A day on the water - sun, wind and the feeling of freedom. But while the cooling breeze is pleasant on the skin, an invisible danger lurks: UV radiation attacks unnoticed, reflected by the water, intensified by the height above sea level and still effective even when the sky is cloudy. Many water sports enthusiasts underestimate the risk, as the cooling breeze belies how intensely the sun actually affects the skin and eyes. The consequences often only become apparent years later: premature skin ageing, eye damage and, in the worst case, skin cancer. The right measures can effectively prevent this. What really matters when it comes to UV protection on board - and what mistakes you should definitely avoid.
UV protective clothing: Not all promises keep their promises
The simplest protective measure is special UV-protective clothing. But be careful: tests carried out by our sister magazine YACHT showed that some shirts barely had any measurable protective effect. Advertising and truth were sometimes miles apart - This is particularly annoying given the often high prices.
How to recognise good UV protective clothing
When buying, you should pay particular attention to the UPF value - the UV protection factor. This is calculated in a decadal system: 10, 20, 30, 50 and so on. The UPF indicates how much longer you can safely stay in the sun compared to unprotected exposure. An example makes this clear: a person with light-coloured, particularly sensitive type 1 skin can only spend about ten minutes in the blazing sun without any protection before their skin is damaged. However, if this person wears clothing with UPF 50, this time is extended to 500 minutes - that is more than eight hours of theoretical protection.
The big advantage of protective clothing over sun cream is that the protection is more even. With creams, the amount applied is never perfectly evenly distributed, areas are forgotten or the protection rubs off. As a rule of thumb when buying, the thicker the fabric of a garment is woven, the less UV radiation will penetrate the skin. Hold the garment up to the light - the less that shines through, the better the protection.
The right sun cream for water sports enthusiasts
You can rely on never on clothing alone! The face, neck, ears, hands and hairless areas of the head need additional protection. The effect of clothing and sun cream is indicated in a similar way: the sun protection factor SPF (Sun Protection Factor) for sun cream and the UV protection factor UPF (UV Protection Factor) for clothing. Both indicate how much longer you can be protected from the sun - depending on your individual skin type.
8 golden rules for sun protection on board:
- Avoid midday sun: UV-B radiation is strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Use at least SPF 25: Pay attention to protection in the UV-A and UV-B range. Ideal for water sports enthusiasts: liposomal lotions such as Daylong ultra - extremely waterproof and non-greasy
- Apply a thick layer: The specified protection factor only applies at 2 mg per cm² skin area
- Rule of thumb: 2 finger lengths from the tube for each face/neck, each arm, upper body front/back, each upper and lower leg
- High level of protection for risk groups: Skin type 1-2, Mediterranean sailors and patients with light-sensitive skin diseases (polymorphic light dermatosis, Mallorca acne, lupus, skin cancer precursors) should use medical sun protection
- Apply cream 20 minutes beforehand: Sun protection needs time to soak in
- Nothing forgotten: Neck, ears, back of the hand, lips! For the lips, we recommend Actinica - the only medical product with a proven effect against light-coloured skin cancer
- Re-cream regularly: The protection wears off after bathing, sweating or mechanical friction from clothing
- Use clothing strategically: Long-sleeved shirts, caps and hats are the perfect complement to sun protection
Don't forget your eyes! UV damage is irreversible
While skiers naturally reach for their sunglasses, this protection is often neglected on board - especially on cloudy days. A mistake with consequences! All too often, the skipper's eye wanders unprotected towards the horizon, and the UV rays reflected by the water can also cause considerable damage.
The tricky thing about UV damage to the eye is that the dangerous, permanent damage to the lens of the eye and the retina is initially completely painless and only becomes noticeable over years. The clouding of the lens, which occurs in many people as "cataracts" in later life, leads to a gradual loss of visual acuity. In addition, there is an increasing sensitivity to glare, which can be explained by the diffuse refraction of light in the anterior segment of the eye. The retina can also suffer irreversible damage that permanently impairs vision. There is no need to panic too much, but sunglasses with good UV protection are and remain a must for every trip.
Particular danger for children's eyes
Children under the age of 10 are particularly at risk: Their eye lens is not yet fully developed and filters UV radiation much less effectively than in adults. Because the lens of the eye is not yet fully developed, up to 75 per cent of UV radiation reaches the retina directly in children - and can cause irreversible damage. Responsible parents should therefore make sure that their children wear high-quality sun protection for their eyes, which should also be made of shatterproof plastic to prevent injuries.
Do not confuse: UV protection ≠ Glare protection
Many users of sunglasses confuse UV protection, which is particularly relevant in medical terms, with noticeable glare protection. The latter is directly related to the tinting of the lenses, whereas UV protection is invisible to the user. Even with 100 per cent UV protection, the eyes may be dazzled if the tint is too weak. When used on reflective surfaces such as water (20 per cent reflection) or light-coloured sand on the beach, sufficient tinting of the sunglasses is therefore another important selection criterion in addition to UV protection. At least anti-glare category 3 is recommended for water sports.
The colour of the lenses is primarily a matter of taste and does not correlate with the degree of UV protection. However, brown, grey and green lenses distort colours the least, so they should be the first choice for navigating and observing on board.
First aid: treating sunburn correctly
Caught despite all precautions? How to treat sunburn correctly:
Immediate measures:
1. cooling
- Apply cold, damp cloths or cool packs (wrapped in a towel)
- Take a lukewarm (not hot!) shower
2. moisturise
- Apply aloe vera gel or fragrance-free moisturising lotion
- Do not use products containing alcohol
3. alleviate pain
- If necessary, ibuprofen or paracetamol according to pack instructions
4. drink a lot
- Sunburn draws fluid from the body
- Favour water and non-alcoholic drinks
5. avoid more sun
- Completely protect burnt skin until it heals
- Wear protective clothing
6. do not open bubbles
- Risk of infection! If blisters have burst: clean carefully and cover with a sterile dressing
When to see a doctor?
Seek medical attention immediately if:
- Extreme pain
- Large blisters
- Fever, chills
- Nausea, dizziness, headaches
Conclusion: sun protection is mandatory, not optional
UV protection on board is not a matter of taste, but a health necessity. With the right combination of protective clothing, sun cream and sunglasses, you can enjoy your time on the water - without overdrawing your UV lifetime account.
Remember that: The skin never forgets!
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Michael Rinck
Redakteur Test & Technik
