Micronized Mineral Protection: Unlike organic sunscreens, micronized mineral sunscreens are insoluble, protect against the entire spectrum of UVA/UVB radiation and will not break down over time.  This makes them the sunscreen of choice for endurance athletes and anyone who spend extended periods of time outdoors without the opportunity to reapply.

Organic Sunscreens: Organic sunscreens are soluble and therefore more resistant to wiping, sweating and abrasion.  Each sunscreen targets specific wavelengths of the UV spectrum (UVA or UVB). This makes them ideal for strategic use in sports specific products as a backup for Micronized Mineral sunscreens.

Base Lotion: WATERMANS'® base lotion allows the skin to breath, holds the sunscreens in place, and provides additional performance based attributes, such as sweat and water resistance, Non-Slip with Grip and Zero-Migration.  Moreover, it is packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to help repair damage and keep your skin looking and feeling great after each use.

For those of us who spend extended periods of time off-shore, on the road or simply in the sun, protecting ourselves from the UV radiation is no laughing matter. 1 in 5 people will get skin cancer in their lifetime (1 in 3 Caucasians) and spending excessive time on the outdoors only increases the amount of UV radiation we expose ourselves too.  Watersports athletes must be especially careful; water can increase the potency of the suns UV radiation by as much as 50%. Here at Watermans: Applied Science we feel it is important to educate oneself on sun damage and the issues and influences associated with skin cancer, advanced aging, and other complications associated with sun exposure.

Stress Hormones, Sun Protection and Athletic Performance
One of the more misunderstood and under rated benefits of utilizing a proper skin protection plan is increased athletic performance. Sun exposure is caustic to the skin, the largest organ in the human body, and the body’s immediate reaction to this type of invasion is to react as if under stress.

When under stress the body produces stress hormones, including Cortisol. These hormones play an important role in our natural fight or flight response by signaling blood vessels to dilate and blood pressure to rise in preparation for dealing with whatever is causing stress.

This is great if one needs to make a quick get away, but for an athlete in the middle of competition the release of stress hormones can be detrimental to performance; inflammation of the digestive tract contributes to digestive problems and inflammation of the airways contributes to asthma and other respiratory problems that will negatively affect performance. More over, visible inflammation of the skin commonly referred to as Sunburn takes blood away from vital organs and muscles where it is needed most during competition. All of which affect the body’s ability to maintain stable energy levels and consistent performance.

By using a proper protection plan, including protective clothing, an athlete can stave off the inevitable release of stress hormones more effectively and maintain peak performance for longer than without.

Sunscreen is not a one-size-fits all product
The FDA, CDC, and Skin Cancer Foundation recommend choosing a sunscreen based on your specific needs. You should not be using a higher SPF sunscreen then you need to, because the concentration of chemicals relative to the protection they afford is much higher in products with a higher SPF rating.
 

 

For your protection, Watermans always defers to the recommendation of the Skin Cancer Foundation, the CDC and the FDA when choosing active ingredients.

“In all cases we recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen offering protection against both UVA and UVB rays… (Such sunscreens) combine several different active chemical sunscreen ingredients in order to provide broad-spectrum protection. Usually, at least three active ingredients are called for. These generally include PABA derivatives, salicylates, and/or cinnamates (octylmethoxycinnamate and cinoxate) for UVB absorption; benzophenones (such as oxybenzone and sulisobenzone) for shorter-wavelength UVA protection; and avobenzone (Parsol 1789), ecamsule (Mexoryl), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide for the remaining UVA spectrum.”

- Skin Cancer Foundation -more info



Active ingredients
At Watermans, our goal is to provide the most effective sun protection available.  Below is a list of all active ingredients found in the Watermans Lotion, Face Sticks, and Lip Balm.

*All quantities and ingredients have been approved by the FDA for OTC use.

Micronized Mineral protection
We use micronized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide the ultimate in UV protection without leaving the wearer looking pasty.  Recent improvements in Micronized oxides have allowed for the production of a micronized zinc or titanium oxide that retains 100% of its' effectiveness and can be rubbed in clear.

Prevention Tips
• Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
• Do not burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.
• Reapply every two hours.
• Whenever possible, cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.