To wonder why more adults don't wear rash vests

My Scottish complexion was not designed to be in 41c in Greece all day. My youngest with his red hair and freckles was most definitely not designed to be anywhere near the sun for any period of time.

I do not use rash vests in the pool as I'm in for 15 minutes and then back on my lounger in the shade, but DS does and has done since he was a toddler (he's 16). Last time we were away on holiday we went on a morning boat trip where there was no shade and we were in and out of the sea all morning, we all wore rash vests.

I lived in Asia until recently and it’s much more common to see adults in rash vests, and even rash trousers in the pool. They are amazing, including less suncream faff. When I was at a resort in Thailand with lots of white people (for the first time in years) the amount of sunburnt shoulders and backs made me wince. Also the bikini up the arse crack trend which had passed me by until then 😂

Ds wears his everyday on holiday

We're just back from Turkey where it was 45 some days. Loads of adults were wearing them, lots in burkinis too which look so cool. I wonder if they've led to more people wearing tops for sunscreen as well as modesty in Turkey

I don’t ‘try and get a tan’, never have. Also don’t wear a rash vest. I wear factor 50 in the pool, and then when I’m dry I put a long sleeved floaty top on and sit in the shade. Rash vest isn’t the only way to not burn, I’ve never had sunburn.

I got one a few years ago after having sunstroke. I'd been playing in the pool with my youngest kids and was so worried about them burning I neglected myself. Husband suggested a rash top like the kids had and I bought one from sports direct. It's great if you're in the water being active - like snorkelling or swim stops on a boat trip. They don't take up too much room. I tend to wear normal swimwear if round the pool (I prefer to sit in the shade).

Some of it does seem to depend on what activities people are doing as well though. The worst I’ve ever been burnt has been snorkling. I wouldn’t ever do snorkelling again without a rash vest.

There’s been people on the thread saying they’d only spend 15 minutes in a pool- in that case there probably is no need for more protection but we’d spend hours in a pool so for us there is.

Surely in another couple of decades we will look back at people who chose to 'try and get a tan' in the way we see smokers now.

Team rashvest here all the way!

We're a rashsuit family. Kids are teenagers. I tan easily but know it's not good for me. Rest of my family are quite pale. A rash vest means we don't have to worry so much about getting burnt, faffing with cream etc. So really it's easier for us.

I wear a swimming costume in a swimming pool. I think it would be weird to wear a vest. Just get waterproof suntan lotion to reduce sunburn.

I wear long-sleeved swimming costumes, for the same reasons: I burn easily and don’t like faffing with sunscreen. I love them. Quite apart from the health issues, I think sunburn looks really ugly.

I’m ginger and have spent my life worrying about burning and smearing myself in creams on holidays , worrying about it coming off in the water. Rash vests are my plan for my next holiday. They are a revelation for me!

So THAT’S what they’re called. Thanks, I might get one. I don’t tan and I find covering up is more comfortable than wearing sunscreen.

I'm extremely pale burn very, very easily but wearing something tight and long-sleeved in hot weather and/or when in the water is my worst nightmare. Great solution for you if you find them comfortable, but we're all different.

Also, while obviously getting burnt or excessive tanning is bad for you, not everyone actually minds. Some people obviously just aren't as bothered by it as you are and are happy to take the risk.

If I go on Mediterranean-type holidays, it's usually in late autumn and we're talking more 25-30C than up in the 40s, but I avoid getting burnt by being diligent with sunscreen, wearing a hat and staying in the shade. I also tend to stick a loose, light wrap/cover-up/kimono type thing in my bag in case I want to cover my shoulders.

A few years a day I did a road trip in the southern US and spent two days on Miami Beach, swimming and lying on sun lounger, at the height of summer. Came back from that trip as ghostly white as I was before the holiday 😎

I've got a pretty long sleeve zip up one from Decathlon, was about £15 a couple of years ago. As a pasty redhead I can burn to a crisp within half an hour so it's just easier than trying to keep up with the suncream.

It’s when you hit your 60s that sun damage really starts to show. No amount moisturising will repair damage from your 30s.

Rash vests are a great idea

The thought of basking in the sun like a seal fills me with horror. However next to the pool with shade and a good book is fabulous

I’m in the U.S. and have been wearing one for the past 10+ years. I burn very quickly. Mine is from Athleta and covers me from my neck to my wrists. They are fantastic. I got mine from their final clearance so it was affordable.

Because people deliberately choose to fry themselves.

I saw a woman once who was burned really badly, think practically skin melting, she placed an item of clothing over the burned bit and carried on sunbathing.

I felt pained just looking at her. God only knows how she put clothes on after.

I have olive skin, I tan in a couple of hours of being out in the sun but it's because I'm off doing something else, I couldn't lie around for hours.

I have found them to be an absolute game changer. I also saw quite a lot of people wearing them when I was in Greece earlier in the year. I’ve got a few different shapes now and my favourite is actually just a short sleeved, full back swimming costume. It’s easier to get on and off that a long sleeve rash vest but still gives a lot of sun protection.

The main thing for me is that over the years I have had lots of burnt shoulders and backs swimming and I just don’t want to increase my skin cancer risk. I don’t tan so it’s a pointless exercise really.

No they do not allow them, even after jumping through all the hoops... apparently being 'too covered' makes the other pool users 'nervous'.

It was an outdoor pool in 42 degree heat and I'm extremely pale Irish skinned (not even freckled just pure white) and red headed which a family history of skin cancer and could burn by candle light never mind peak summer sun.

You don’t lie on a sun lounger in a rash vest! You wear a bikini or swimsuit underneath, pop it on to swim, then take it off again. So much easier than battling with sunscreen all over your back.

I don’t lie on sun loungers in my swimwear; I always wear a long sleeved shirt, hat and sunglasses and sit under an umbrella. I have Fitzpatrick type 1 skin so there really isn’t any sun exposure that’s beneficial for me.

Using clothing to cover up will always protect you more than sunscreen alone.

Some countries literally don't allow it.

I was made out to be dodgy AF (as if I'm some kind of terrorist) in France. They sent security to remove me from the pool this was after I had already gone threw 2 verification checks and getting 'special permission' to wear it after proving it was legit swim wear not street wear.

However the leather grandma parading around topless in a thong by the kiddy pool was absoloutly normal and fine to them with not an eyelash batted. Funny thing is kids where allowed rash vest and all in ones it was just adult that HAD to be scantly clad.

Utterly bizarre that you have to be practically naked to use the pool there.

No, because I have olive skin, I am aware of and know how to use suncream, I don't sunbathe and don't sit directly in hot sun between 12pm and 3pm because I'm not an idiot.

I swim and then cover my back and shoulders with a loose cotton blouse or scarf when out of the water.

lands end also sell basically swim skorts - game changer if you are in the pool with kids for hours and don’t want to have to keep slathering the spf 50 on!

obviously, they’re not glamorous and you will end up with a farmer’s tan if you forget to do your face hands and neck!

Because I love the sun and want to tan.

My husband wears one as he has very pale skin and a huge scar from back injury which is painful if he gets burnt. I don't wear one as I'm capable of putting sun cream on, totally agree that so many people on holidays just don't put cream on, or at least not enough, and get burnt to a crisp.