FAQ

Common questions and answers about SunSoul products

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Dr. Stephen Mulholland explains how to use the Sunsoul range of UV shirts and hats for the best results.

1. How does SunSoul clothing produce the desired wavelength with such intensity? Highly specific proprietary fluorescent pigments are responsible for the pre-selected therapeutic wavelength of light that is emitted. These pigments, when exposed to the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, capture those harmful rays and convert the UV by the power of fluorescence into specific narrow bands of light and then emit their intense light onto the area of desired exposure. These specialized pigments actually borrow energy from adjacent parts of the light spectrum to provide an even greater intensity of transmission to the skin.

2. How does SunSoul differ from sun clothing currently available?

SunSoul is totally different in its use and how it works. All clothing blocks the sun’s rays, and the darker the fabric the greater the blocking. All clothing could be considered sun protecting, but clever marketing by clothing companies has lead one to believe that a certain garment is sun blocking and another is not. Sunsoul is NOT sun blocking. The sun’s rays are FILTERED, converted, amplified and emitted onto your skin in a healthy form. Because the harmful UV is changed into therapeutic light, little or no UV is able to reach the skin and therefore you are protected with a UPF factor of 50+. All batches of product are tested after manufacturing to ensure the correct amount of therapeutic light is transmitted.

3. How should I wash my SunSoul product?

We recommend that you use a small amount of gentle detergent and hand wash your product if possible. Remember to use cold water and to let your SunSoul product AIR DRY. Do not use bleach or strong detergents.

4. Why is there a sticker included with each item that indicates 30 washes?

The proprietary fluorescent pigments are bonded to the fibers of the material (nylon high affinity and Lycra lower affinity). Each washing removes some of these pigments over time – it is natural and accepted. Testing by SunSoul has shown that for the first 30 washes the intensity of therapeutic light that is transmitted remains around 8mW/cm². After 30 washes the spectrometer (which measures light) still shows a high level of transmitted light, but the peak has lessened yet is still very high. What this means is that if we recommended 2 hours/week, you may have to wear it 2.1 hours a week for the same effect. Market analysis has shown that people are wearing SunSoul WAY more than 2 hours/week anyway. The more time in the sun wearing SunSoul products, the better the expected results will be.

5. Why does the color fade mostly on the initial wash, and then minimally thereafter?

During the manufacturing process, much of the excess pigment imbedded into the fabric fibers is washed out. However, some excess remains and is removed the first time you wash the item. This results in a slightly faded item that is actually more effective in transmitting the desired light than when the item was unwashed and over populated with fluorescent pigment. Too much pigment lessens the transmission, so the first wash brings the garment to the perfect transmission of therapeutic light.

6. How does wearing SunSoul compare to IPL treatment in a spa or medical setting?

According to Dr. Michael Kreindel, a world famous physicist and one of the founding fathers of the IPL industry, using SunSoul for 2 hours/week for 6-8 weeks will give provide the desired effects. However, using SunSoul for 8 hours on a sunny day would result in a similar amount of light exposure one would receive from an IPL treatment in the clinical setting.

7. Can SunSoul be worn too much and result in an adverse effect?

No, some redness can be experienced from the therapeutic infrared light that is also emitted by SunSoul, but that will subside rapidly. Infrared light is commonly used to help in skin healing procedures following general surgery. In fact, the more you wear the SunSoul product, the better and faster you will experience results.

8. Can I wear sun protecting cream or sun blocking cosmetics while wearing SunSoul?

No, we need the rays from the sun to penetrate the fabric’s fibers where it is converted into therapeutic rays that target your skin beneath the SunSoul material. If you wear a sunscreen or sun blocking makeup, you will block the therapeutic rays, defeating the purpose of your SunSoul product. However, we recommend you wear sunscreen or sun block on areas that are not protected by your SunSoul product. Remember, your SunSoul product not only filters the sun’s rays to enhance your skin and make it better, it also protects it with a UPF 50+.

9. Can I exercise in my SunSoul clothing even if I perspire?

Yes, the SunSoul material breathable and is designed to be extremely comfortable while wicking perspiration away from you during activities which cause you to perspire.

10. Can you swim while wearing SunSoul?

Yes. You can wear your SunSoul product to the beach, or lake and not worry about getting it wet or having that count as one of your washes. It is only when a detergent is used, where you need to count that as a wash. You should not wear your SunSoul product in pools, Jacuzzis or Hot Tubs as they contain harsh chemicals.

11. Why are the SunSoul products priced as such?

The good and bad thing about the SunSoul product is that it is an article of clothing. I say that because if it were anything other therapeutic offering such a profound improvement in the appearance of skin, people would not think it was expensive. The research and development has extended over three years, with more than 400 fabric colour attempts, and involving various approval agencies, making this product more like a pharmaceutical than a textile. It is great that this is a device that can be worn, but one must not loose sight of what is occurring – it is almost like wearing an IPL.

12. Does the UV protection decrease with washing?

No, the ultraviolet protection factor of 50+ will not decrease.