3 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Protecting Yourself From The Sun.
Did you know the average boater spends 5.7 hours on the water per outing? You may also know it only takes 20 minutes to get a sunburn on unprotected skin. There are many risks from being unprotected in the sun which include: sunburn, premature aging (as if we need that), and possible Eye damage.
Because the water reflects the sun’s harmful UV rays you are actually at an increased risk than if you were on dry land.
As is the case many times in life the best offense is a good defense!Here’s some quick tips on how to keep you and your passenger’s skin safe from the the sun!
Sunscreen
It seems obvious but here’s something you may not know, not sunscreens are not created equal.
Some sunscreens only protect against UV-B rays and not against UV-A radiation. UV-B rays cause sunburn and skin cancer but It’s this UVA radiation that causes deep skin damage.
Be sure that your sunscreen has “broad-spectrum protection” on the label.
The Skin Cancer Foundation (skincancer.org) recommends applying two tablespoons of sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapplying every two hours or after swimming.
SPF 50 might sound like like you're overdoing it, but honestly it’s better to be safe than sunburn.
Don’t Neglect Your Eyes
In case you skimmed over the part where we mentioned how the water reflects UV rays, it’s imperative the your eyes get plenty of protection. Polarized sunglasses that offer 100% UVA UVB protection should be on your list of must haves.
Add Some Fashion
Just in case you needed another reason to go shopping, don’t forget that hats and clothing also act as a great protector to those pesky UV rays. There are even fabrics that are made specifically to block UV rays. The clothing can offer up to 50 UPF (ultraviolet protection factor).
We want everyone to enjoy time on the boat as much as we do. and you can’t do that if your skin is as red as a lobster. So be safe and we will see you on the water!
