabric, you need to look at the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). This rating ranges from 15 to 50+ depending on the level of protection provided. With a rating of 15 to 20, UV protection is good. It is very good between 25 and 35. Protection is excellent from 40 to 50+ . With a UPF+ rating of 50, up to 98% of UV rays will be blocked, compared to 93% with a UPF rating of 15.
At Belveo, except for our two entry-level parasols, which do not have the highest level of protection, all parasols have a 50 UPF+ protection level, which is the maximum level of protection!
The choice of color
It's important to know that at Belveo, regardless of the fabric color you choose for your parasol, both light and dark colors meet the UPF 50+ standard. While it's true that, theoretically, dark colors absorb more UV rays than light colors , which give a feeling of coolness.
The advantages of a cantilever parasol
For perfect protection throughout the day, we recommend cantilever parasols. We have several models available at Belveo. The advantage of these parasols is that they often offer a larger shaded area than a center-pole parasol. Furthermore, unlike a center-pole parasol, your cantilever parasol can rotate 360° and therefore follow the sun's movement to keep you shaded at any time of day.
The parasol alone is not enough
While a parasol with a quality canopy helps protect you from the sun, it doesn't offer 100% protection. Some UV rays can penetrate from the sides. Sand, water, and even grass (though to a lesser extent) can create a reflection effect by refracting UV rays . That's why, even with a parasol boasting a high UPF rating, we recommend using both a parasol and sunscreen for optimal protection .
Indeed, studies have shown that using only a parasol and sunscreen is not enough. It's best to apply a sunscreen with a high SPF. We recommend at least SPF 30, but SPF 50 is ideal. In addition, use the shade of a parasol with a UPF+ rating of 50. You can then enjoy the outdoors on beautiful summer days while minimizing the risk of sunburn!
