The first question you may have is, 'what exactly is a rash guard'?

A rash guard, (AKA: rashguard, rashie, surf shirt and other names), is a shirt made of nylon lycra that is designed to be worn in the water to protect your skin. It's designed to fit skin tight so it stays put and doesn't float up around your chest in the water.

During many water activities such as surfing and body boarding your skin comes into constant contact with an object in the water and this can produce a painful rash. Even wearing a lifejacket during a day of water skiing or snorkeling can cause a rash.

Rash guards also provide UV protection with a rating of SPF 50+.

Determine Your Need:

When shopping for a rash guard shirt, the first question you should ask yourself is, 'what do I want my rash guard to do'?.

Many Uses:

You may be interested in purchasing a rash guard for UV protection for yourself or your children.

Rash guards are a great choice for UV protection as they offer SPF 50+ protection that will last all day, (in or out of the water), aren't messy like some sunscreens and don't need to be reapplied to give you all-day protection.

If UV protection is your main reason for purchasing a rash guard then long sleeves are recommended as they will offer the most coverage and therefore the most protection.

If you're a surfer or body boarder more interested in rash protection be sure you get the correct size as you want a snug fitting rash guard so the shirt clings tightly to your body. This way it will stay in place and maintain a protective barrier between you and your board.

For you women surfers and body boarders a rash guard shirt will also protect your expensive bathing suit from the wear and tear of rubbing on your board.

You may also want long sleeves if you tend to rub the insides of your arms against your board while paddling.

If you're getting a rash guard for your small children you may want to consider getting a bright color, (i.e. yellow or red), to make them easier to spot in the water, especially if it's a crowded day at the beach, lake or pool.

Speaking of pools, remember that pools with high chlorine content, (i.e. public pools), will damage your rash guard as chlorine will eat away at the nylon lycra fabric, (ladies, you know you can't bleach your nylons, right?).

Say you're not a surfer or body boarder but just someone going on a cruise or summer vacation where you'll be in the water snorkeling or floating with a fancy drink in your hand.

If you're lucky enough to be shopping for a rash guard for this type of use get one in a color that will match your bathing suit or swim trunks and go about one size larger. That way you'll look stylish and be comfortable while protecting yourself from getting sunburn and potentially ruining your trip. Ladies, you may also want to get more than one color to take on your trip so you can mix and match with your bathing suits.

When you're shopping for a rash guard be sure to take a moment and ask yourself a few questions about what you want the rash guard to provide you with and what you're going to be wearing it for. That way you'll be sure to make a purchase you'll be happy with and you'll get a rash guard to fill your needs.