SAVING YOUR SKIN: HOW BOATERS CAN FEND OFF HARMFUL UV RAYS
by Marc Malkin

Perhaps more than anyone else, boaters and anglers need to be aware of the potentially harmful effects of the sun’s powerful rays. This is especially true during the summer months. While there’s no need to fear the sun or curtail your favorite outdoor activities, taking measures to protect yourself from UV dangers while boating or fishing is vital. BoatersWorld.com presents the following tips for enjoying time out on the water without getting burned. Heeding this valuable advice may just help you save your own skin.

Pre-Screening

A couple of decades ago, not many boaters or anglers knew about the importance of warding off the damaging rays of the sun. In fact, many of us applied “tanning oils” that actually attracted more sunlight and increased the burning effects. At the time, sun protection lotions were not mainstream, and very few people were aware of serious sun-related risks like Melanoma and other skin cancers. Things have definitely changed as far as awareness is concerned. Most people are now quite conscious of the dangers of extended, unprotected sun exposure, and make it a point to put on sunscreen or sunblock before they head outdoors. However, many do not use these lotions properly to assure maximum protection. First off, not all sunscreens and sunblocks are created equal. Experts, such as Jim Weintraub, a board-certified, Westlake Village, California- based dermatologist, recommends using at least a SPF 30 sunscreen (a sunscreen that provides 30 times your skin’s normal level of protection).

For anglers and boaters, water resistant sunscreens are best – the others will simply wash off due to spray and perspiration. Also, be sure to apply the sunscreen at least one hour prior to sun exposure, so it can bond effectively with your skin. Make sure you use the sunscreen liberally over all exposed parts of your body. Reapplying the lotion throughout the day is very important as well. The effectiveness of even “waterproof” and “rub-proof” lotions tends to wear down over time, so putting on another layer of sunscreen periodically makes a big difference.

Eye Contact

Don’t forget – your skin is not the only concern when it comes to sun protection. Your eyes are also extremely vulnerable. Opthalmologists agree that failure to protect your eyes with high quality sunglasses that block out UVA and UVB rays, can lead to eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration of the retina – the leading cause of blindness for Americans over the age of 55. Sun exposure can also cause cancer of the sensitive skin around the eye and eyelids, as well as photokeratitus. For all of these reasons, selecting sunglasses that screen out the highest possible percentage of damaging rays is a key factor, especially for boaters and anglers. While many sunglass manufacturers claim to offer “UV protection,” the level provided is not sufficient. When it comes to your health and vision, it pays to invest in sunglasses that provide at least 95 percent of the sun’s harmful UVB rays, 60 percent of the UVA rays and about 60 to 92 percent of visible light. Costa Del Mar and H2Optix are a couple of manufacturer’s offering sunglasses with lenses that fit into this category. Their sunglasses are also polarized, which helps to eliminate glare and blue light. For anglers, polarization is also important for spotting schools of game fish, baitfish and current breaks.

Head for Cover

When selecting a hat, choose one that will provide maximum coverage. Don’t base your choice purely on “looks.” Remember, it’s not a fashion show out there – the idea is to enjoy being out on the water, while minimizing the harmful effects of the sun. Long-billed caps or wide brim hats provide better overall protection than standard “baseball” style caps. With this in mind, select a hat on the basis of its functionality and comfort, not purely on design or a trendy logo.