body image self esteem

Choosing Between Swim Shirts and Sunscreen

Reported cases of skin cancer are on the rise even though many other forms of cancer are declining. Are swim shirts or sunscreen the best solution when one is looking for both comfort and the best protection from UV rays?

Sunscreen bonds with the skin and provides for maximum flexibility and motion. There are no issues of a shirt causing drag in the water or creating excess heat or restricting movement while on land. It is actually possible to forget that sun lotion has been applied to the body.

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 risks caused by the products themselves should be taken into account. Non-organic sunscreens have toxins that can cause skin irritations and even alter hormone levels, presenting potential health hazards for young users in particular. Though the majority of swim shirts have a sun-protective layer, sunscreen chemicals are not absorbed into the skin.

One clear advantage of swim shirts is that they will not wash off the skin. While a layer of lotion can wear down, a shirt is either on or off. When monitoring children, the level of sunscreen protection is almost undetectable while a shirt is easily verified.

As a sweltering summer day may make a shirt less inviting, likewise a cool day at the beach will make the extra insulation a welcome friend. Swim shirts are functional on land and in the water and dry very quickly. They can be worn all day and placed in the laundry like regular clothing.

Sunscreens can be blended with ingredients that help heal and renew the skin. There is thus a double benefit of being protected from the sun and having dry and damaged skin repaired at the same time. As an alternative, skin cream could be used under a swim shirt, though this would mean an additional step and product.

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.