How Do Swim Shirts and Sunscreen Compare?
Cases of melanoma continue to rise even as the cases of many other cancer types are in decline. If one is seeking safe and comfortable protection from the sun’s rays, should they opt for a swim shirt or sunscreen as the better alternative?
From the simple freedom of movement standpoint, sunscreen comes closest to acting as a second skin. There are no clothing-drag issues while in the water, and no layers to trap heat or restrain movement while on land. It is possible to forget there is any substance on the skin at all.
Sunscreen provides the most thorough coverage of areas exposed to the sun. If applied liberally according to instructions, it can protect fingers, ears, and surfaces underneath clothing that may be exposed. Shirts do not cover hands and can pull up causing areas around the waist to receive direct sunlight.
The health and safety of the actual product is an important consideration. Commercial sunscreens contain toxins that can irritate skin and affect hormone production, placing children at particular risk. While most swim shirts are treated for UV protection, they do not expose the skin to potentially dangerous chemicals.
Swim shirts leave no doubt that sun protection is in place. However, if lotion washes off the skin, there is little or no indication to the user that they are at risk. This is particularly important when monitoring children playing in the sun.
While hot days and athletic activity can make a shirt uncomfortable to wear, cool days and cool water make the extra layer a welcome insulator. The material dries very quickly, so the chilling affect of evaporation is brief. These shirts can actually be worn throughout the day.
Moisturizers and vitamins can be added to sunscreen and provide a benefit to skin in addition to the barrier to the sun’s rays. These include ingredients to help heal skin that has already been sun damaged. Skin lotions can certainly be applied under a shirt, but this involves an extra step and expense.
Given that sunscreen is designed to be applied “liberally” to skin surfaces, individuals and families can go through bottles rapidly. Swim shirts do not require a re-fill and can last months or even years with proper care. The need for a last minute trip to the store is thus eliminated.
For verifiable and safe protection from the sun’s rays, UV swim shirts are a better choice. In turn, sunscreen does provide complete coverage as well as ingredients that can soothe and heal sun-damaged skin. Using both together with a small amount of overlap is perhaps the most effective approach for fast application with the least risk of a gap in protection.