By Sandee LaMotte, CNN
(CNN) — It was the summer on record and, scientists say, it may not be the last. As the planet warms, experts say opting for the right clothes to beat the heat will be critical to your fitness and well-being.
“If you don’t choose clothes wisely, not only can it contribute to skin headaches such as heat-induced irritation, irritation and rash, but it can also contribute to heat exhaustion,” said Houston dermatologist Dr. Rajani Katta. Spokesperson of the Association. American Academy of Dermatology.
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses too much water or salt due to excessive sweating. If left untreated, it can progress to heat stroke, a life-threatening illness that occurs when the body can no longer maintain its temperature.
Humans are designed to self-regulate body temperature by radiating heat onto the skin and sweating. When the body overheats, the brain tells the sweat glands in the skin to open up and get to work. But it’s not the sweat that refreshes us, it’s the evaporation of moisture from our skin that cools the frame.
“We need to make this procedure easier, hinder it,” said Dr. Prabu Selvam, an emergency physician at Americares, a nonprofit focused on health relief and progression that has developed warm tip sheets for the public.
“Wearing loose-fitting clothing that breathes and can allow sweat to evaporate from the body and release heat from the skin will be critical,” he added.
This is where breathable plant fabrics come into play. A one hundred percent cotton loose shirt, a linen dress (which is made of linen) or a silk blouse will be lighter and allow air to circulate, allowing the body to do its job.
People with sensitive skin or prone to inflammation or friction deserve to feel the herbal cloth on their skin when they opt for a garment made from herbal fibers, Katta said.
“There are one hundred percent cotton and one hundred percent linen versions that can be very comfortable or very rough,” he said. “You have to keep this in mind, because heat and humidity make the skin more prone to irritation, and when the rubbing of rough clothing goes up, it can make things worse. “
Another option is clothing with openings that can be opened to allow air to flow around the body. Shirts, shorts and pants with this feature are regularly designed for hiking and outdoor activities.
Lighter-colored fabrics with loose fabrics reflect warmth and are better possible choices in hot weather than dark clothing, experts say, with one exception. Darker clothing and a dense, tight-fitting structure protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays that can cause sunburn and aging. A smart sunscreen before you go out with light-colored clothing can help, experts say.
While not a modern option, using an automatically cooled neck band or nebulizer and wetting the neck, forehead, and pulse problems on the wrists can cool the frame as moisture evaporates.
And don’t wear a hat. Wide-brimmed hats cover the neck, shoulders, and arms. Many styles incorporate sun cover to repel harmful ultraviolet rays. Also consider an anti-UV umbrella specially designed for sun exposure.
Choosing the right clothes sounds simple, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, there are many other things to consider when choosing what to wear. Moisture, for example, can deprive the skin of its ability to evaporate sweat: when there is too much moisture in the air, sweat has nowhere to go.
Natural fabrics such as cotton and silk absorb sweat, but are not smart at releasing it into the atmosphere. If you’re an athlete, painting outdoors, enjoying or stopping in a humid environment, it probably won’t be long before the comfortable cotton t-loose silk shirt or blouse soaks and sticks like glue to the body, making the heat even more unbearable.
“As a dermatologist in hot, humid Houston, I first think about serving and then I adapt, knit and feel,” Katta said. “If you’re sightseeing and getting in and out of air-conditioned buildings, your possible options will be very different than if you’re outdoors in the scorching sun during a soccer practice. “
In case of heavy sweating, a tight-fitting garment that absorbs sweat outside the body would likely be a better choice, he said.
“Moisture-wicking technology helps promote sweat evaporation and helps keep skin dry,” Katta said. “To perform its task of removing moisture from the skin, it needs to have a slightly more comfortable compatibility with the skin; It’s that interaction between cut and fabric. “
There are also clothing designed to repel ultraviolet rays, classified according to their ultraviolet coverage factor or UPF. Anything less than 15 UPF does not protect; The Skin Cancer Foundation considers that a garment with a UPF between 30 and 49 has a “very good” coverage, while those with a UPF of 50 or more are “excellent”.
Clothing made with UPF-rated fabrics removes moisture, however, some corporations have created clothing that combines sun protection and moisture-wicking properties.
“I wouldn’t recommend wearing a very tight fabric that absorbs moisture from the skin for an entire day,” Katta said. “But while exercising, it would be a wonderful choice. “
However, at this time, no wardrobe selection can protect the body from intense heat, Katta said. It is also vital to check the warmth index before starting the day.
“The National Weather Service has done a wonderful job of focusing on the heat index, which takes heat and humidity into account, and I think that’s important,” Katta said. “I need to emphasize that the most productive clothing options possible would be Maybe it won’t help you overcome a higher heat index. “
This is where next-generation “smart tissues” will come into play, said Jinlian Hu, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong. She leads a team of 21 PhD researchers who will make clothing for human fitness through chemistry. in the university’s Portable Materials for Health Care Laboratory.
Hu considers cotton and natural fiber fabrics as the first generation of clothing, garments with ultraviolet protection and other protections as the second generation, and those that have the ability to move moisture from the skin to the outside of the garment as the third generation.
In the not-too-distant future, Hu believes scientists will create garments (and accessories) that combine all three. These tissues will be able to regulate body temperature in hot and cold environments. A garment could possibly insulate the cuerpo. de frost and cool it by sweating from the heat, while protecting the skin from the sun.
“We can create textiles, clothing and accessories as a form of health, medicine and human comfort,” Hu said. “Clothing isn’t just about courtesy, taste and beauty, it’s also similar to health. “
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