Arm sleeves vs sunscreen: which suits your arms?

You do not have to pick a side. Sunscreen and arm sleeves both do a good job, and most people who spend long days outside end up using both. The real question is which one suits your arms, on the days you are out the longest.

Here is a fair comparison, with the facts taken from Cancer Council's SunSmart advice.

The short answer

For your arms, a UPF 50+ sleeve is the simpler option on a long day. It goes on once, blocks 98% or more of UV from the skin it covers, and does not need topping up. For your face, neck, ears and hands, sunscreen is still the tool for the job. Use the two together.

How sunscreen works on your arms

Cancer Council recommends an SPF 50 or 50+ sunscreen that is broad-spectrum and water resistant. To get the protection on the label, you need to use it the way the label says. That means:

• About one teaspoon for each arm. A whole adult body takes around seven teaspoons.
• Putting it on 20 minutes before you go outside, on clean, dry skin.
• Reapplying every two hours, and straight after swimming, sweating or towelling off.

That is easy at home. It is harder in the middle of a round, on the bowling green or with dirty hands in the garden. Cancer Council also points out that no sunscreen blocks all UV. It calls sunscreen the last line of defence, used with clothing, a hat, shade and sunglasses.

Sunscreen still matters. Our guide to UPF vs SPF explains how the two ratings differ. Cancer Council's advice is clear that regular use helps. The best sunscreen is the one you will actually use.

How sleeves work on your arms

UPF tells you how much of the sun's UV gets through a fabric. A UPF 50+ fabric lets through no more than one fiftieth, so it blocks 98% or more. Read what UPF 50+ means for the detail. You pull sleeves on once and they stay on. There is nothing to rub in, nothing to miss and nothing to reapply at the turn.

Sleeves have limits too, and you should know them:

• They only cover the skin under the fabric. Check there is no gap between the top of the sleeve and your shirt sleeve.
• Stretched fabric lets more UV through, so do not pull sleeves tighter than they need to be.
• Cancer Council says fabrics give less protection when wet. On a very hot day, a dry spare pair in the bag helps.
• Old, thin or faded fabric protects less. Replace sleeves when they look worn.

Side by side

Where each one wins

Sleeves make sense when

• You are out for hours, such as a round of golf, a bowls pennant day or a morning in the garden.
• You do not want sunscreen on your hands before you grip a club, a bowl or a steering wheel.
• You often forget to reapply, or reaching the backs of your arms is awkward.
• You like wearing short sleeves but want long-sleeve cover.

Sunscreen makes sense when

• The skin cannot be covered by clothing, such as your face, ears and neck.
• You are only outside briefly and are not wearing sleeves.
• You are in and out of the water. Cancer Council says wet fabric gives less protection, so water-resistant sunscreen matters there.

Common slip-ups with each

Both options work best when you avoid a few easy mistakes.

With sunscreen

• Using too little. A thin smear gives far less than the label says. Aim for about a teaspoon per arm.
• Missing spots. The backs of the arms, the elbows and the strip of skin at the edge of a shirt sleeve are easy to skip.
• Forgetting to reapply. Towelling off your hands and forearms between shots or ends removes some of it, so top up every two hours.
• Using an old bottle. Sunscreen expires, so check the date. Cancer Council says to store it in a cool, dark place, and not in a hot car.

With sleeves

• Leaving a gap. Lift your arm and check the top of the sleeve still sits under your shirt sleeve.
• Putting them on late. Pull them on before you head out, not after the first hour in the sun.
• Pulling them too tight. A smooth fit is better than a stretched one. Our page on how one size fits shows the easy way to put them on.
• Keeping a tired pair. Replace sleeves that look thin, faded or snagged.

Golfers will find a full checklist in our guide to sun protection for golfers.

A simple routine that uses both

• Check the UV index for your town in the SunSmart app or on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
• If it is 3 or above, pull on your sleeves and a broad-brimmed hat.
• Put sunscreen on your face, ears, neck and the backs of your hands.
• Pack sunglasses, water and, on a long hot day, a spare pair of sleeves.
• Reapply sunscreen to uncovered skin every two hours. Your sleeves just stay on.

For the backs of your hands, IceRays also makes UV hand covers.

A word on driving

Car glass blocks most UVB, but Cancer Council notes that side windows can let through far more UVA than a laminated windscreen. In Australia that is your right arm, resting by the window. In the US it is your left. Cancer Council suggests people who spend long periods in a car use a mix of protection, including long sleeves. Sleeves are an easy way to do that without changing shirts. Read more in sun through a car window and sleeves vs window tint.

Choosing sleeves

IceRays sleeves were tested by ARPANSA in 2015 (black sample) and rated UPF 50+. You can see what the test covered on our test report page (PDF, opens in a new tab). One size fits all adults. A 4-pack is AUD 120, which is $30 a pair and saves $31.80 compared with four single pairs. In the US a 4-pack is USD 100. For the bigger picture, see our complete guide to UV arm sleeves.

Related guides

• Cycling sun sleeves: check coverage in the riding position
• Do Arm Sleeves Protect from Sun?
• Lawn bowls SunSmart guide: sun safety for clubs and players
• Sun sleeves for lawn bowls: coverage that fits your club day