Sunshine is a beautiful thing to enjoy while lazing on the beach or out carving some waves in the ocean. Surfing requires some safety precautions to begin with, but you also need to be careful of the sun as well. It is a good idea to wear some kind of clothing, like rash vests or rashies to make sure your skin has the protection it needs from the harsh Aussie sun. Melanoma is nothing to take lightly so it is wise to keep your skin protected and healthy.
While protective clothing and gear are not the only ways to protect from the sun, they certainly do help. The next time you decide to go to the beach, whether you are surfing or not, you should take a minute to make sure all of the following are checked off your list for protection. It just takes a little extra planning and effort to make sure you can have fun in the sun without risking your health.
Below you will get all the information you need to keep yourself from burning on your next day of surfing.
Sunscreen Is A Must
It doesn’t matter how tough you think your skin is, the sun will always win the battle. Never go surfing without your sunscreen, it is just asking for major sunburn. It is a good idea to apply your sunscreen before even getting to your surf spot so it has time to absorb and do not forget to reapply it more than once throughout the day. It isn’t formulated to last forever, and sweat plus ocean water doesn’t help matters.
When looking at what type of sunscreen to use, the broader the UV light protection, the better. You should not even worry about tanning if you are going to be out on the water all day, mother nature will definitely do its thing. Protect your skin by reapplying the sunscreen fairly regularly and keeping your eyes open for any sunburn starting to show.
Use Zinc For Complete Protection
You can purchase sunscreen that has zinc in it, and this is the best thing for those who are very sensitive to the sun of those areas that will always be exposed. The zinc in the formula shields your skin from any direct contact from the light itself. You will see a lot of surfers use this under their eyes, cheekbones and noses to ensure that these areas that are always exposed to the sun stay safe. Playing it safe is never going to serve your wrong, especially when it comes to your skin.
Wear Protective Clothing
There is a whole host of different protective clothing available for surfers and every type of water sport or activity you can think of. Wetsuits are always a popular choice for a lot of water activities. A wetsuit keeps you dry and warm while you are in the water, protects your skin from the sun, and even gives you better buoyancy when in the water.
If a full wetsuit isn’t quite your style you can get something similar in a rash-vest. Rashies are made from a similar material to wetsuits but give you more mobility and comfort than a full wetsuit. It is all about personal preference, so choose whatever works best for you.
The Sun Burns Everyone
The sun is not something that you can avoid, it treats every single thing on this planet the same. It is up to you to be assertive and protect yourself every time you go out surfing. When you keep yourself protected from the sun you will be able to focus solely on catching more waves an enjoying your time in the ocean.