SAFETY continued
while you're on vacation, such as Tetracycline and Retin-A for acne. These can cause your skin to be ultra-sensitive to sunburn. Realizing that you can still get a sunburn on a cloudy ▪ day. In addition, reflective surfaces like water, sand, and concrete around a pool at your beach resort, or the ocean glimmering in the sun while you’re on a dive boat, can heighten your exposure. Avoiding the most harmful, intense ultraviolet rays ▪
These sun safety tips include: Wearing Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) clothing ▪ as your first line of defense. Experts recommend wearing a broad-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirts (my Tilley hat and rash guard are both rated UPF 50+), tightly woven long pants, and sunglasses. Using a sunblock with a sun protection factor (SPF) ▪ of 30 or more before sun exposure, even when you're simply running errands. But if you're going to a pool,
a beach, or on a boat to dive, a higher SPF will protect you better and longer –– especially if you choose one that's sweatproof and water-resistant. Switching to reef-safe, water-resis- ▪ tant sunscreens like those by Stream2Sea.com to protect marine
between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. It’s best to avoid prolonged exposures dur- ing these times, if possible. A Detailed Explanation of SPF by a Cosmetic Chemist: Autumn Blum, Founder and CEO of Stream2Sea.com adds this advice about SPFs. “High SPFs can be misleading, giving people a false
sanctuaries and coral from harmful chemicals. This US-based, woman-owned company recommends ap-
sense of security in the sun. Many believe that SPF repre- sents a level of protection, but in reality, it measures how
plying mineral sunscreens in dots, then blending or rubbing in, as that makes it much easier to apply. You can also wear mineral sunscreens without fogging up your mask. Applying an almond-sized dollop ▪ for sufficient coverage of your face and neck. Whatever SPF rating you choose, though, you still need to reapply that sunscreen with the same frequency, especially after swimming, snorkeling, or diving. Considering that the lighter your ▪ skin, the higher your SPF number should be. Ask your dermatologist or doctor what he or she recom- mends. (I recommend 45 SPF sun- screen or 100 SPF sunblock if you have fair skin.)
long it takes for UVB rays to redden the skin compared to unprotected exposure. “So, if you apply an SPF 30, you can spend 300 minutes in the sun without burning. But if you have to reapply it every 80 minutes, what difference does 300 minutes make? The fact is, most dermatologists agree that an SPF 30, when applied and reapplied correctly, is more than sufficient for sun protection, as well as wearing clothing like pants, long- sleeve shirts, and a hat.” The Bottom Line: Start a proactive routine in your dive shop, resort, liveaboard, or company to educate your customers and employees about the dangers of sunburn ––
Being aware that a very light-skinned person can get ▪ a sunburn in less than 15 minutes of mid-day expo- sure. Many people don’t think to apply sunscreen until they’re starting to feel or notice a sunburn, but by then, it’s too late. Be proactive: apply it early and reap- ply it often for the best skin protection. Stopping any elective photosensitizing medications ▪
and how preventing it can lower your risks of being diag- nosed with skin cancer. This simple advice may save your life –– or someone else.
If you have a personal sunburn or skin cancer story, I’d like to see it. Please contact me c/o gil@zeimer.com or scan this QR Code.
email Gil
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