Ultraviolet Absorbers for Textiles

The incidences of skin cancer have been rising worldwide due to excessive exposure to sunlight. Increase in exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight results in skin damage such as sunburn, premature skin ageing, allergies and skin cancer. Medical experts suggest several means of protection against ultraviolet radiation, including use of sunscreens, avoidance of the sun at its highest intensities, and wearing clothing that covers as much of the skin surface as possible. This paper provides insight on how UV absorbers can be efficiently used with textile material to protect human skin from harmful UV radiation. The manufacturers of various UV absorbers and their commercial products are reviewed and discussed. The interacting mechanism of UV absorbers with textile clothing for providing UV protection and an evaluation of the performance of UV absorbers are summarized.