What Are Rash Guards Used for?

Rash guards are athletic shirts typically made of spandex, nylon or polyester. Rash guards, which are available with long or short sleeves, are worn in surfing and other water sports when the weather is too warm for a wet suit. They have also made their way into a number of other sports, such as mixed martial arts training, or MMA. Athletes wear them for a variety of protective reasons.

  1. UV Protection

    • Rash guards are thin and lightweight, but provide protection against UV light. Wearing a rash guard means you will not need to apply and reapply sun-protection lotion to your torso area throughout the day. The harmful effects of ultraviolet light are well known. Prolonged exposure to the sun not only will lead to sunburn but may lead to skin cancer over time. When purchasing a rash guard, be mindful that rash guards offer varying levels of UV protection.

    Prevent Skin Irritations

    • Rash guards are used in water sports such as surfing, wakeboarding and bodyboarding to protect against chafing, cuts and abrasions. In addition, rash guards protect surfers' chests and stomachs from developing a rash from rubbing against the waxed surfboard.

    Guard Against Infection

    • Brian Adams from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine explains in the May 2001 issue of the "Western Journal of Medicine" that in contact sports, the spread of fungi -- such as ringworm or athlete's foot -- and bacteria -- such as staphylococcus -- is extremely common. Contracting one of these can greatly interfere with your training, putting you out for days or weeks until the infection clears. Rash guards are used in MMA and other contact sports to protect against the spread of bacteria and fungi. They also wick away sweat, keeping you cool and dry during training or competition.

    Limitations

    • Although rash guards will help protect against sunburn, they are not a substitute for sunscreen. Wear a minimum SPF 30 sunscreen on exposed areas of your body when in the sun. Similarly, rash guards will not provide 100 percent protection against bacteria and fungi. When wearing a rash guard for contact sports, such as MMA, take a shower with an antibacterial soap afterword to further protect your skin against infections.