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Introduction

Looking Back

The Present Situation

How To Minimize Sun Damage

Treating Eye Disorders

Treating Skin Damage

Alternative Treatment Methods

My Personal Experience with Actinic Keratoses

Conclusion

 

How To Enjoy Your Time On the Water and At the Same Time Minimize Sun Damage to Skin and Eyes

 

• USE A BROAD SPECTRUM UV-A/UV-B SUNSCREEN if you plan to be outside for more than 20 minutes. Choose a sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30. If you have oily skin, you may find an alcohol based sunscreen preferable to a cream in preventing acne. If you're allergic to PABA, choose a PABA-free product (although most seem to have already eliminated PABA).

Apply sunscreen LIBERALLY even if it's cloudy ... up to 85% of the UV rays go right through clouds! If you have trouble finding a sunscreen that doesn't irritate your eyes, try a sunscreen made for infants. If you never miss a jibe, you may not need to reapply sunscreen ... but if you're in and out of the water a lot, reapply every couple of hours. The same is true if you sweat heavily. Water, sand and snow can reflect up to 85 percent of the sun's rays which means your skin may sunburn more quickly.

• WEAR 99% UV BLOCKING WRAPAROUND SUNGLASSES. I highly recommend polarized lenses and a close-fitting, wrap around style to reduce UV ray damage from the side. When on the water, use Chum's to help keep your sunglasses on and attach a "floater" just in case they do come off. If you need prescription sunglasses, check out http://www.sporteyes.com/; they're an excellent source for sport sunglasses including prescription and polarized options.

• WEAR A BROAD BRIMMED HAT. I like the heavy canvas Quiksilver hats which hold their shape when wet or dry, do a great job of protecting the eyes and skin, have a secure fastening system, and are washable. Buy a fairly loose fitting hat to compensate for shrinkage. Don't waste your time with light canvas or fabric hats that shrink two or three sizes the first time they get wet and have floppy brims.

• WEAR A LONG SLEEVED RASH GUARD or WETSUIT. A wetsuit is an excellent protection in cooler climates against UV ray skin damage. In a warmer climate, use a rash guard. I recommend those made of polypropylene rather than lycra. Avoid cotton T-shirts which provide only SPF 6 or 7 when dry and only 1 to 3 when wet. If you don't wear specially made sun-protective clothing or clothing with tight weave, then apply sunscreen under the clothing.

• AVOID MIDDAY SUN. Take a lunch break in the shade between 11am and 1pm. Take a siesta from 1pm until 2pm And don't even think about laying in the sun! If there are no shade trees around, use an umbrella but remember to minimize reflected UV rays. Pay attention to the UV Index information released daily by the National Weather Service. The UV Index gives the next day's amount of UV rays on a scale of 0 to 10, or minimal to very high.

• DRINK LOTS OF WATER AND AVOID DEHYDRATING FLUIDS. Don't wait until you're thirsty to have something to drink since you'll already be two quarts low and that's too much to drink at one time. The only hydrating fluid is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen ... that's right, pure WATER. If it contains sugar or alcohol or caffeine, it's no longer hydrating but in fact, has become dehydrating. If you have a soft drink, beer or strong coffee or tea, your body excretes twice as much fluid as you drank! Maybe you've wondered why you crave another one so soon! One side effect of drinking dehydrating fluids is fatigue and loss of concentration and focus, and if the fluid was a sugary soft drink, you may also notice a "blood sugar low" after the initial burst of energy. Take note if you're into windsurfing competition! If you just can't stand plain water, then drink unsweetened tea. Try four tea bags to a gallon of water (you won't have to worry about caffeine!) and let stand overnight in the refrigerator ... it makes a cool, thirst quenching and hydrating drink. Add a twist of lemon or lime if you like.

What about "sports" and other "high energy" drinks? If it contains sucrose (ordinary white table sugar), avoid it like the plague. Find one with two or three carbohydrate sources, including glucose polymers and fructose. I personally would avoid sports drinks with only one carbohydrate source, even if that source is fructose. Make sure it has between 20-28 grams of carbohydrates per 8 ounces (under 20 isn't enough and over 28 can cause nausea and diarrhea), over 100 grams of sodium (which helps glucose enter the blood stream quickly), and has no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which can cause headaches for some people. Finally, make sure it contains the main electrolytes (potassium, calcium, sodium, chloride, magnesium and phosphates). The one I use and recommend is Shaklee Corporation's "Performance". One final word: don't look for a lot of vitamins or herbs in your Sports Drink ... your goal is to hydrate the body and restore liver glycogen, not "feed" it. Take your proteins, vitamins and herbs after you exercise!

• FORGET ABOUT TANNING BOOTHS. They claim to use "harmless" UVA rays, but the fact is they still damage your skin and eyes ... it just takes longer. UVA rays go deeper into the skin and can penetrate the eye, damaging the retina. UVB rays in real sunlight is thought to cause certain types of cataracts, as well as pinguecula and pterygium. And remember, sun protection is one of the best defenses against wrinkling!

In October, 2003, an eight-year study appearing in the Journal Of The National Cancer Institute involving more than 100,000 Scandinavians, was released showing that women who visit tanning salons more than once a month are 55 per cent more likely to develop malignant melanoma. The risk more than doubles for women in their 20s who frequent tanning parlours.

Compared to women who never used a solarium, women between the ages of 20 and 29 who reported using artificial tanning systems once or more per month increased the risk of melanoma about 150 per cent.

The study also found that the risk of melanoma from sun exposure was about two times higher for blondes than for women with brown or black hair. For red-haired women, the risk was about four times greater, the researchers said.

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