Covering thin skin and bruising: what a light sleeve can and can't do

If the skin on your forearms marks easily, you may like the idea of a light layer over it when you are out in the sun. A sun sleeve can do one job well: it covers your arm with a thin fabric that blocks most of the sun's UV. This page is honest about what that does and does not mean, so you can make a sensible choice and know which questions to take to your doctor or nurse.

The short version

• A sun sleeve covers the skin underneath it. Its tested job is sun protection.
• It is ordinary clothing. It is not a medical product, a dressing or a skin protector.
• It is not protection against skin tears, bruising or other injuries, and we do not claim it is.
• If your skin is fragile, sore, healing or under treatment, ask your own doctor or nurse what to wear.

What a sleeve actually does

A sleeve is a lightweight barrier between your arm and the sun. UPF is a rating for how much of the sun's UV gets through a fabric, and UPF 50+ blocks 98%+ of UV.

The IceRays fabric was tested by ARPANSA in 2015 (black sample) and rated UPF 50+. That test measured how much UV passes through the fabric. It did not test anything to do with bumps, knocks, bruising or skin tears. You can read the 2015 test details (PDF, opens in a new tab) and what they cover.

So when we say a sleeve covers your arm, we mean exactly that. It puts a thin layer of fabric over the skin. Whether that layer suits your skin is a question for you and the people who look after your health.

Questions to ask your doctor or nurse

If you have been told your skin is fragile, or you are being treated for a skin problem, these are useful questions to take to your next appointment:

• Is it all right to wear a light, close-fitting sleeve over my forearms?
• Is there any area I should keep a sleeve away from, such as a wound, dressing or healing spot?
• Would you prefer I wore a loose long-sleeved shirt instead?
• Is there anything about my skin or my medicines that means I need extra sun care?

You do not need to share any health history with us to ask about a sleeve. If you just want to know how the fabric feels or how snug it is, contact us and we will happily talk it through.

Putting sleeves on and taking them off gently

Close-fitting fabric should never be dragged over skin. A gentle routine is kinder to both your arm and the sleeve.

• Sit down at a table, with good light.
• Bunch the sleeve up into a ring at the cuff end before you start.
• Slip your hand through, then unroll the sleeve up your arm a little at a time. Smooth it with a flat palm rather than tugging with your fingertips.
• To take it off, roll it down from the top, turning it inside out as you go. Do not peel it off from the cuff.
• Never pull a sleeve over a wound, dressing or broken skin. Ask your nurse first.

If the upper band feels tight, tingles or leaves a deep mark, take the sleeve off. One size fits all adults, and a sleeve should feel comfortable, not firm. Sun sleeves are not compression garments, and a tighter fit is not better.

Long sleeves, sleeves or both?

Cancer Council recommends clothing that covers as much skin as possible, including tops with sleeves of at least three-quarter length. A loose long-sleeved shirt is a perfectly good choice, and some people with delicate skin prefer it because nothing sits close to the arm.

Separate sleeves suit people who like a short-sleeved shirt, need to match a club uniform, or want something they can take off in seconds. There is no right answer. Choose what feels best on your skin, and what you will actually wear.

In the garden: the right tool for the job

A sun sleeve is thin fabric. It is not thorn-proof, cut-resistant or made for rough work. For roses, hedges, prickly plants, wire, tools or chemicals, wear proper gardening gloves and heavier long sleeves made for the job.

A sensible approach is to wear a sun sleeve for the sunny, lighter jobs and switch to tougher gear for pruning and clearing. Our gardening page and gardening in the sun guide have more on this.

Comfort and your skin

Everyone's skin is different. Wear a new pair for a short time first and see how it feels. If your skin becomes red, itchy or sore under the sleeve, stop wearing it and speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep your sleeves clean and follow the care label. Check them now and then for snags, rough patches or thin spots, and replace a worn pair. Our care guide explains what to look for.

Sun care for older skin

Cancer Council advises sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above, and notes that UV can be high even on cool or cloudy days. That holds at every age. Sleeves cover your arms; you still need a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses, shade and sunscreen on your face, neck, ears and hands.

It is also worth getting to know your own skin. If you notice a new spot, or one that changes in size, shape or colour, see your doctor. For more on choosing sleeves later in life, read sun sleeves for seniors.

If you decide to try them

IceRays come in six colours and one size: one size fits all adults. A single pair is a good way to see how they feel on your skin. If you like them, the four-pack works out at AUD 30 a pair in Australia. Our returns policy gives you 30 days from receiving your order to ask for a change-of-mind return on unworn, unused sleeves with tags and original packaging. Read the refund policy for details.

Related guides

• Sun sleeves for walking and everyday outdoor time
• UV vs thorn protection, honestly
• Will one size fit me? IceRays sleeve sizing explained