Swim Shorts and Sun Protection on Holiday

FASHION · UNITED KINGDOM

Swim Shorts and Sun Protection on Holiday

Fabric and fit, chlorine and salt, UPF and where sunburn actually happens

Swim shorts are bought on pattern and are worn for hours in the strongest sun most people encounter, which makes the fabric a health question as well as a style one.

Fabric and construction

Quick-drying polyester or nylon with a mesh or fabric lining. Check the lining, since that is what determines comfort, and look for a proper drawcord and secure pockets with drainage eyelets.

Cotton-blend shorts stay wet for hours and chafe, which is why swim-specific fabric exists.

Length and fit

Mid-thigh is the most versatile length. Anything longer restricts swimming, anything much shorter is a style decision. Check the waistband holds without the cord over-tightened.

UPF and coverage

Ordinary wet fabric protects considerably less than dry fabric. A rash vest or swim shirt with a stated UPF 50 protects the back and shoulders, which burn first and are hardest to reach with sunscreen.

For children, this is the most effective sun protection there is — clothing does not wash off or get missed.

Where people actually burn

The tops of the feet, the ears, the back of the neck, the scalp along a parting, and the shoulders. Water and sand both reflect ultraviolet, so shaded does not mean protected.

Apply sunscreen generously — around a third of a teaspoon for the face and neck — and reapply every two hours and after swimming or towelling.

Chlorine and salt

Both degrade elastane quickly. Rinse in fresh water and dry in shade after every swim, and never leave wet shorts balled up in a bag.

Wash cool by hand or on a delicate cycle, and skip fabric softener.

Packing for a beach holiday

Two pairs so one is always dry, a rash vest, a hat with a proper brim, sunglasses with genuine ultraviolet protection and more sunscreen than you think. Buying sunscreen at a resort is expensive.

Reef-safe formulations matter where you are swimming near coral.

Heat

Recognise heat exhaustion — dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating and cramps — and get into shade and rehydrate. Confusion or hot dry skin is heatstroke and a medical emergency.

Water safety

Swim where there is lifeguard cover, check flags and local advice, and be careful of rip currents, which pull outwards rather than under. If caught, swim parallel to the shore rather than against it.

Alcohol and swimming is a leading factor in holiday drownings.

Care and longevity

Rinse in fresh water after every swim, dry in shade rather than direct sun, and never leave shorts balled up in a bag. Chlorine and salt both attack elastane and colour.

Wash cool by hand or on a delicate cycle and skip fabric softener.

Checking your skin

See a doctor about any mole that changes in size, shape or colour, itches or bleeds.

WHERE TO BUY

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