Yes, I buy bikini tops specifically for wearing under a rash guard.

Viva -- I find them just fine, like a fitted t-shirt even when wet (not constricting or hot like a scuba suit). I've never noticed a salty feeling on my skin, though, with or without a rash guard.

I"m another one who's started wearing them recently. I got one when I realized I was being a bit hypocritical because I make my kids wear them. I tend not to actually swim in it so much, but if we are going for a walk on the beach, making sand castles, kayaking, canoeing, etc, definitely. While I'm a big believer in sunscreen, I also think that it's probably best to avoid adding chemicals to my body as well, if possible.

I pull it over my bathing suit, and actually bought a sports bra specifically to wear under mine - one that will dry quickly if I end up getting wet without planning on it.

Rash guards are great for sun protection. I probably should consider wearing one more often, considering that I often make DS wear one!

So glad you asked this Angie! I've been looking at these and boardshorts to wear over my bikini's since I'm planning more water sport activities this upcoming summer season.

I bought one for our upcoming trip to Hawaii. Here locally, the lake is too cold to go in, for all intents and purposes (except for two weeks in August) so I would just wear a cotton shirt for sun protection, when we went canoeing. But I think there is 100 percent chance of going in the water in Hawaii!

This is the one I got at Lands End.

By the way, isn't this Nanette lepore one fab?

http://m.nordstrom.com/s/37093.....1b2166c2c0

Diana, wow! Nice find.

I used to windsurf and would wear rash guards under my wetsuits. In that case, sometimes I wouldn't wear anything under them.

When I go to the beach, I'll wear one over a bikini top for sun protection. On the bottom I'm typically wearing board shorts.

ETA: They also dry pretty quickly, so they don't bother me in that aspect.

I've been wearing a rash guard for several years. Sometimes I wear just the rash guard which I must say is not modest. It's like coming out of the water in a wet tee shirt. It doesn't bother me though, especially when there are many top less ladies on the beach. I like not having a bikini top on so I don't have to sit on the beach in a wet one. I take the swim shirt off on the beach and will either sit (in the shade) topless or put on my dry bikini top.
All this changes when we have company visit. I don't want to make them uncomfortable so I put the rash guard over the bikini top.
I saw for the first time in several years going to St. Maarten many rash guards being worn this year.

Funny, but I put my son in a rash guard top every year - it's easier than doing constant sunscreen, and he's a few shades darker than I am, but still not immune to burns in the summer. I on the other hand would feel smothered, covered and fried in one. I love my summer tanning (with high SPF of course!)

You have lots of replies here Angie but I wear mine with a bikini top. They seem to be much more common place in Australia than here in the US.

I have mostly worn mine with a bikini top or sports bra underneath, because I am pretty active when I'm at the beach or pool. I don't find it uncomfortable, too revealing or unsupportive to wear the rashy by itself, though, if I were just lazing around. Mine is black, though -- YMMV with lighter ones!

Wear mine all the time at our pool, at the lake, the beach, even at water parks with the kids- for me it's sun protection, looks sporty/cool, and is incredibly practical for when I'm being active/ not sun bathing (which I tend not to do much- don't get much laying about reading a magazine in the sun around here, but kayaking, sand castle building, beach games, etc are all frequent activities and at the water park, a little extra protection on slides, etc is nice).

Goodness -- without some kind of suit beneath, wouldn't a rash guard essentially become a wet tee shirt?

I'm shuddering at the thought.

@Nebraskaskim
I think they would not be right for running as they are very tight, and not sure if you sweat lot that they would wick the moisture.
There are probably better alternatives try Athleta

I wear a bikini top or one piece or tankini top under my rash guards. I'm very fair and rash guards are fantastic for when I want to go to the beach. I find them to be comfortable to wear once you find one that's the right size. At least when I found my rash guards years ago, the surf brands like Hobie and Roxy had rash guards that ran small. It's great not to have to worry about a burn if you stay in the ocean or pool for a long time.

I have a rash guard! I feel so fashion forward now.

It's hot pink, long sleeved zippie model, very similar to the neon green one on the blog, but neon pink. DH surprised me with it a few years ago as a gift, after I told him that my goal was to Never Get a Sunburn Ever Again -- especially in cleavage area, which is showing my age more than anywhere else on my poor aging body.

I wear mine over a tankini or bathing suit. Summer weather/water in NE can be quite cold, so it serves well -DRY- to keep me warm on cooler days, or as a cover-up at the end of a beach day. When it is WET, it does not dry all that fast, so I find it keeps me cool & comfortable on super hot & humid days too -- especially because I run hot.

Not sure how I ever lived without it.

Agree with Laura J, fit is key. DH's first gift did not fit, so we went through several returns -- this was awhile ago, I forget all the details. Active wear is not scaled for petites, so that was an issue. XS active wear is scaled right vertically but not horizontally for me, mature adult busty woman that I am (though only 5'0 tall). Tried children's sizes and I believe the one I have is actually a child's size (husky?) but I may be misremembering that. I just recall wishing that I could have a well fitting rash guard in something OTHER than bright hot neon Barbie pink.... which mine is...

Hopefully rash guard designers are reading this!