In your hurry, did you ever leave your sunscreen on the shelf at home? Skin protection should be a priority for every golfer and every tournament spectator, as the hot summer months increase our need for protection.
Pale skin or dark, the color of your skin makes no difference. Anyone can develop skin cancer. Even on cloudy or cooler days, our skin still needs protection from destructive UV rays. If you’ve ever noticed how sunlight fades colors and can even destroy some fabrics over time, then you’ll know your skin needs protection to avoid sunburn and reduce your cancer risk.
Use Sunscreen
- Applying sunscreen, however, even those with an SPF (sun protection factor) higher than 30, doesn’t mean you can stay in the sun longer, or reapply the sunscreen less often.
- Look for protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Ultraviolet A (UVA) has a longer wavelength. It’s associated with skin aging, while Ultraviolet B (UVB) has a shorter wavelength and is associated with skin burning.
- No sunscreen is waterproof, but some may be water resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Sun-Protective Clothing
Is it worth it? The Skin Cancer Foundation comes out strongly in favor, giving us the opinion that sun-protective clothing “doesn’t just look great. It also absorbs or blocks harmful UV radiation and remains one of the most effective forms of protection against sun damage and skin cancer.
What’s more, sun-protective clothing is the simplest way to stay safe.”
However, the Foundation adds: “A fabric must have a UPF of 30 to qualify for The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. A UPF of 30 to 49 offers very good protection, while UPF 50+ rates as excellent.”
Dark or bright colors keep UV rays from reaching your skin by absorbing them rather than allowing them to penetrate. That’s why these colors offer better protection than lighter or paler shades.
You can check a fabric’s sun safety effectiveness by holding it up to the light. If you can see through, UV radiation can easily penetrate the fabric and reach your skin.
Cover up! The more skin your outfit covers, the better your protection. Whenever possible, choose longsleeved shirts and long pants or skirts.
Seek Shade
Maybe this is a no-brainer, but engrossed on reading the green, many of us will overlook the nearby trees for shade. Remember, the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. So, seek shade whenever you can, and be sure to wear sunscreen and protective clothing. UV rays are present all year around and in every region of the country. And UV rays can damage your skin, even if it’s cloudy.
Your Risk Factors
- Having a history of sunburn
- Having pale skin and red hair
- Living or vacationing somewhere sunny, warm, or at high altitude
- Mixing outdoor recreation and drinking alcohol
- Regularly exposing unprotected skin to UV light from sunlight or artificial sources, such as tanning beds
- Swimming or spraying your skin with water or baby oil, as wet skin tends to burn more than dry skin
- Taking a drug that makes you more likely to burn (photosensitizing medication)
- Working outdoors
Painful Sunburn-What Happens
UVA is the wavelength of light that can penetrate to the deep layers of skin and lead to skin damage over time. UVB is the wavelength of light that penetrates the skin more superficially and causes sunburn.
The UV light damages skin cells. The immune system reacts by increasing blood flow to the affected areas, which causes the inflamed skin (erythema) and, yes, you have sunburn!
And it’s this intense, repeated sun exposure that results in sunburn, increasing your risk of other skin damage and certain diseases. These include premature aging of skin, precancerous skin lesions, and your possibility from skin cancer.
And your eyes, too, are vulnerable to sun burn. Too much UV light damages the cornea. Sun damage to the lens can lead to clouding of the lens (cataracts). Sunburned eyes may feel painful or gritty. Sunburn of the cornea is also called snow blindness. For this reason, your sunglasses should have both UVA and UVB protection to help prevent cataract formation.
Be Aware
If you suffer sunburn through not taking adequate protective measures, check your skin for any changes such as suspicious spots or a mole that doesn’t look normal. This is why it’s important to be familiar with how your skin looks and the shape, size, and color of any moles on your body. If you do notice new spots or changes, talk to your doctor about skin cancer screening. The earlier skin cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat successfully.
This was first published in Essential Golf – you can read the complete magazine here.