Swim Shirts and Rash Guards Even More Important Given Today's Global Warming

Global warming is a reality you should keep in mind when you're at the beach. In the last 100 years, temperatures have risen 1.3 degrees. 11 of the last 12 years have been the warmest years on record since 1850. The earth literally has less protection from the sun. How do you guard against today's solar radiation? As the greenhouse layer continues to deplete, the need to wear rash guards or swim shirts in the sun becomes ever more important.

Let's look at the facts. Sunscreen simply isn't enough to protect yourself against the risk of skin cancer and premature aging. While it protects against the UVB rays that cause sunburn, it does nothing for UVA rays that actually cause cancer. While UVA rays don't visibly harm the skin, they can cause radiation damage that can permanently affect the health of your skin, usually years down the road. The best way to protect against skin cancer and maintain your youth is to wear a swim shirt or a rash guard that has at least a 50 UPF rating and can block out 98% of the sun's harmful radiation.

Some people have limited their outdoor activities because of increasing sun radiation, but there really is no need. Why give up fun in the sun when you can protect your skin with fashionable swim shirts or rash guards? The clothing is very flexible so it doesn't impact movement. You hardly feel that it's there, but your skin will thank you for it.

Rash guards are especially popular with surfers who wear the clothing to protect against the abrasions of heavy waves. A rash guard can also protect against the skin irritation caused by riding the board into the waves. By wearing these ultra protected swim shirts, surfers don't need sunscreen, which can make the board too slippery and hard to manage. Surfers also find that sunscreen quickly washes off in the water, even the kind advertized as waterproof, while wearing a swim shirt throughout the day provides protection you don't even need to think about.

A swim shirt is great for kids because you don't even have to worry about reapplying sunscreen. If you have children, you know by experience that sunscreen often gets forgotten about midway through a day of swimming, usually when the sun is at its hottest. Swim shirts protect kids all day long. You know they are protected and don't need to worry about reapplying sunscreen. Wearing a swim shirt is your child's one guaranty against sun burn and increased risks of skin cancer.

Consider wearing a swim shirt or rash guard whenever you're in the sun. Global warming is a reality that is heating up the planet. Don't let it cook your skin too. Swim shirts and rash guards provide 100% protection all day long, and they won't wash off.

About the Author:

Tanner Michaels is the author of this article on Swim Shirt. Find more information about Rash Guard here.