You Probably Need to Wear More Sunscreen: Here’s Why
The heat is on all across Tampa Bay, and the Sunshine State is living up to its name. But are you protected? Renting boats in the summer can be a great time for the family, but only if you’re staying safe while you explore our waters!
More and more studies are finding that people simply don’t wear enough sunscreen. Here’s how to tell if you need more sunscreen and why you should care.
Sunburns Are Dangerous. Like, Really Dangerous.
Sunburns are more than just minor annoyances—they’re literally radiation damage. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun can damage your skin if you’re not properly protected, and a sunburn isn’t always just skin deep.
When UV rays damage the skin, they don’t just irritate your skin. They actually damage skin cells and can even cause mutations in your cells’ DNA. That’s how people get skin cancer from UV damage.
The good news is that your body is pretty good at correcting these mutations, which is why most sunburns (especially minor ones) aren’t anything to worry about. But if the skin gets too damaged from severe and/or repeated sunburns, your body may not be able to fix it. That’s where you can get melanoma, permanent skin damage, and other side effects of sunburns.
Alright, so you just lotion up before you hit the water—easy, right? Unfortunately, it’s a little more complicated than that.
How to Make Sunscreen Work for You
Sunscreens are great products that are super effective at blocking UV rays. But part of the problem is that we don’t always apply them correctly or pick the right types of sunscreen. So how do you use sunscreen the right way?
First, there are a few things you should look for in a good sunscreen. Start by making sure your sunscreen checks off everything on this list:
- At least SPF 50
- Broad-spectrum protection (this protects from both UVA and UVB rays)
- Water-resistant
All of these are important in making sure your sunscreen offers you the most protection possible, but just buying the right product isn’t enough. It’s also about how you use it!
The fact is that most people don’t use nearly enough sunscreen. And that’s a problem, because most people are getting half of the UV protection that their sunscreens offer simply because they’re not applying enough, not re-applying, or both.
So what’s the solution? First, make sure to apply your sunscreen at least half an hour before you’ll go outside. This gives the sunscreen time to settle on your skin and offer you the most protection possible.
Then, always make sure you’re reapplying every two hours, or every time you get out of the water (whichever comes first). Yes, water-resistant sunscreens exist and they’re great, but they’re resistant, not water-proof. They’ll still start to come off after about 80 minutes in the water, so it’s best to play it safe and reapply every time you dry off.
But the biggest thing you need to do is apply LOTS of sunscreen! Make sure you get every piece of exposed skin with a thick layer of sunscreen. If you start to feel like you have too much sunscreen, add some more just to be sure. There’s no such thing as too much sunscreen, and your skin will thank you for the extra protection!
Keep Your Boat Rental Safe
Sun damage is no joke, and while we all want to have a good time, it’s important to make sure you’re staying safe. There are so many awesome things to do across Tampa Bay—don’t let a sunburn ruin your fun!
If you’re ready to get out on the water, you can book your rental online or give us a call at (727) 867-0077. Have questions about how it all works? Check out our FAQ!