Rash Guard Shirts and Other Protective Swimwear

Rash guard shirts are one very important item on a list of recommended clothing that provides UV protection while in the water. Whether you like to surf, swim, snorkel, kayak, or dive, a rash guard shirt can help you out. UV protection in general is a smart idea if you do any of the activities listed above. While the rash guard is great for protecting your body from the sun, it's also useful for protecting your skin from rashes and chafing.

Surfers, in particular, understand the suffering of getting a rash on the water. The wax used on the boards is very sticky. When the body moves against the board it can stick and cause serious friction against the skin. This can lead to a serious rash. Rash guard shirts protect the body, usually with a layer of Lycra.

Who should use a rash guard

Surfers aren't the only ones who can suffer from rashes on the water and board wax isn't the only cause. If you wear a wet suit, which you should when performing activities in the water, then you should always wear a rash guard beneath the wet suit. The thin layer of Lycra is very flexible and will move with the wet suit while also protecting the body from rubbing and chafing.

Even children can benefit from wearing a rash suit. Getting a shirt like this for a child means you don't have to reapply sun screen to the covered part of the body over and over again. The shirt is great at protecting against sun burn and other damage caused by over-exposure to UV radiation.

Available styles

Most rash guard shirts perform the same basic functions, but they might come in a range of different styles and designs. It's a good idea to not only pick one that fits your personal preferences, but also one that fits your intended use. The most obvious decision you'll need to make is between a short sleeve and a long sleeve shirt.

There are also shirts designed for men and others designed specifically for women. You can find them available in all colours, but usually only in solid colours and sometimes two-tones. There are also unisex rash guards available. If you really want a specific print design you'll have to do some searching online and it could cost a bit more.

Each rash guard will also have its own UPF rating, which is extremely important. UPF stands for Ultra Violet Protection and it refers to how well the guard will protect your body from the sun's rays. The cheapest shirts are usually the lightest, but offer the least protection. It tends to be the case that the more expensive shirts offer better protection. The shirt should fit snug, but if it's so tight that it stretches it will reduce the UPF of the shirt.

Sunscreen and a regular shirt is insufficient

You might think you can get away with just wearing a regular shirt and some sunscreen however, there are a couple of problems with this. One is that recent studies have shown that sunscreen doesn't protect against all of the rays that are known to cause cancer. The same can be said for regular clothing, which will offer some protection, but not nearly enough. Only a real rash guard can offer the protection you need on the torso.

Other UV protective clothing

The rash guard is really only the start in terms of UV protection. It's an important piece of gear, but it can't possibly cover all of your skin and protect you from the damaging rays all over. Sunscreen is another obvious component of UV protection as it mainly protects against UVA rays that cause sunburn. It's often not strong enough to protect you against all of the UVB rays, which lead to cancer as well, but that's still no reason to ignore it. Your risk is severely increased when you don't wear sunscreen.

The rash guard doesn't usually protect the head, but there is clothing designed just for that. Sun hats are great for men and women. They protect the head and some of the face from direct contact with the sun. However, if you're out in the water it might be hard to keep a hat like this on your head. That's when you use a stretch hood. A hood won't protect the eyes or the face but it will protect the head, the neck and the sides of the face. They are ideal if you are surfing, diving, or performing any other physical activity in the water where a regular hat wouldn't last.

There's also sunglasses to consider. Protecting the eyes from UV radiation should be one of your top priorities. Much like hats, sunglasses don't tend to stay in position when surfing or diving. Luckily, there are goggles made specifically for such an occasion.

Where to find it all

You don't want to shop for one thing here and another there, when it's much easier to get it all in one spot. Luckily, there are a lot of shops on the internet that specialise in selling swimwear and UV protection gear, such as rash guards and protective hats. The key is knowing which sites are the best and what websites aren't worth your time.

One of the best companies located in Australia to sell such clothing is Stingray.com.au. They sell a variety of different protective swimwear for men, women and children alike.