You barely tan through a certified UPF 50+ rash guard, because the fabric blocks about 98% of the UV that causes tanning and burning. The skin it covers stays close to its natural shade, while the skin left bare does the tanning.
A rating like UPF 50+ tells you how much ultraviolet light gets past the fabric to your skin. UPF 50+ means only around 2% of UV makes it through, so the shoulders, chest, arms, and back under the shirt get very little exposure. That is the whole point of wearing one on a long paddle: less color, and far less risk of a burn, across the biggest patches of skin.
Not every shirt performs the same. A thin cotton tee, a loose swim shirt, or a stretched-out garment lets more light through, especially when the weave opens up. A rash guard built and tested to a UPF 50+ standard holds its rating even when it is wet and stretched over your body, which is exactly the state it lives in on the water.
So what you get is a tan line, not a tan. Your covered skin comes off the water lighter than your hands, neck, lower legs, and face, which do keep tanning through the day. If even coverage matters to you, that trade is worth knowing before you paddle.
The NIXY Women's Rash Guard UPF 50+ blocks 98% of UV rays with quick-dry, four-way-stretch fabric and thumbhole cuffs, so a four-hour paddle does not end in a burn.
For the skin a rash guard does not cover, sunscreen still does the work. Wear the shirt for the big areas, then cover your face, hands, and lower legs, and you spend the day paddling instead of reapplying.
Frequently asked questions
Do rash guards give you tan lines?
Yes. Because a UPF 50+ rash guard shades the skin under it while your hands, neck, and legs keep tanning, you can finish the day with a clear line where the fabric ends.
Does a wet rash guard still protect you from the sun?
A rash guard built and tested to a UPF 50+ rating is designed to hold that protection when wet and stretched. A thin cotton shirt, by contrast, can let more UV through once it soaks up water.
Do you still need sunscreen with a rash guard?
Yes, for the skin the shirt does not cover. The rash guard handles your torso and arms, and sunscreen takes care of your face, hands, and lower legs.
Cover the big areas with the shirt, sunscreen the rest, and enjoy the water.
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