Most anglers will tell you a sunny day is preferable to a rainy one. But just as anglers protect themselves from the rain with foul weather gear, they must protect themselves from the sun. More and more anglers wear long sleeve shirts and pants year-round to block ultra-violet rays from reaching their skin. But clothes don’t cover all your skin, so sun block is still important to apply to your vulnerable areas. Areas around your face, head, ears and neck need sunscreen application. The tops of your hands and feet are also very susceptible to sun damage. And if you’re wearing shorts, don’t forget about the front and back of your legs.
Ultra Violet Protection
How do the sun’s ultra violet rays affect your skin? UV rays are made up of UVB and UVA parts. The shorter wavelength UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer, while the longer wavelength UVA rays penetrate the skin, leading to premature skin aging. Good sunscreens act as a blocker or shield from both types of UV rays. The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer is SPF 100 rated to help defend against the of sun. The sunscreen handles up to 80 minutes of water-resistant sun protection before re-applying. Neutrogena’s lotion formula uses Avobenzone for optimal broad-spectrum protection from skin-aging UVA rays and skin-burning UVB rays.
Explaining SPF
What does increased SPF mean? The term SPF is on the front label of every sunscreen lotion. SPF stands for sun protection factor, but it really measures how likely an angler is to get sunburnt. Using an SPF 15 sunscreen means it will take 15 times longer for skin to begin to burn than it would without sunscreen, says Australian Gold sunscreens. The Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen features 50 SPF protection, designed free of Oxybenzone, Paraben, Phthalate, PABA, petrolatum, sulfate, dye and oil. This environmentally friendly option should be reapplied after about an hour. The mineral sunscreen has strong UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection and is also safe for babies at least 12 months old.
Apply Sunscreen Often Throughout the Day
How often should you apply sunscreen during the day? If in direct sun, every hour is a good standard, with some of the stronger water-proof lotions lasting 80 minutes. Most anglers don’t reapply sunscreen throughout the day, but that’s a mistake. Senior anglers will tell and show you how much damage the sun has done to their skin over the years. Now is the time to be proactive and change your sunscreen habits.
If you have lighter skin and don’t plan on being in the sun all day, a lighter protection such as the Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer is an option. This moisturizer, not sunscreen, has 30 SPF protection built in. The moisturizer formula controls skin oil, hydrates, and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. The moisturizer is a strong option for anglers with sensitive skin to dryness and roughness, but it does not protect skin nearly as well as high-SPF sun screens.
