How does a wetsuit keep you warm?

Question

As the title suggests I’ve always hated getting into cold water and have been told a wetsuit keeps you warm, how exactly does that work?

In: Biology

Answer 1

By keeping your body heat in. Think of it as a coat that functions while wet.

Wet suits come in different thicknesses, with thicker ones providing more heat retention.

But you also have to worry about fit. The better it fits, the less water can easily flow in and out. Think of a coat with big openings at the end of the sleeves vs ones that close up tight on your wrist.